From: NY Transfer News Collective <n...@blythe.org>
Subject: Secret Service Victim Severely beaten in Prison
Date: 1996/09/05
Message-ID: <50nmss$m6o@news.missouri.edu>
X-Deja-AN: 178766040
followup-to: alt.activism.d
resent-from: "Rich Winkel" <MATH...@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
organization: ?
newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
originator: dae...@pencil.math.missouri.edu
Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 01:21:36 -0300 (ADT)
From: david blumenstein <da...@david.com>
Please take the time to read the press release below, i know that it is
long, but it is also quite detailed. We need as many people as possible to
bring attention to this story. This has gone far beyond a "computer hacker"
story/issue...it has now taken on human rights implications...I strongly
urge subscribers of this list to spread the word, if you or your publication
does not cover such stories, perhaps there are peers of yours who do...
If you have any further questions regarding this case please contact
emma...@2600.com (Emmanuel Goldstein)
MAN CONVICTED OF POSSESSING LAWFUL ITEMS AND BOOKS
NOW SEVERELY BEATEN AFTER CRITICIZING PRISON CONDITIONS
TARGET OF CAMPAIGN BY U.S. SECRET SERVICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A man in prison for nothing more than possession of
electronic parts easily obtainable at any Radio Shack, has been
savagely beaten after being transferred to a maximum security prison
as punishment for speaking out publicly about prison conditions.
Ed Cummings, recently published in Wired and Internet Underground, as
well as a correspondent for WBAI-FM in New York and 2600 Magazine,
has been the focus of an increasingly ugly campaign of harrassment
and terror from the authorities. At the time of this writing, Cummings
is locked in the infectious diseases ward at Lehigh County prison in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, unable to obtain the proper medical treatment
for the severe injuries he has suffered.
The Ed Cummings case has been widely publicized in the computer hacker
community over the past 18 months. In March of 1995, in what can only
be described as a bizarre application of justice, Cummings (whose pen
name is "Bernie S.") was targetted and imprisoned by the United States
Secret Service for mere possession of technology that could be used to
make free phone calls. Although the prosecution agreed there was no
unauthorized access, no victims, no fraud, and no costs associated with
the case, Cummings was imprisoned under a little known attachment to the
Digital Telephony bill allowing individuals to be charged in this fashion.
Cummings was portrayed by the Secret Service as a potential terrorist
because of some of the books found in his library.
A year and a half later, Cummings is still in prison, despite the
fact that he became eligible for parole three months ago. But things have
now taken a sudden violent turn for the worse. As apparent retribution for
Cummings' continued outspokenness against the daily harrassment and
numerous injustices that he has faced, he was transferred on Friday
to Lehigh County Prison, a dangerous maximum security facility. Being
placed in this facility was in direct opposition to his sentencing
order. The reason given by the prison: "protective custody".
A day later, Cummings was nearly killed by a dangerous inmate for not
getting off the phone fast enough. By the time the prison guards stopped
the attack, Cummings had been kicked in the face so many times that he
lost his front teeth and had his jaw shattered. His arm, which he tried
to use to shield his face, was also severely injured. It is expected that
his mouth will be wired shut for up to three months. Effectively,
Cummings has now been silenced at last.
)From the start of this ordeal, Cummings has always maintained his
composure and confidence that one day the injustice of his
imprisonment will be realized. He was a weekly contributor to a
radio talk show in New York where he not only updated listeners on
his experiences, but answered their questions about technology.
People from as far away as Bosnia and China wrote to him, having
heard about his story over the Internet.
Now we are left to piece these events together and to find those
responsible for what are now criminal actions against him. We are
demanding answers to these questions: Why was Cummings transferred
for no apparent reason from a minimum security facility to a very
dangerous prison? Why has he been removed from the hospital immediately
after surgery and placed in the infectious diseases ward of the very
same prison, receiving barely any desperately needed medical
attention? Why was virtually every moment of Cummings' prison stay a
continuous episode of harrassment, where he was severely punished for
such crimes as receiving a fax (without his knowledge) or having too
much reading material? Why did the Secret Service do everything in
their power to ruin Ed Cummings' life?
Had these events occurred elsewhere in the world, we would be quick
to condemn them as barbaric and obscene. The fact that such things are
taking place in our own back yards should not blind us to the fact that
they are just as unacceptable.
Lehigh County Prison will be the site of several protest actions as will
the Philadelphia office of the United States Secret Service. For more
information on this, email pro...@2600.com or call our office at
(516) 751-2600.
More information on this case can be found on the following
web site: http://www.2600.com.
9/4/96
=======================================================
These are the people responsible for keeping Ed Cummings imprisoned.
Name/Address Phone Fax
Bucks County Correctional Facility 215.325.3700 215.345.3940
1730 South Easton Road
Doylestown, PA
Director: Mr. Nesbitt (warden equivalent)
Chief: John Henderson (had Cummings thrown into maximum security
for receiving a fax from a reporter - later
told Cummings he had "no right" to speak
to the press)
Lehigh County Prison 610.820.3270
38 North Fourth Street
Allentown, PA 18103
Warden: Ed Sweeney 610.820.3133 610.820.3450
Haverford Township Police Department
John Morris 610.853.2400 610.853.1706
(original arresting officer who believed Cummings was involved
in a drug deal because he was observed selling electronic
components to a vehicle occupied by African Americans)
Northampton County Probation Department
Scott Hoke (parole officer) 610.559.7211 610.559.7218
(as Cummings' parole officer for a minor infraction years
earlier, Hoke had told Cummings that parole was a waste of
time for such a trivial offense. However, after being
interviewed by the Secret Service, Hoke did an about face
and began referring to Cummings as a very dangerous criminal
who needed to be in prison for a long time.)
Harrisburg Parole Office
Ralph Bigley 717.787.2563 717.772.3534
Mr. Bigelow 717.787.5699
Northampton County Courthouse (main) 610.559.3000
Judge Panella 610.515.0830 610.515.0832
US District Court, Philadelphia (main) 215.597.2995
601 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Judge Marjorie Rendell 215.597.3015 215.580.2393
Judge Jay C. Waldman 215.597.9644 215.580.2155
Judge Charles B. Smith 215.597.0421 215.597.6125
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Anne Whatley Chain, Esq. 215.451.5282
615 Chestnut Street
Suite 1250
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Special Agent Thomas L. Varney
U.S. Secret Service (main) 215.597.0600 215.597.2435
Room 7236
Federal Building
600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(Varney was the key factor in having Ed Cummings imprisoned
since March of 1995. It was he who convinced Det. John Morris
that Cummings' possession of electronic components and certain
books and magazines made him a danger to society. His testimony
stands out in its incredible assessment of Cummings as nothing
short of a terrorist and his ability, as a representative of
one of the nation's most powerful agencies, to convince others
in law enforcement that Cummings belongs in prison with the most
dangerous and most violent of criminals.)
david m blumenstein lead technologist
Ogilvy & Mather da...@david.com
Corporate Division da...@ogilvy.com
work: 212.237.6751 home: 718.544.6411
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Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
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From: John DiNardo <j...@etext.org>
Subject: Hacker Jailed & Beaten
Date: 1996/09/09
Message-ID: <511cos$185a@news.missouri.edu>
X-Deja-AN: 179488430
followup-to: alt.activism.d
resent-from: rich
organization: ?
newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
originator: ri...@pencil.math.missouri.edu
Date: Sat, 7 Sep 1996 23:16:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: MichaelP <pap...@PEAK.ORG>
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960907231445.17114A-100000@kira>
Subject: {DN} Imprisoned as "potential" hacker: (fwd)
To: democr...@pacifica.org
X-Sender: papadop@kira
Sender: owner-dem...@igc.apc.org
Reply-To: democr...@pacifica.org
This piece is about Ed Cummings who, inter alia, is (was) a WBAI
correspondent.
MP
================================================================
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 15:28:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: Emmanuel Goldstein <emma...@2600.COM>
COMPUTER HACKER SEVERELY BEATEN AFTER CRITICIZING PRISON CONDITIONS
TARGET OF CAMPAIGN BY U.S. SECRET SERVICE
In prison for possession of technology that could be used to make free
phone calls.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A convicted hacker, in prison for nothing more than possession of
electronic parts easily obtainable at any Radio Shack, has been
savagely beaten after being transferred to a maximum security prison
as punishment for speaking out publicly about prison conditions.
Ed Cummings, recently published in Wired and Internet Underground, as
well as a correspondent for WBAI-FM in New York and 2600 Magazine,
has been the focus of an increasingly ugly campaign of harrassment
and terror from the authorities. At the time of this writing, Cummings
is locked in the infectious diseases ward at Lehigh County prison in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, unable to obtain the proper medical treatment
for the severe injuries he has suffered.
The Ed Cummings case has been widely publicized in the computer hacker
community over the past 18 months. In March of 1995, in what can only
be described as a bizarre application of justice, Cummings (whose pen
name is "Bernie S.") was targetted and imprisoned by the United States
Secret Service for mere possession of technology that could be used to
make free phone calls. Although the prosecution agreed there was no
unauthorized access, no victims, no fraud, and no costs associated with
the case, Cummings was imprisoned under a little known attachment to the
Digital Telephony bill allowing individuals to be charged in this fashion.
Cummings was portrayed by the Secret Service as a potential terrorist
because of some of the books found in his library.
A year and a half later, Cummings is still in prison, despite the
fact that he became eligible for parole three months ago. But things have
now taken a sudden violent turn for the worse. As apparent retribution for
Cummings' continued outspokenness against the daily harrassment and
numerous injustices that he has faced, he was transferred on Friday
to Lehigh County Prison, a dangerous maximum security facility. Being
placed in this facility was in direct opposition to his sentencing
order. The reason given by the prison: "protective custody".
A day later, Cummings was nearly killed by a dangerous inmate for not
getting off the phone fast enough. By the time the prison guards stopped
the attack, Cummings had been kicked in the face so many times that he
lost his front teeth and had his jaw shattered. His arm, which he tried
to use to shield his face, was also severely injured. It is expected that
his mouth will be wired shut for up to three months. Effectively,
Cummings has now been silenced at last.
)From the start of this ordeal, Cummings has always maintained his
composure and confidence that one day the injustice of his
imprisonment will be realized. He was a weekly contributor to a
radio talk show in New York where he not only updated listeners on
his experiences, but answered their questions about technology.
People from as far away as Bosnia and China wrote to him, having
heard about his story over the Internet.
Now we are left to piece these events together and to find those
responsible for what are now criminal actions against him. We are
demanding answers to these questions: Why was Cummings transferred
for no apparent reason from a minimum security facility to a very
dangerous prison? Why has he been removed from the hospital immediately
after surgery and placed in the infectious diseases ward of the very
same prison, receiving barely any desperately needed medical
attention? Why was virtually every moment of Cummings' prison stay a
continuous episode of harrassment, where he was severely punished for
such crimes as receiving a fax (without his knowledge) or having too
much reading material? Why did the Secret Service do everything in
their power to ruin Ed Cummings' life?
Had these events occurred elsewhere in the world, we would be quick
to condemn them as barbaric and obscene. The fact that such things are
taking place in our own back yards should not blind us to the fact that
they are just as unacceptable.
Lehigh County Prison will be the site of several protest actions as will
the Philadelphia office of the United States Secret Service. For more
information on this, email pro...@2600.com or call our office at
(516) 751-2600.
More information on this case can be found on the following
web site: http://www.2600.com.
9/4/96
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I urge you to post this report to other newgroups,
networks, computer bulletin boards and mailing lists.
It is also important to post hardcopies on the bulletin boards
in campus halls, churches, supermarkets, laundromats, etc. --
any place where concerned citizens can read this vital information.
John DiNardo j...@locust.cic.net
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| If we seriously listen to this God within us [conscience, if you will], |
| we usually find ourselves being urged to take the more difficult path, |
| the path of more effort rather than less. |
| .... Each and every one of us, more or less frequently, will hold |
| back from this work .... Like every one of our ancestors before us, |
| we are all lazy. So original sin does exist; it is our laziness. |
| |
| M. Scott Peck |
| THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED |
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