US Navy veteran locked up in Thai prison, family pleas for help

[ericthai]

10 hours ago, skippybangkok said:

What amazes me, they still find greedy suckers.

Used to get a lot of calls from suave talking boiler room guys, always happy to meet them in a very difficult to get to and return from location ( ie 6 pm meeting @ restaurant deep in a soi in Chaengwattana). The dumb ones call back for a second appointment

I guess I have been struck of the list now


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

Great idea! maybe I can get taken off their call lists too.

[ukrules]

If he had any idea of the extent of the illegality of what went on here do you really think he would come to Thailand on holiday?

 

I think not.....he would avoid all of SE Asia because he would know they're looking for him.

 

He's a pawn.

 

In the event that the Thais can only catch and imprison a pawn then that's what they do.

 

They love to send these sacrificial lambs to prison for decades and then declare that they've won - that's how the entire drugs industry has been executed for decades in Thailand. They arrest and imprison the morons who carry that crap and declare victory.

Edited June 17, 2019 by ukrules

[CaptainJack]

What amazes me is how many Americans get on a plane and leave the security of their own country and do not understand how the American Embassy and State Department operates.   I have been traveling for work or pleasure this planet for 40 years, and as long as I can remember,  the rule is, "You are on your own".  The American Embassy will not help except under very limited circumstances.

 

It does not matter if he is guilty or innocent.   It is that he is stupid!  Period.

 

His family better get ready to sell their home and take every penny they have to get his freedom,  and that may not be enough.   

 

Every one of us on TV run the risk that our opinions about politics and such could be deemed "subversive " and we end up in jail.  Most of us understand the limitations of what we can say, and censor ourselves. 

 

Bottom line, and this is not just Thailand.  Keep a low profile,  don't get drunk in public,  don't dare get in an argument with a local and for d*mn sure, don't use drugs. And remember in almost all none western countries.  You are guilty until proven innocent.   

 

<removed>

 

Spoken by an American. 

[brianj1964]

1 hour ago, thaibreaker said:

Are you for real?

If you have read the whole story, you would know that it is not him in the video as Eddy McClough.

He is not any longer a suspect of acting in this video.

 

If you have seen any video with Derrick in it, please share. None are presented in this thread, other than the pictures on the previous page.

He doesn't even have to read the whole story just the first few lines of HIS link

[CaptainJack]

Welcome to Klong Prem.

 

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/features/life-behind-bars-ex-prisoners-describe-typical-day-thai-prison/

[user68677878]

Sadly naivety is no defence in this part of the globe. As a vet he should have been more savvy. Especially here where "huckster" is a career choice by so many. 

[Nowisee]

13 hours ago, SanookTeufel said:

He's obviously guilty... The fact the news try's to spin it off as though he's not is upsetting.

I hope he gets the max sentence.

I googled Eagle Gates group and it turns out it's been a known Ponzi scheme for a long time.

I guess his whole family is in denial...

 

Based solely on this post... please do not ever become a juror.  

 

 

[Myran]

2 hours ago, Zikomat said:

He does not look like a fraudster to me (unlike some other guys on the photos above). My guess, he did not know how bad the people who hired him were. I hope he will not be punished too harsh. 

What does a fraudster look like? Is there a specifik type of appearance that makes you unable to commit fraud?

[CaptainJack]

11 minutes ago, porphyry said:

Sadly naivety is no defence in this part of the globe. As a vet he should have been more savvy. Especially here where "huckster" is a career choice by so many. 

Porphyry,

 

I respectfully disagree.   Veterans,  even combat veterans (I am one) don't have more savvy regarding the differences between the USA and other countries legal systems.   They are trained for combat and survival in hostile environments,  and not much more.  I had to learn the hard way about international travel long after by service.   

 

I understand why many think veterans should have better awareness of these systems.   It just doesn't work that way.  My opinion. 

[ttrd]

13 minutes ago, CaptainJack said:

Porphyry,

 

I respectfully disagree.   Veterans,  even combat veterans (I am one) don't have more savvy regarding the differences between the USA and other countries legal systems.   They are trained for combat and survival in hostile environments,  and not much more.  I had to learn the hard way about international travel long after by service.   

 

I understand why many think veterans should have better awareness of these systems.   It just doesn't work that way.  My opinion. 

It's a difference between lack of knowledge and naivety - in this case it seems that it was the last …

[madmen]

1 hour ago, CaptainJack said:

What amazes me is how many Americans get on a plane and leave the security of their own country and do not understand how the American Embassy and State Department operates.   I have been traveling for work or pleasure this planet for 40 years, and as long as I can remember,  the rule is, "You are on your own".  The American Embassy will not help except under very limited circumstances.

 

It does not matter if he is guilty or innocent.   It is that he is stupid!  Period.

 

His family better get ready to sell their home and take every penny they have to get his freedom,  and that may not be enough.   

 

Every one of us on TV run the risk that our opinions about politics and such could be deemed "subversive " and we end up in jail.  Most of us understand the limitations of what we can say, and censor ourselves. 

 

Bottom line, and this is not just Thailand.  Keep a low profile,  don't get drunk in public,  don't dare get in an argument with a local and for d*mn sure, don't use drugs. And remember in almost all none western countries.  You are guilty until proven innocent.   

 

<removed>

 

Spoken by an American. 

Nonsense , doubt you have travelled past your parents basement. Have had 2  friends that were having serious problems and the US embassy stepped in and both are back on home soil. ( Im not US)

Edited June 17, 2019 by madmen

[CaptainJack]

9 minutes ago, ttrd said:

It's a difference between lack of knowledge and naivety - in this case it seems that it was the last …

Agreed.

[ocddave]

25 minutes ago, Myran said:

What does a fraudster look like? Is there a specifik type of appearance that makes you unable to commit fraud?

Well it definitely wouldn't be the Elite, they are without fault, it would probably be someone with dark skin, and more than likely poor. 

[CaptainJack]

7 minutes ago, madmen said:

Nonsense , doubt you have travelled past your parents basement. Have had 2  friends that were having serious problems and the US embassy stepped in and both are back on home soil. ( Im not US)

I'm 67 years old, have traveled to over 40 countries.   What is your problem? Oh! I forgot who you are.  Your one of those that derives pleasure from insulting others on TV.  Have a nice day. 

 

Lol......

Edited June 17, 2019 by CaptainJack

[CaptainJack]

Time for the family to stop asking for help and get to work themselves.   Money, and lots of it.  Plus, one of the family needs to learn the Thai legal system and plan to live in an adjacent country for the next year.  Oh! I won't know for another month if I'm getting a new contract working in Vietnam.   I'll not be back to Thailand for some time.   I'm wondering?  Is there anyone here on TV willing to go visit this American in prison?  If he is only guilty of being just darn stupid,  some visitors might be helpful. 

[Traubert]

As a few people have said, yes, you get white monkey jobs in China. Usually you get paid 2/300CNY a day, you get fed, and maybe a nice bottle at the end of the day. I pass them on these days, I can't be arsed to put a suit on.

 

What you dont get is 17,000CNY a month for six months for appearing in a few videos, and what you never do is sign anything, not even for the money they pay you. They get an 'x' or 'M Mouse' from me and everybody knows the game.

 

There is certainly more to this story than in the article above, and as we all know, anyone locked up abroad is always an innocent, upright, pious, saintly, misunderstood, family man right?

 

Well share your tales of Naval heroism with your fellow inmates. You'll be there a long time. Another greedy pej thinking Asians are daft.

[scottydel]

What a hot mess.  He clearly doesn't seem like the mastermind behind this.  Not entirely sure he's only a victim though.  It's hard to say without all of the facts.  At some point, it's plausible that he should have suspected something was up.  Even if all of these "events" he was photographed in seem real, for all we know there were cameras nearby and he thought all of this was part of the "acting" work.  Possible, but very hard to say.  When you add language and culture barriers, it's even harder.  Maybe he really didn't know he was involved in foul play?  Who knows.  How much time did his "work" span?  The shorter time he was involved, the more likely he really didn't know.

I believe he went into this with good intentions.  At some point did he suspect or realize what was going on?  He will probably have a lot of time to think about that.
 

Edited June 17, 2019 by scottydel

[Huckenfell]

On 6/17/2019 at 9:44 AM, Matzzon said:

Maybe because it´s not millions, but 1 billion instead. However, I must agree to the strange circumstances that he is remanded to the worst prison before sentencing. According to me he would be out on bail, preparing his defense like most other suspects. On the other hand, maybe his wife and family can´t pay or he was denied bail out of the gigantic amount connected to the criminal offense.

It would be nice if people stop believing that there are something as golden pants, that will bring you great fortune almost for free. I guess he should have been checking up what he signed up for. Sounds to me he will have a hard time getting out of this. of course, there is always the chance that he is guilty and knew exactly what he was doing too.

He should have got a job with Red Bull (Thailand)

[geisha]

God, this thread is like rumours. Every person adds something on, and all rubbish. It was not him ‘ all over the news’, he earned 15000$ over 6 months, a very average wage for doing publicity .( never seen on tv actors acting as insurance experts/ doctors/ dentists etc ??) he hasn’t earned billions, and billions did not go through his bank account which doesn’t exist. Get your facts right before condemning someone !!! 

[Tomahawk21]

theirs no smoke without fire, this sort of things never happens to normal people, living responsible lives and jobs. theirs a lot more to this story.

[Tomahawk21]

5 minutes ago, Tomahawk21 said:

theirs no smoke without fire, this sort of things never happens to normal people, living responsible lives and jobs. theirs a lot more to this story.

thank you Colin ????

[JamJar]

1 hour ago, Tomahawk21 said:

theirs no smoke without fire, this sort of things never happens to normal people, living responsible lives and jobs. theirs a lot more to this story.

 

When I was a backpacker, there was a time when I was approached almost daily to act in Thai TV commercials. Probably because they thought I looked like a famous sportsman. They even went as far as arriving at my guesthouse every day to beg me to do it.

I refused, as I was on holiday and didn't want to spend my time working when I didn't need the money anyway. 

But I knew some people who accepted such work and loved the adulation they would get from Thai girls, being on Thai TV. I'm shy, so prefer to keep a low profile. 

[Misty]

18 minutes ago, JamJar said:

 

When I was a backpacker, there was a time when I was approached almost daily to act in Thai TV commercials. Probably because they thought I looked like a famous sportsman. They even went as far as arriving at my guesthouse every day to beg me to do it.

I refused, as I was on holiday and didn't want to spend my time working when I didn't need the money anyway. 

But I knew some people who accepted such work and loved the adulation they would get from Thai girls, being on Thai TV. I'm shy, so prefer to keep a low profile. 

Yup. This happens more often than some think. You weren't interested, but a naive, relatively new trailing spouse expat with nothing much to do and wanting to earn some cash could be an easy target.  The Texan sounds more like a fallguy than a boiler room mastermind. Hope there will be more reporting on the real criminals involved.

[skippybangkok]

 

When I was a backpacker, there was a time when I was approached almost daily to act in Thai TV commercials. Probably because they thought I looked like a famous sportsman. They even went as far as arriving at my guesthouse every day to beg me to do it.

I refused, as I was on holiday and didn't want to spend my time working when I didn't need the money anyway. 

But I knew some people who accepted such work and loved the adulation they would get from Thai girls, being on Thai TV. I'm shy, so prefer to keep a low profile. 

 

Nah, you think your going to be an underwear model but it quickly descends into a porn movie :)

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[metisdead]

A post containing an offensive trolling remark directed at other TVF members has been removed as well as a reply. 

[arithai12]

On 6/17/2019 at 4:53 AM, webfact said:

He is a son, a husband, a father to two kids and a Navy veteran.

Can someone find a man who is not a son. And who cares if he served in the Navy? I don't know an iota about his case, but this kind of reporting (the original article not the copy and paste) puts me off.

[gk10002000]

sounds like a money grab and a case of the Thais hoping to extort money from a foreigner who has little recourse and in the mean time is being held in a cage unfit for animals. 

[Traubert]

1 hour ago, gk10002000 said:

sounds like a money grab and a case of the Thais hoping to extort money from a foreigner who has little recourse and in the mean time is being held in a cage unfit for animals. 

Or then again, they could have the mouthpiece for a pyramid scheme that is both illegal in China where he signed up and in Thailand, where he was arrested.

[JamJar]

10 hours ago, skippybangkok said:

 

Nah, you think your going to be an underwear model but it quickly descends into a porn movie ????

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

No, one gig was actually as an extra for a large 'Hollywood' production. The others were for TV commercials. Since I already told you that some of my fellow travellers became quite famous for starring in TV commercials.

Why the need to post such off topic nonsense? Did you imagine it to be funny?

 

I explained my experience, as someone doubted that it is likely or possible, that the subject of this thread could have got involved in making a promo video. Stating;

 

Quote

this sort of things never happens to normal people, living responsible lives and jobs

 

There is clearly a lot that happens outside of that person's experience that has no sinister intent.

 

So no need to drag the conversation into the gutter. There is nothing funny about this story.

 

[observer90210]

There is never any smoke without some sort of fire somewhere.....sorry !