Natalee Case Discussion #793 1/13/09 - 1/18/09

[jen3560]

Was it Silvetti or Schaeffer that got the BIG payday from stocks?I thought it was Schaeffer?Let me know if they both got paid..TIA

Luis Shaefer sold stocks of Superior Offshore, and then resigned from its Board.

I believe that was November 2007?  That's when HE brought Silvetti/Persistence in at the last minute.

Luis Shaefer and Tim Trahan together ran Underwater Expeditions, which appears to still be operational under Tim Trahan.

Silvetti's companies skills and abilities include the oil industry........up to and including underwater construction (including pipelines)

[Keepthefaith]

Was it Silvetti or Schaeffer that got the BIG payday from stocks?I thought it was Schaeffer?Let me know if they both got paid..TIA

Luis Shaefer sold stocks of Superior Offshore, and then resigned from its Board.

I believe that was November 2007?  That's when HE brought Silvetti/Persistence in at the last minute.

Luis Shaefer and Tim Trahan together ran Underwater Expeditions, which appears to still be operational under Tim Trahan.

Silvetti's companies skills and abilities include the oil industry........up to and including underwater construction (including pipelines)

Is there any need to research the backgrounds of those involved in the securities litigation Jen?Did The Freebirds already do that to see what role they played in potentially securing something of this nature for Schaeffer?TIA

[Edward]

Edward,

It was Louis Schaefer, whose Superior Offshore International, Inc. (DEEP) went under and stock shares were sold off by chief executives.....not John S., as you posted.     

Thank You for the correction, I got my names mixed up.. That is what happens if I shoot from the hip in this case without my notes.. The gun always goes off in my holster and I shoots myself in the Foots..

[2NJSons_Mom]

I believe Paulus and/or Joran must have mob ties proven by the fact that Tacopino was defending Joran.  There is no other explanation.

Iris and I are not on the same page often but ... on this I tend to agree.

Janet

++++++++

Doesn't Taco own some businesses in Italy?

I read the other day that his parents are Italian immigrants.  Taco has a law office in Italy and had an interest in buying a soccer team, iirc....don't remember anything else other than he's fluent in Italian, but I'd have to reread.

[Keepthefaith]

Edward,

It was Louis Schaefer, whose Superior Offshore International, Inc. (DEEP) went under and stock shares were sold off by chief executives.....not John S., as you posted.     

Thank You for the correction, I got my names mixed up.. That is what happens if I shoot from the hip in this case without my notes.. The gun always goes off in my holster and I shoots myself in the Foots..

I've never seen a one-footed Monkey Edward.Don't be the first!

[jen3560]

Was it Silvetti or Schaeffer that got the BIG payday from stocks?I thought it was Schaeffer?Let me know if they both got paid..TIA

Luis Shaefer sold stocks of Superior Offshore, and then resigned from its Board.

I believe that was November 2007?  That's when HE brought Silvetti/Persistence in at the last minute.

Luis Shaefer and Tim Trahan together ran Underwater Expeditions, which appears to still be operational under Tim Trahan.

Silvetti's companies skills and abilities include the oil industry........up to and including underwater construction (including pipelines)

Is there any need to research the backgrounds of those involved in the securities litigation Jen?Did The Freebirds already do that to see what role they played in potentially securing something of this nature for Schaeffer?TIA

I don't think there's a need for that, but that's just my opinion.  Shaefer is who appears to have pocketed the $$, and that's why everyone is suing him now.

We followed the money after that, including his purchase and immediate bankruptcy of that fishing business, and that bed and breakfast.

But that Underwater Expeditions is still soluble is what I find most interesting.

There were a decent amount of physical assets with that fishing company (boats) where did they go?  What are they doing now?

What happened to the physical assets of Superior Offshore (boats)?

What about the lease back agreements on those boats that were sold?

Supposedly, it was SHAEFER whose purpose in the Persistence's endeavor was oil related.

So what did Silvetti get out of that - or what will he be getting?

[Keepthefaith]

I believe Paulus and/or Joran must have mob ties proven by the fact that Tacopino was defending Joran.  There is no other explanation.

Iris and I are not on the same page often but ... on this I tend to agree.

Janet

++++++++

Doesn't Taco own some businesses in Italy?

I read the other day that his parents are Italian immigrants.  Taco has a law office in Italy and had an interest in buying a soccer team, iirc....don't remember anything else other than he's fluent in Italian, but I'd have to reread.

Where do you get that kind of money representing clients Pro-Bono?Depending on the soccer team,one would think it would be quite spendy?Home in Italy,Home in the USA,businesses in both countries just from being a Lawyer.WOW.

[Keepthefaith]

Was it Silvetti or Schaeffer that got the BIG payday from stocks?I thought it was Schaeffer?Let me know if they both got paid..TIA

Luis Shaefer sold stocks of Superior Offshore, and then resigned from its Board.

I believe that was November 2007?  That's when HE brought Silvetti/Persistence in at the last minute.

Luis Shaefer and Tim Trahan together ran Underwater Expeditions, which appears to still be operational under Tim Trahan.

Silvetti's companies skills and abilities include the oil industry........up to and including underwater construction (including pipelines)

Is there any need to research the backgrounds of those involved in the securities litigation Jen?Did The Freebirds already do that to see what role they played in potentially securing something of this nature for Schaeffer?TIA

I don't think there's a need for that, but that's just my opinion.  Shaefer is who appears to have pocketed the $$, and that's why everyone is suing him now.

We followed the money after that, including his purchase and immediate bankruptcy of that fishing business, and that bed and breakfast.

But that Underwater Expeditions is still soluble is what I find most interesting.

There were a decent amount of physical assets with that fishing company (boats) where did they go?  What are they doing now?

What happened to the physical assets of Superior Offshore (boats)?

What about the lease back agreements on those boats that were sold?

Supposedly, it was SHAEFER whose purpose in the Persistence's endeavor was oil related.

So what did Silvetti get out of that - or what will he be getting?

Now the question is how to tie Schaeffer,and or Silvetti to the island in order to do business in the future!How can we do that? I know we've been trying.

[Keepthefaith]

Don't know if this specific article has already been posted??

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/2009/jan/Russia-and-Venezuela-Drill-Near-Aruba--Fueling-Cold-War-Fears-.html

[Tamikosmom]

I believe Paulus and/or Joran must have mob ties proven by the fact that Tacopino was defending Joran.  There is no other explanation.

Iris and I are not on the same page often but ... on this I tend to agree.

Janet

++++++++

Doesn't Taco own some businesses in Italy?

Keepthefaith

I have no idea.  However ... I believe Michael Posner ... owner of the Excelsior casino ... had everything to do with Joe Tacopina's representation of Joran van der Sloot.

The Island of Aruba did not anticipate the strength and determination of a mother by the name of Beth Holloway Twitty. By the time that Aruba realized that this amazing woman was not about to be silenced until her quest for answers regarding her precious daughter were answered … it was too late to turn back. It was no longer just about protecting Paulus and Joran in regards to their role in the events that encompass that fateful morning.  It was now about protecting those at all levels of the Aruban/Dutch administrations who were involved in the coverup … it was now about protecting the sons of the elite … it was now about protecting the judiciary and … it was now about the implications of exposing Michael Posner's little secrets in regards to organized crime … drugs … gambling … prostitution … pornography … money laundering.

What was the real Joran/Paulus/Posner connection?

Why did Michael Posner hire American attorney Joe Tacopina to represent Joran?

Why did Michael Posner hire a private investigator to search for Natalee Holloway?

Why did Paulus not face any consequences for accompanying his underage son to a casino for the purpose of gambling and drinking?

Janet

+++++++++

Aruban casino boss had ties to Chicago mob
Thursday, February 23, 2006 | 6:07 PM
Missing Alabama teen last seen at casino
By Chuck Goudie

February 23, 2006 (WLS) -- Authorities on the island of Aruba have not been able to solve the mystery of what happened to Alabama teenager Natalie Holloway. She disappeared while on a high school trip last spring. The ABC7 I-Team has learned new details about the casino where Holloway was last seen, an Aruba casino run by a convicted high-ranking Chicago mobster.

The unsolved disappearance of 18-year-old Natalie Holloway has commanded worldwide attention. It has been widely reported that the last place Holloway was known to be alive was the Excelsior casino connected to the Holiday Inn where she and her classmates were staying.
 
The I-Team has learned that the casino where Holloway was last seen is operated by Chicagoan Michael Posner. The intelligence report on Posner lists him as a prominent member of the Chicago outfit for more than 40 years.

According to federal law enforcement, Michael Posner's most recent mob assignment was boss of illegal rackets in the north suburbs. Posner was convicted in 1987 of threatening wayward gamblers with death and running prostitutes out of this Lake County strip club.

Through his Chicago lawyer, Posner maintains that he has been clean for 15 years and since 1998 has operated the Excelsior casino on the Caribbean resort on the island of Aruba.
 
Last May, honor student Natalie Holloway was staying at the resort on her high school graduation trip when she disappeared. One of the last places she was seen alive was in Posner's Excelsior casino.
 
In security tape obtained by ABC News, Holloway is seen at a table seated next to Joran van der Sloot, a local who is the prime suspect in the case.

Van der Slout admits having had a romantic encounter with Holloway, but in an exclusive interview to air Thursday night on Primetime, he says he is no criminal.

"I think I've been portrayed unfairly. I've been portrayed as a murderer and a rapist and everything that I'm not," van der Sloot said.

Casino boss Michael Posner denies that he knows van der Sloot and denies ever extending him casino credit.

Posner's lawyer Allan Ackerman says Posner was in Chicago when Holloway vanished and returned to Aruba the day after.
 
Now 64 years old, here's the intelligence report on Michael William Posner:

* aka Michael Rubins and Irving Goldstein.

* his family still resides in Riverwoods.
 
* his criminal profile lists involvement in illegal gambling, strip clubs and vending machines.

* criminal history dates to 1960 includes numerous arrests and successful tax and racketeering prosecutions.
 
Posner says it was he who voluntarily turned over this casino surveillance tape to Aruban authorities and that he is furious they have allowed ABC News to broadcast it.

Posner says he has paid the expenses for private investigators to come here and assist in the search for Holloway and according to his lawyer: "He has nothin' to do with nothing" in the murder case.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=investigative&id=3936339


DANA PRETZER
July 23, 2007

Dana: One thing that makes my listeners scratch their heads so to speak and wonder, myself included and we'll talk about it again, is the fact of the underage drinking and gambling that had been going on admittedly by young van der Sloot.  Was there ever any discussion or has there ever been any discussion at least of filing some charges as far as that goes?

Jossy:  No, there hasn't been any of that. The authorities have just (inaudible) it aside, they haven't paid any attention to it then and they're not paying any attention to it now and over the past 26 months.  I haven't seen anything in the direction of trying to make some kind of statement that this is not (inaudiable) at least make some sort of a statement that this is not (inaubible) because it is a known fact that as an underage he wasn't supposed to be in the casino, much less in the company of his father. He was there, there are video tapes to prove that and still the authorities haven't done anything with regard to that specific case.

http://scaredmonkeysradio.com/2007/07/23/the-dana-pretzer-show-monday-july-23rd-2007-special-guests-larry-sinclair-jossy-mansur-ladonna-meredith-attorney-jay-paul-deratany/


'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' for Sept. 19th
updated 6:33 a.m. PT, Tues., Sept. 20, 2005

COPUS:  Well this guy has that casino.  He‘s alleged to have organized crime ties back to Chicago.  And you can say alleged, he‘s actually served time.  He‘s been convicted.  So he comes up into Aruba and is able to get a gambling casino.  At the same time, we‘re told that Joran and his dad both are gambling there.  It really makes you wonder how that‘s happening and how they got this line of credit. 

COSBY:  Yes.  And a big, big line of credit.  Beth, I know you‘ve actually been to the casino, right?  And Michael Posner threatened you, is that correct? 

HOLLOWAY TWITTY:  Well, there was a phone call made.  And it was just really having me refer to—you know, I‘d only mentioned the fact I had gotten from prosecuting attorney as far as the open line of credit, and that Joran is in his casino gambling, and  I don‘t think there was ever a question that Joran and Paulus Van Der Sloot had been in that Excelsior Casino, and, particularly, on the night of the 29th where he and his father met Natalee.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9407728/


'Rita Cosby Live & Direct'
April 3, 2006

COSBY … John, first of all, is there a possibility that Paulus might have been talking to Natalee the night that she disappeared?

JOHN Q. KELLY, HOLLOWAY FAMILY ATTORNEY: Well, if you look at the surveillance video footage, it appears that he’s the one sitting directly next to her and tries to engage her in conversation a couple of times. And it’s sort of ironic that it’s his father who brought his underage son to a casino and left him there after he left, with access to his line of credit, to put this unfortunate chain of events in process.


Beth Holloway
LOVING NATALEE

Page 39:  Following our brief conversation, we all walk immediately to the fron desk to ask about someone named Joran who is staying in the hotel and plays in the casino here.  The Holiday Inn night manager, Brenda, knows him by name.  "Oh! yes ... yes ... Joran.  He gambles in the Excelsior Casino here.  He likes to prey on young female tourists.  Especially the blonds.   He is tall.  Good-looking boy.  Like a Dutch marine."   My mouth drops wide open.  "Where is he from?" I ask her.  She replies.  "He lives in Aruba."  I stutter.  "He's ... he's not a tourist just here for the summer?"  "Non, non," she says.

It takes a few moments to absorb this information.  The supposed tourist who befriended some of Natalee's classmates and who told them he was staying at their hotel lied tothem.  He isn't a tourist.  He isn't staying here.

[jen3560]

Now the question is how to tie Schaeffer,and or Silvetti to the island in order to do business in the future!How can we do that? I know we've been trying.

One thing to find out would be if Silvetti opened up an Aruban office like he had plans to do last spring.

Or maybe one on Venezuela?

[jen3560]

Janet - I couldn't agree with you more!

Tacopina has represented many in the Gambino family.........to which Posner is/was tied.

Posner IS the connection between Joey T and Paulus.

Also don't foget - Guido Wever could ONLY be interviewed by ALE in Posner's office at the casino.

[Edward]

One of Aruba's wealthiest and most powerful families alleges that a partner at its longtime law firm, Podhurst Orseck in Miami, made an error in judgment that led to the loss of a $15 million property.

Five members of the Mansur family, who have Dutch citizenship and business interests in Aruba, filed suit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in March alleging that Podhurst partner Katherine Ezell mishandled their lawsuit against two family members entrusted with managing Terminal Island in Miami Beach. That's a deep port off the MacArthur Causeway that serves as a ferry terminal for the exclusive Fisher Island community off Miami Beach.

The suit alleges that Ezell's and Podhurst Orseck's errors in the case allowed the investment managers of the property, brothers Luis and Elias Mansur, to abscond with the profits from the island's $15 million sale in May 2004.

The plaintiffs have "clearly been damaged," their attorney, Daniel Koch, of Koch & Trushin in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said in an interview. "The question is, what are the damages? If we can show that with the proper legal advice the property could have been rescued, it could be close to $20 million."

The current Mansur controversy revolves around Luis and Elias Mansur. They were the investment managers of Terminal Island, which was held in trust by them and the plaintiffs in the recent legal malpractice suit.

Luis and Elias Mansur had borrowed money against Terminal Island, which they did not repay. In 2003, the lenders, TotalBank and Interbank Aruba, filed foreclosure actions against Terminal Island. The Mansur plaintiffs asked Podhurst Orseck to resolve their problem with the island.
 
According to the suit, plaintiff Ruben Mansur advised Podhurst attorney Ezell that the investment managers were financially unstable and were planning to abscond with any proceeds from the sale.

The Podhurst attorneys "knew there was a plan to sell Terminal Island and that the investment managers were going to abscond with the money and take it overseas where it could never be touched," said Brad Trushin of Koch & Trushin, who is representing the Mansurs along with Koch.

Initially, Ezell drafted and filed a lis pendens, a claim on the property asserting that her clients were owed money from any sale that occurred. As the suit progressed, according to the recent malpractice suit, she learned that there were questions about the validity and enforceability of the Interbank Aruba mortgage.

But Ezell made a shift in legal strategy that the Mansur plaintiffs contend torpedoed their case and caused them to lose the island. According to the suit, Ezell advised the Mansur plaintiffs to withdraw the lis pendens and execute a release in favor of TotalBank and Interbank Aruba.

"Then the Podhurst firm said to my clients, 'You've got two mortgage foreclosure actions pending. Your only or best recourse is to make nice with the investment managers and work with them to get the property sold,'" Trushin said. The Podhurst firm, he said, promised to monitor Terminal Island to make sure the Mansur plaintiffs got their share of the sale proceeds.

That approach did not work. When the island was sold for $15 million to Barco Holdings in 2004, Interbank and TotalBank were paid off. But the investment managers transferred the money overseas.

Ezell then filed suit on behalf of the Mansur plaintiffs in Miami-Dade Circuit Court asking for an accounting of the property sale and for appointment of a special master to investigate the misuse of trust assets.

The investment managers responded that the trust granted them the authority to sell the property and hold the proceeds, and further argued that Ezell's legal action was filed in the wrong jurisdiction.

Since the trust that owned Terminal Island was based in the British Virgin Islands and since none of the parties were U.S. citizens, the investment managers argued that Miami-Dade was an improper jurisdiction for the case. Then-Circuit Judge Michael Chavies sided with the investment managers and dismissed the case.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1148547934537

The Mansur group specializes in this behavior.. Notice the names involved..
20 million disappers and is untouchable. They themsleves owned the InterBank !!
Luis M."The Boss" and "Elias M."  Who is also known as the brain child of the family..

They got away clean a a wistle..

Now look at Luis Shaefer 

[bastibro]

I'm sorry. Something went wrong in my previous reaction. It wasn't Edward saying "marlene = Marlies" but it was me.

Yep, Goodmorning Jan Willem!

Sorry Bastibro...I didn't see you there...Good Morning!

Have a great day!

Hi Mum, i just logged in again.  Great day to you tooo

[Tamikosmom]

Janet - I couldn't agree with you more!

Tacopina has represented many in the Gambino family.........to which Posner is/was tied.

Posner IS the connection between Joey T and Paulus.

Also don't foget - Guido Wever could ONLY be interviewed by ALE in Posner's office at the casino.

Jen ... justice for Natalee Holloway implies that accountability is sooo far reaching.  This is why I do not believe that justice is not going to come out of an Aruban or Dutch courtroom.

The exposure of the deception encompassing the Persisistence undertaking would allow a measure of closure for Natalee's family.  I certainly hope that the FBI are working behind the scenes on behalf of Natalee Holloway's family to bring this exposure about.  After all ... it was an American citizen who was denied ... through a corrupt investigation ...  what she was entitled to under Dutch law ... justice. 

Janet

[Keepthefaith]

Janet - I couldn't agree with you more!

Tacopina has represented many in the Gambino family.........to which Posner is/was tied.

Posner IS the connection between Joey T and Paulus.

Also don't foget - Guido Wever could ONLY be interviewed by ALE in Posner's office at the casino.

Jen ... justice for Natalee Holloway implies that accountability is sooo far reaching.  This is why I do not believe that justice is not going to come out of an Aruban or Dutch courtroom.

The exposure of the deception encompassing the Persisistence undertaking would allow a measure of closure for Natalee's family.  I certainly hope that the FBI are working behind the scenes on behalf of Natalee Holloway's family to bring this exposure about.  After all ... it was an American citizen who was denied ... through a corrupt investigation ...  what she was entitled to under Dutch law ... justice. 

Janet

I agree Janet.This goes from Aruba straight to the Hague.The Netherlands don't want anything to do with this.

[jen3560]

Now the question is how to tie Schaeffer,and or Silvetti to the island in order to do business in the future!How can we do that? I know we've been trying.

Also keep in mind, Shaefer (thru Superior) has a good working history with BP.

Superior Offshore International Senior Executives Cancel 10b5-1 Trading Plans

HOUSTON (AP) -- Oilfield service provider Superior Offshore International Inc. said Friday two senior executives canceled prearranged trading plans that gave them greater freedom to buy or sell the company's shares.




President and Chief Executive Officer James J. Mermis and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Roger D. Burks each ended their 10b5-1 trading plans, which had been set up partly to pay income tax on granted stock, the company said.

A prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan lets company insiders set up a program in advance for stock transactions and proceed with them even if he or she comes into possession of material non-public information.

(The Company disclosed that its $55 million Term Loan Facility with Fortis Bank has been classified as a current obligation per FASB reporting requirements because the Company did not meet certain requirements of its term loan debt covenants.)

Trinidad project was running full steam ahead during the third quarter. Three of our vessels, the Gulmar Condor, Seamec III, and the Crossmar 14 are still currently working there for BP.

------------

British Petroleum
Robert (Bob) Malone is BP's chief representative in the United States. He is based in Houston, Texas........... where BP business units are involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production, refining, chemicals, supply and trading, pipeline operations

-------------

Byron Grote Job title: Chief Financial Officer of BP

Byron is a non-executive director of Unilever NA and Unilever

Unilever constantly keeps its corporate governance arrangements under review. NV and PLC are subject to different corporate governance requirements and best practice codes, the most relevant being those in the Netherlands.
-----------------

South America
Exploration and production work is a core aspect of BP’s presence in Colombia and Venezuela.
--------------

John S. distributes APS Sonavision sonars in the Gulf ,APS LLC focuses specifically on the navigation and sonar needs of the oil and gas industry.

APS is the navigation, positioning and sonar services arm within the JD Silvetti Group of Companies. APS is responsible for most call out projects that do not require certifications, as well as non-certification specialized projects.

[Keepthefaith]

Now the question is how to tie Schaeffer,and or Silvetti to the island in order to do business in the future!How can we do that? I know we've been trying.

Also keep in mind, Shaefer (thru Superior) has a good working history with BP.

Superior Offshore International Senior Executives Cancel 10b5-1 Trading Plans

HOUSTON (AP) -- Oilfield service provider Superior Offshore International Inc. said Friday two senior executives canceled prearranged trading plans that gave them greater freedom to buy or sell the company's shares.




President and Chief Executive Officer James J. Mermis and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Roger D. Burks each ended their 10b5-1 trading plans, which had been set up partly to pay income tax on granted stock, the company said.

A prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan lets company insiders set up a program in advance for stock transactions and proceed with them even if he or she comes into possession of material non-public information.

(The Company disclosed that its $55 million Term Loan Facility with Fortis Bank has been classified as a current obligation per FASB reporting requirements because the Company did not meet certain requirements of its term loan debt covenants.)

Trinidad project was running full steam ahead during the third quarter. Three of our vessels, the Gulmar Condor, Seamec III, and the Crossmar 14 are still currently working there for BP.

------------

British Petroleum
Robert (Bob) Malone is BP's chief representative in the United States. He is based in Houston, Texas........... where BP business units are involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production, refining, chemicals, supply and trading, pipeline operations

-------------

Byron Grote Job title: Chief Financial Officer of BP

Byron is a non-executive director of Unilever NA and Unilever

Unilever constantly keeps its corporate governance arrangements under review. NV and PLC are subject to different corporate governance requirements and best practice codes, the most relevant being those in the Netherlands.
-----------------

South America
Exploration and production work is a core aspect of BP’s presence in Colombia and Venezuela.
--------------

John S. distributes APS Sonavision sonars in the Gulf ,APS LLC focuses specifically on the navigation and sonar needs of the oil and gas industry.

APS is the navigation, positioning and sonar services arm within the JD Silvetti Group of Companies. APS is responsible for most call out projects that do not require certifications, as well as non-certification specialized projects.

Schaeffer was at the right place at the right time! How did he REALLY come to the search of Natalee Holloway?

[jen3560]

Please forgive me if this has been posted before, but here is the step by step progression of who contacted whom for this endeavor.

http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2007/11/29/news/news/news00.txt

From here to Aruba

BY JEFF MOORE, THE DAILY IBERIAN
Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:37 PM CST

An expedition to search the waters off Aruba for the remains of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway leaves today from the Port of Iberia.

The research vessel Persistence, owned by the Lafayette-based Silvetti Group, will make the 10-day journey to the island. A 20- to 25-man crew will spend at least two weeks surveying the sea floor for Holloway, who has been missing since May 30, 2005.

Holloway, 18, was last seen leaving a bar with three men hours before she was scheduled to fly home with high school classmates celebrating their graduation.

Last week, police re-arrested the three men, prompting her father to re-launch the search in deep waters.

John Silvetti said his company became involved in the search after he was contacted by Louis Schaefer, chairman of Superior Offshore International. Schaefer had been approached by Texas Equusearch, a non-profit organization that has been searching for Holloway for more than two years.

Schaefer asked Silvetti if he could provide the survey personnel and the geophysical equipment required for the search. After spending a weekend with Schaefer and Pam and Dave Holloway, Silvetti agreed.

“It ripped my heart out to hear them say that right now all they’re looking for is to have a funeral in Alabama,” Silvetti said. “What do you say to someone like that?”

Silvetti agreed to provide his equipment and primary survey vessel at well below cost, with Schaefer covering all out-of-pocket expenses. Silvetti said his staff volunteered its services for the project as well.

“They said ‘You don’t even have to pay me. I just want to help,’” Silvetti said. “That just tells me we’ve got the right people on board.”

Marc Broussard, project manager for the Silvetti Group, said the company normally performs surveys looking for oil rigs and downed helicopters. Now, it will be using its high-resolution SONAR equipment to look for a body.

To upgrade its systems for the terrain in Aruba, Broussard said the Silvetti Group looked to its vendors, two of which are based in New Iberia.

Seatronics, located at the Port of Iberia, agreed to donate some of its high-tech electronic equipment to scan the ocean floor.

“I told (Silvetti) any opportunity that we had to go in on such a good cause, we would go in on it,” said Erik McGuire, vice president of Seatronics Inc.

“We’re more than happy to give the best effort possible to recover this girl for her family.”

Pro Log Inc. also stepped forth to provide a command center building where all of the surveying equipment will be stored. Like many people around the country, Pro Log Human Resources Director Heidi Parker said she has been following Holloway’s disappearance closely.

“We’re a family-owned business, so family is very important to us,” Parker said. “Anything we can do to help this family out is something that we’re going to do.”

After more than two years of searching, Texas Equusearch office manager Cheryl Lawless said she is hoping the organization’s fifth trip to Aruba will be its last. She said the venture would not be possible without the help of Schaefer, Silvetti and the other local companies.

“Nothing is being done to gain name recognition. This is to help these people,” Silvetti said. “Most of us have watched this on television, and I can only imagine the horror any parent would go through searching for their child in a foreign country.”

[jen3560]

Janet - I couldn't agree with you more!

Tacopina has represented many in the Gambino family.........to which Posner is/was tied.

Posner IS the connection between Joey T and Paulus.

Also don't foget - Guido Wever could ONLY be interviewed by ALE in Posner's office at the casino.

Jen ... justice for Natalee Holloway implies that accountability is sooo far reaching.  This is why I do not believe that justice is not going to come out of an Aruban or Dutch courtroom.

The exposure of the deception encompassing the Persisistence undertaking would allow a measure of closure for Natalee's family.  I certainly hope that the FBI are working behind the scenes on behalf of Natalee Holloway's family to bring this exposure about.  After all ... it was an American citizen who was denied ... through a corrupt investigation ...  what she was entitled to under Dutch law ... justice. 

Janet

I agree Janet - Art Wood wasn't kidding when he said it was a house of cards.  Well this house reaches higher than any I've ever seen.  To bring it down would take a lot more than I think any of us could have ever imagined.

But justice and peace of mind are two different things, IMO.

While one may not be attainable - the other still has a chance.