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From 1976 to 1978, Riconosciuto served a two-year prison sentence at [[Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc]], California, adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base. While there, Riconosciuto alleged to have befriended Benjamin Kalka, an on-and-off-again "bit player" in San Francisco's cocaine traffic; Kalka would later become known as a "major supplier of methamphetamine on those same San Francisco streets."<ref name = "Moushey">{{cite web
From 1973 to 1978, Riconosciuto served prison sentences for his various convictions at [[Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc]], California, adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base. While there, Riconosciuto alleged to have befriended Benjamin Kalka, an on-and-off-again "bit player" in San Francisco's cocaine traffic; Kalka would later become known as a "major supplier of methamphetamine on those same San Francisco streets."<ref name = "Moushey">{{cite web
| last = Moushey
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| first = Bill
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Revision as of 18:01, 5 March 2009

Michael James Riconosciuto (pronounced Riconoshooto) (born December 29, 1948) is a convicted, American, methamphetamine chemist who has been connected to several major conspiracy theories. His possible involvement covers expertise in computers, electronics, explosives, espionage, and fiction.

Convicted on seven drug-related charges in early 1992,[1] Riconosciuto professed a defense centered on the Inslaw Affair (a legal case in which the U.S. Government was charged with illegal use of computer software).[2] Riconosciuto claimed to be an electronics, computer expert and to have reprogrammed Inslaw's case-management program (Promis) with a secret "back-door" to allow clandestine tracking of individuals. Riconosciuto stated that his knowledge of the 1970s software made him a threat to the United States Government, particularly to the Department of Justice, and that this resulted in his incarceration.[3] Riconosciuto produced information suggesting an undetermined level of involvement in the so-called "October Surprise Conspiracy", as well as in other plots.[4][5] Some of Riconosciuto's supporters see his prosecution as a means of interfering with his freedom to inform the public with his views on Inslaw, describing him as a political prisoner.[citation needed] Special Counsel, retired federal judge, Nicholas J. Bua, writing in conclusion of his Bua Report on Inslaw Inc. v. United States Government, wrote, "Riconosciuto's story about Promis reminds us of a historical novel; a tale of total fiction woven against the background of accurate historical facts."[6]

See also: Inslaw Inc. v. United States Government

Biography

Early background in science

Details of Riconosciuto's early life are uncertain.

Riconoscuito has demonstrated technical and scientific abilities. According to an article originally published in the Village Voice:

Riconoscuito was a gifted child: When he was just 10 years old, Michael wired his parents' neighborhood with a working private telephone system that undercut Ma Bell; in the eighth grade, he won a science fair with a model for a three-dimensional sonar system. By the time he was a teenager, he had won so many science fairs with exhibits of laser technology that he was invited to be a summer research assistant at Stanford University's prestigious Cooper Vapor Laser Laboratory. Dr. Arthur Schalow [sic], a Nobel laureate, remembers him — "You don't forget a 16-year-old youngster who shows up with his own argon laser."

— Ridgeway and Vaughan, "The Last Days of Danny Casolaro"[7]

1970s

In the late 1960's, Riconoscuito was under surveillance by police investigating drug offenses. He was arrested, jailed, and convicted on October 5, 1973, for the manufacture of PCP, using a houseboat-laboratory which was located below decks.[6][8] Authors Ridgeway and Vaughan, describe Riconosciuto's activity in their 1991 Villiage Voice article:

At the time, his father testified that Michael was engaged in "underwater research" and had discussed "using electronic means to clean up pollutants in water." The narcotics agents who arrested the young Riconosciuto said they'd

had him under surveillance off and on since 1968.

— Ridgeway and Vaughan, "The Last Days of Danny Casolaro"[7]

Washington State appellate-court records, also indicate that Riconosciuto had convictions for bail jumping and burglary in 1974.[6]Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page).

A court reporter for the Tacoma Morning News Tribune claims Riconosciuto's court file contained a psychiatric examination of Riconoscuito in 1972 before his first drug conviction, describing him as mentally unstable, unable to distinguish fact from fiction.[9]

From 1973 to 1978, Riconosciuto served prison sentences for his various convictions at Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc, California, adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base. While there, Riconosciuto alleged to have befriended Benjamin Kalka, an on-and-off-again "bit player" in San Francisco's cocaine traffic; Kalka would later become known as a "major supplier of methamphetamine on those same San Francisco streets."[10]

Upon release from prison (circa 1979), Riconosciuto was employed as an engineer at a mine in Maricopa, California.[11] The mine was owned by ex-fireworks magnate W. Patrick Moriarty[nb 1], and was managed by Riconosciuto's father, Marshall Riconosciuto, a long-time friend of the Pacific Coast's no. 1, explosives manufacturer, Moriarity. Three years prior to Riconosciuto's release from prison in 1976, a partnership had been formed between Moriarty, Marshall Riconosciuto, and ten other limited partners. At that time, Hercules Properties, Ltd. had raised financing and purchased a 167-acre contaminated waste-disposal site which had once been a portion of a 1300-acre TNT and fertilizer manufacturer known as Hercules Powder Works,[13] and which was located along Pablo Bay in Contra Costa County, California.[14] "The community of Hercules, named for the factory, is still recognized by its rusting tanks and smoke stacks."[13] By 1979, Michael Riconosciuto claimed to be a research scientist at a company called Hercules Research;[11] however, since the 167-acre dumpsite remained unimproved until 1985,[13] there is no conclusive or reliable verification for the actual existence of Hercules Research.

Computer expertise, and espionage

1980s: The October Surprise Conspiracy

Riconosciuto has stated that he delivered millions of dollars in 1980 to Iran as a payoff for the "October Surprise Conspiracy".[verification needed]

Further information: [[:Earl Brian]] and [[:Peter Videnieks]]

1990s: The Inslaw Affair

On March 21, 1991, Riconosciuto filed a court affidavit[15] in the case Inslaw Inc. v. United States Government declaring that under the direction of Earl Brian (a controlling shareholder and director of Hadron, Inc., a government consulting firm), he modified a case-management program which had been developed for the Department of Justice by Washington, D.C.-based Inslaw Inc..[16] Within nine days of this declaration, Riconosciuto was arrested on serious drug charges.[17] His arrest occurred shortly before the death of freelance writer and journalist Danny Casolaro on August 10, 1991. Casolaro had been researching material for Inslaw Inc. and the material had centered on a very contentious bankruptcy case involving software piracy by high-ranking officials of the U.S. Department of Justice. Casolaro used Riconosciuto as a source for that research, as well as investigating Riconosciuto's participation in the alleged copyright infringement.[16] By September 1991, Casolaro's death had been twice ruled a suicide; yet some, close friends and observers had argued that there were too many unanswered questions to overlook the possibility of murder.[18]

Prison

Currently incarcerated in Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island (San Pedro, California) (see), Riconosciuto now claims to have developed what he calls a barometric bomb or pineapple bomb.[11] Further, he has presented some controversial evidence supporting his claims to have correctly predicted the September 11, 2001 attacks.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ W.Patrick Moriarty would go to prison in 1985 for what then-U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner called "the most significant corruption case in recent California history."[12]

Further reading

  • O'Meara, Kelly Patricia (2001-01-29). "Nothing is Secret, Part I". Insight magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)—The Plot Thickens in PROMIS Affair(Part II) — PROMIS Trail Leads to Justice, (Part III) — PROMIS Spins Web of Intrigue, (Part IV)
  • Hurley, Michael T. (2004-04-30). I Solemnly Swear. iUniverse. p. 539. ISBN 9780595299478. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (1992-01-19). "Jury Says Guilty -- Man Claims Frame-Up But Faces 20-Year Term After Verdict On Seven Drug-Related". Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  2. ^ Smith, Carlton (1991-08-29). "Worldwide Conspiracy, Or Fantasy? -- Felon's Story Checks Out - Kind Of". Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  3. ^ Associated Press (1992-01-02). "Defendant Says Government Drug Charges Are Part Of Vendetta". Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  4. ^ Case No. 85-00070, affidavit: Michael J. Riconosciuto, March 21, 1991
  5. ^ Richardson, Elliot L. (1991-10-21). "A High-Tech Watergate". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  6. ^ a b c Lane, Ambrose I. (1995). Return of the Buffalo: The Story Behind America's Indian Gaming Explosion. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 174–175. ISBN 0897894332. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) (See: section (iii.) Bua Report, "Riconosciuto's March 29, 1981 (sic) arrest".)
  7. ^ a b Ridgeway, James (1991-10-15). "The Last Days of Danny Casolaro". Paranormalnews. com. Retrieved 2008-09-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)(excerpts of an article originally published in The Village Voice)
  8. ^ Martin, Harry (1991). "House Judiciary investigators seek new declaration". The Napa Sentinel and Free America. Retrieved 2008-09-04. (See: paragraph 6.)
  9. ^ Berlet, Chip (1993). "Big Stories, Spooky Sources: Michael Riconosciuto". Political Research Associates (PRA). Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  10. ^ Moushey, Bill (1998-11-23). "Federal sting often put more drugs on the streets (cont.), Part 2 of 10". Pittsburg Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-09-02. See: Section "A little help from his friends", paragraph 11.
  11. ^ a b c Grabbe, J. Orlin (2001-11-01). "When Osama Bin Laden Was Tim Osman". The Laissez Faire City Times, Vol 5, No 46. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  12. ^ Pugmire, Lance (2006-09-12). "Manure Plant Fuels Only Lawsuit". Los Angeles Times. pp. A1. Retrieved 2009-02-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) (paragraph 6)
  13. ^ a b c State of California, Department of Toxic Substances Control (2005). "Brownfield Revitalization: Hercules Powder Works" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  14. ^ "Dynamic Hercules". Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  15. ^ Case No. 85-00070, affidavit: Michael J. Riconosciuto, March 21, 1991
  16. ^ a b Committe on the Judiciary (1992-09-10). "House Report 102-857:THE INSLAW AFFAIR, Investigative Report". Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  17. ^ Lee, Gary (1991-03-31). "Key Witness in Justice Dept. Software Case Jailed". The Washington Post. pp. A13 ($fee). Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  18. ^ McMullen,, Barbara E. (1991-08-19). "Inslaw Death Investigation Continues..." Newsbytes. pp. 18–21. Retrieved 2008-09-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  19. ^ Riconosciuto Warns of 9-11
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