Sunday, January 22, 2012

We Cannot be Silenced.

Last night on twitter, threats were made. 


I love this woman, this is her public announcement tonight regarding the above tweet. 

“IMPORTANT NOTE: I became involved with a Facebook group back in September that supposedly raised money to buy iPads for children with special needs. Since my involvement with this group, there have been MANY questions surrounding more money being raised than iPads being distributed. I am one of 25 parents who have asked for full disclosure, but have been responded with intimidation and bullying by the page owner. A complaint was filed with the Connecticut Attorney general and they are taking it very seriously and it has been forwarded to the CT Consumer Protection division. I have not relented, as this mann continues to raise money and take advantage of parents with special needs children. I was threatened on Twitter last night and based on the severity I was forced to get the Calgary Police and Oxford, CT police involved. So, if you have gone to A4cwsn or A4cwsn-Canada based upon my recommendation, I wanted to alert you that it is a page that you should steer clear of ANY solicitations or promotions offered. I really thought that this was a legitimate organization, but have since found out that they are not a registered non-profit and have collected more than 50k in just a few short months. I plan to continue my fight to take this guy down. He has started a new group where developers pay him to promote their apps in return for positive ratings on iTunes. Again, I apologise for exposing my friends to a scam.”



Anne is the mother of two boys, one who has special needs.  She was an admin for the A4-Canada page, and participated in the App party that took place in October.  She held impromptu photo contests that got people interacting and promoting developers and their apps.
She is an avid advocate for children with special needs and their families. I am very fortunate to be able to call her my friend. 

Last night, I had veiled threats directed at myself as well.


(There are more, but it would take me ages to post them all. You get the idea, I'm sure)

Although, they were not so blatantly obvious as the one that Anne received, threats none the less they were and are.

After Anne shared with me that the Calgary PD told her to inform ANYONE who had been intimidated and bullied and harassed such as herself to report it to authorities, I got on the phone.  

I too, put in a complaint with the CT Police, and then with my local police station.  A very kind officer came to my house this morning and took my statement from me.  He was able to give me some great advice, and I was very appreciative of his reassuring words. 

No one EVER deserves to be threatened. Not ever.  I don't care what accusations that they make towards you, or what bitchy ass names they call you.  You do NOT threaten people.  Period. 

Threats will NOT silence me.  And as stated by Anne, they will not silence her either. 

Below is the contact information for the Oxford, Connecticut Police Department. If you have been a victim of A4CWSN/Gary James and his bullying, intimidating or threats, I urge you to contact them along with your local police department.

429 Oxford Road
Oxford
(203)888-4353



If you are interested in contacting the Attorney General who is working the case, please contact me and I will privately send you this information. 

Please feel free to email me here for the contact information.


32 comments:

  1. He is absolutely off the rails.  I'm so sorry you guys are having to take this from him (for now!).  He's completely stark raving.  (Gee, Gary - in my honest and most humble opinion - of a mother that has spent many, many hours in clinical settings - you are cracked through and through.  Please - I implore you - seek professional, medical help!)

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  2. I sure would love that information. I have lots to tell them!

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  3. Nicely done. Karma. It'll happen. 

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  4. I sure would love that information. I have lots to tell them!By Lawree67

    Your post isn't showing up (effing disque!) Anyways, I have added my email in the post, please contact me.  

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  5. This is scary because up until now all his threats have been harmless: to show emails, tell employers, post names, etc., but nothing to indicate bodily harm.  He has gone too far! Not only is there mounting evidence of financial misdeeds but now there is a huge amount of evidence of his intimidation tactics via emails, FB postings and tweets.  It will not be long before he is stopped the authorities.


    If only the developers and other product manufacturers would STOP supporting him.  However, it appears they do so out of fear of losing money and intimidation tactics by Gary James.  There are other ways to sell your products and apps.  YOU should not condone the harassment, intimidation, and threats made against parents by Gary James. 

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  6. Well done to both of my friends for standing up to the bullying and protecting themselves and their families. LOVE both you guys <3

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  7. Lori Cotnoir GardinerJanuary 22, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    So true 411! Developers and other legitimate people with FB pages are afraid of him....

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  8. There are almost 12,000 people on the A4CWSN page. I have to think that they are unaware of this behavior because what special needs would condone bullying and intimidation? Special needs parents fight so hard to try to keep their children from being bullied, but when it happens to other special needs parents, have many chosen to look the other way? Are they tacitly approving of the bullying or are they merely uninformed? 

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  9. I think they are clueless for the most part because they are so busy, and probably don't have the internet skills needed to look in-depth into the random negative posts there.  It's like twitter and FB are two different worlds, but obviously there are quite a few that DO approve of his behavior.  I absolutely hate that I shared a4 with my SLP last year, and she spread the word to so many others...and is having a hard time believing me now with what is going on.  I'll be printing some of the comments from here so she gets it.  Thank you to all of you for taking a stand, and for not being silent.  It's a shame because this really could have been something amazing, as he likes to say.

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  10. I personally feel as though most just don't see both sides, but that they HAVE seen his disgusting behaviour and excuse it.  They aren't willing to believe that he could or would be possible of these things. 

    The police would beg to differ. 

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  11. This blog sux & filled w/ lies. These ladies need to get a new hobby!

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  12. lol, I'm gonna pull out the "Gary card"  Don't like it, don't read it :) lol 

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  13. I honestly feel that more than three quarter of those people only liked the page and haven't looked at it since.  He does take what's happening and twist it around so that he's the victim here.  He's really good at it, in fact.  I didn't know exactly what happened but left because I don't condone that behaviour for ANY reason.  I didn't understand why ladies who we had gotten to know and had put in so many hours to help were suddenly blacklisted, some I couldn't contact through facebook at all for a short while.  I wasn't a big poster in the group, but I read up and was familiar with everybody and their children since the first app party.  I occasionally posted but mostly just a LIKEr.  I trusted A4 BECAUSE of them.  But why would these women who put so much time and effort into making this page a success lie about it?  Gary really wouldn't have gotten this far without them.  Yes, he did have a great idea and brought it to fb where it flourished, but I think people were skeptical and it was their personal touches and the true sense of community that made that page.  Which is why it hurts so much to see our friends treated in such a manner.  Shame on you, Gary James! Shame!!!

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  14. ??  Those are honest to goodness tweets from Gary.  I don't understand your remark.

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  15. It's hard to lie about screen shots. You can look at Twitter and see the threats he posted. He's threatened many people for months. Obviously, you are interested or you wouldn't be here reading it. Wake up! People wanted proof... this blog is posting lots of it. If you don't see that, you continue to condone bullying. I sincerely hope your child is never the one being bullied as people like you stand by and watch it happen or, worse yet, support the bully. That's exactly what you are doing now - supporting a bully. 

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  16. Hi, I emailed you this morning regarding the contact information for the AG but didnt hear back.  I called the CT AG office and the State of Ct. Consumer protection agency and they both said they have no record of an investigation.   Is it under a different office?

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  17. I emailed you. I have a sick baby, so otherwise busy. 

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  18. I called them a few days ago - spoke with the admin assistant for the Matt Simmons - he is the Assistant AG that has been given the case.  At least, that's what they told me when I called, which was a couple of weeks ago by now......

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  19. Wow - usually he's been here and tried to burn the place down by now.  Is he packing for county lockup?

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  20. it's early yet... 

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  21. thanks for sharing the information with your friends Maureen. Cann you please fwd to Rumisha? Thanks. :) 

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  22. figures.. I knew there was no "investagation" full of crap they are !!!!!

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    1. Rumisha, go look at Maureens tweet. She confirms she spoke with them and there is an investigation. #bubbleburst.

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  23. I see ... NO INVESTAGATION!!!!... Ha ha ha

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  24. Sorry Yoda.  Investigation there is.  Ask for the desk of Assistant AG Matt Simmons.

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  25. you may want to talk to your master and get an update....or check his twitter acct.  

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  26. Nah, it's just cause he knows everyone has FINALLY seen the real him and he is likely embarassed (as he should be) and has ran into his little corner.

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  27. R - you are tired of all the trash talk yet you come and say this?  There really is a more civilized way to communicate.  Please do not throw stones if you plan to do the same.  

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  28. I love your strength, determination and HONESTY!!

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  29. I was once a part of the A4 community and like everyone there, truly appreciated all the bonding among SN parents.  We get one another and can support each other in ways that we may not have with our other friends.  That is hard to find and I get that no-one wants that support of friendships to go away.  However, I left on my own basis. I was not "banned" nor followed anyone out.  I simply was tired of his rants and deletes on the FB acct.  It went on night after night and yes, he was the person prompting it on a number of occasions.  He displayed a pattern of behavior that I do find responsible, ethical or moral for a Leader.  He does not just defend himself, he is dowright nasty and rude.  CEO's, leaders that I respect have much more tact and restraint.  I am involved with many non-profits and they do not run a business this way nor treat people in the manner in which he has in the past.  I for one wanted to know why he would publicly oust his inner circle w/o explanation.  The same people that ran the site and were well respected by all!  Many red flags went off and I have not like what I have seen since.    

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