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| Joe Perkins |
The heated statement that Joe Perkins, founder of Montgomery-based Matrix LLC, issued last week has disappeared from its original spot on the Web. What gives? K.B. Forbes addresses that question and related issues in a breaking story this afternoon at banbalch.com. Writes Forbes, under the headline "Breaking News: Rambling Statement Deleted! Who Reined in “Sloppy Joe?”
Yellowhammernews.com has deleted the rambling, disconnected statement from Matrix founder and political consultant “Sloppy Joe” Perkins that was posted on June 30, 2022.
As we wrote three days ago, the statement foolishly outlined alleged criminal misconduct involving 18 entities and the alleged money laundering of over $50 million since 2010.
Perkins appeared to falsely allege that we, the CDLU, were involved in a conspiracy with news site DonaldWatkins.com and a cavalier dog rescuer to defame him in his ongoing, two-state divorce with his once-protégé “Jittery Jeff” Pitts. Perkins appeared to have threatened to file a SLAPP lawsuit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) against the CDLU.
We, the CDLU, are letting federal authorities know about the allegations and are providing them copies of the statement. According to Perkins’ statement, nearly a million digital files were recovered.
Now the million-dollar question is, who reined in “Sloppy Joe?”
Was it Mark A. Crosswhite, the CEO at Alabama Power? Was it his lawyer “Andy2K” Campbell who also represents Balch & Bingham? Was it criminal attorney Mark White at White, Arnold & Dowd?
Here is another question with no clear answer: What was Perkins thinking when he released the statement? Writes Forbes:
Without a doubt, the statement by “Sloppy Joe” appears to have been more detrimental than helpful (to Matrix). We, the CDLU, were obligated to add the adverb “allegedly” numerous times to the accusations made.
Others could possibly sue “Sloppy Joe” and/or Yellowhammernews.com for defamation based on the raw statement.
While the Oompa Loompa of Alabama politics may have finally been calmed down and reined in, the rambling statement is not lost and is now available for all eternity on the Wayback Machine, an Internet archive portal.
5 comments:
It seems Matrix has specialized in working in the background, but now the company is attracting the spotlight. Is that an uncomfortable spot for Joe Perkins -- and Jeff Pitts, for that matter?
A new angle from Donald Watkins.com:
Headline: Convicted Felon Serves as Matrix's CFO
https://www.donaldwatkins.com/post/convicted-felon-serves-as-matrix-s-cfo
Details from donaldwatkins.com re: Kimberly Hines:
Most people have never heard of Kimberly G. Hines. She functions as the chief financial officer for Matrix, LLC, a public relations and crisis management firm owned by perennial Alabama "dirty tricks" operative, Joe Perkins. Before Matrix became the focus of media and law enforcement investigations two years ago, Hines was actually listed as "chief financial officer" on Matrix's organizational chart.
Kimberly G. Hines is a convicted felon. It is believed that Hines signed Jeff Pitts' name on a $90,000 per month contract with Alabama Power Company that authorized monthly payments, without invoicing. After this agreement was executed, Alabama Power money came gushing into Matrix.
At the time, Pitts was Matrix's chief executive officer. In December 2020, Pitts left Matrix. By September 2021, Pitts had publicly accused Joe Perkins of engaging in extortion, racketeering activities, and abuse of the Alabama legal system.
More details re: Kimberly G. Hines case:
On August 4, 2000, Ms. Hines was indicted by an Autauga County grand jury on an ethics charge of using her position for personal gain and first degree theft of property. Both charges are state law felonies. Hines faced the prospect of a criminal trial in State of Alabama v. Kimberly G. Hines, Case No.: CC-2000-000283. If convicted on both counts, Hines could have received up to 20 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
The charges grew out of a state audit conducted by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public accounts, which found about $18,000 missing from a cheerleader fund Hines managed. Auditors determined that Hines spent the missing money on personal vacations, haircuts, and clothing.
Ms. Hines was the paid sponsor for both the Prattville Junior High and High School cheerleader programs. Against school board policy, Hines maintained a separate bank account for monies raised for the cheerleader programs. The funds were supposed to be deposited into a school bank account.
On October 24, 2001, Ms. Hines pled guilty to using her position for personal gain. On December 14, 2001, Autauga County Circuit Court Judge John B. Bush sentenced Hines to 30 days in jail, a suspended sentence of 4 years and 11 months, 3 years of probation, and restitution in the amount of $16,540.48. As part of her plea deal, the theft of property charge against Hines was dismissed.
None other than former Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor had plenty to say about the crooked cheerleader sponsor! http://lsu.stparchive.com/Archive/LSU/LSU11282001P09.php
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