Uncategorized

Speaking at New Suffolk College UK

kbeaudin

Yesterday, I spoke with students in several classes at New Suffolk College in the UK. The students were taking Forensic and Criminal Investigation classes. It was exciting to see so many students interested in these fields of study.

Recently, I talked with someone in law enforcement from the US and was told there is a shortage of interest to join law enforcement and investigative work. Reasons stated were, hours, pay, risks, the stress it puts on an individual and a family.  These are legitimate concerns, but we need people to fill these valuable fields of employment.  If we don’t, our society will be in trouble.

I received good feedback from the students and Harry Smy. Harry is head of Access to HE and Science at Suffolk New College. He has an extensive background in forensics and helped me during the writing of my book, A Child is Missing: Searching for Justice. I will share his link so you can check out the amazing work he’s done. Harry is young, and I’m impressed with all he’s accomplished in his life already. He truly lives by the saying, Carpe Diem. (“seize the day”)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-john-smy-b3680325

Introduction by Harry Smy

Harry shared this with me last night, “The students haven’t stopped talking about you in the online group chats, and I’ve already had 2 parents contact me commending your talk and asking for more information!”

I also received a lovely letter from one student, her kind words were an encouragement to me. I hope, in return, I encouraged her to press on with her studies. We need dedicated individuals in all fields of law. I would like to see more female detectives.  As a child, it was difficult to speak with male detectives about such sensitive matters as rape, and the murder of my sister, Kathy.

Though exhausted from jet lag, and three speaking sessions in one day, it was a rewarding experience. I am truly blessed to be able to share Kathy with the world and to have her make an impact on so many lives. 

I’ll never forget Kathy or stop missing her. I won’t give up hope that one day, next to her name on the unsolved murders list in New Hampshire, it will no longer say unsolved but will say solved.

Uncategorized

Attorney General Hunter Announces Plea Agreement in Case against Richard and Ryan Tate

kbeaudin

I was one of those victims. A great number of people lost 1000’s of dollars given to Tate to publish their manuscripts. Both my manuscripts, A Child is Missing: A True Story, and A Child is Missing: Searching for Justice were initially published by Tate. (The second book took 6 years of my life to research, interview, and write.) We trusted them. They have caused financial hardship and emotional distress to many of us.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2018

Attorney General Hunter Announces Plea Agreement in Case against Richard and Ryan Tate

 Defendants to pay more than $820,000 to victims

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today announced the state has reached a plea agreement with Richard and Ryan Tate, who will spend the next two decades on probation in order to pay more than $820,000 in restitution to victims.

As part of the plea, the former executives of Tate Publishing and Tate Music Group were charged with 38 felonies and six misdemeanors related to their fraudulent business practices that swindled more than 2,200 individuals out of their property and money they paid to have their music or books published or produced through the companies.

Attorney General Hunter said his office has set up a restitution account and is working on a system to begin paying victims back as expeditiously as possible.

“Today, the Tates have finally accepted responsibility for defrauding thousands of individuals,” Attorney General Hunter said. “My office will be closely monitoring the Tates throughout the course of their sentence to ensure every dollar is accounted for and they are complying with the terms of the plea agreement. I want the victims to know that my office is committed to doing all we can to guarantee they are repaid. While we establish this process to return victims’ money, we appreciate their patience and hope they know we are working every day with their best interests in mind.

“The successful outcome in this case wouldn’t have been possible without the diligent effort by the attorneys and agents in the Consumer Protection Unit. I commend their efforts and ongoing dedication to protecting Oklahomans.”

Terms of Agreement 

As part of the plea, and upon the filing of the agreement in Canadian County, the defendants made an initial payment of $109,000 to the Tate Victim Restitution Account. On the first day of every month beginning in February, the defendants will make a monthly restitution payment to the account in the amount of $3,000.

The total amount of the restitution owed may increase as more victims come forward with credible claims. Victims have until July 1, 2019 to file complaints and supporting documentation with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit.

The defendants are required to make additional lump sum payments each month their combined income exceeds $8,333. The lump sum payment will be equal to 50 percent of the amount of their combined monthly gross income for the previous month.

Each month, the defendants must provide the Attorney General’s Office with all pay stubs and all bank account information. Annually, the defendants must provide copies of W-2s, 1099s and tax returns for themselves and their spouses.

The defendants agree that any and all contractual agreements between authors and artists and the companies have been terminated. Additionally, they will immediately release all computers and computer servers in their possession to the Attorney General’s Office.

If the defendants violate any of the terms listed within the agreement, they risk probation revocation, which could result in prison time.  

To see the plea agreement, click here: https://bit.ly/2SbC1Oa.

Today’s outcome is the result of Attorney General Hunter filing the charges in May, 2017. To read the original release on the charges being filed, click here: https://bit.ly/2AbQbY6.


Unfortunately, the Attorney General’s Office cannot provide assurances to the quality of the files returned by the defendants. The files on the website were received by the Attorney General’s Office from the defendants. Some of the files received were incomplete, corrupt and possibly irretrievable. The defendants claim they are incapable of returning all authors’ and artists’ files as some files were stored in the Philippines and have not been recovered.