Threats, Intimidation, Lies, Forgeries, Fakes, How Far Will Hernando's "Crime Family" Go?

HERNANDO – Since President Donald Trump took office in 2016, he's endured multiple impeachments, arrests, prosecutions - persecutions - and even an assassination attempt on his life, all in an effort to prevent him from returning to the White House in 2025. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see that the efforts have been methodically planned and carried out by the Progressive Left and the Biden Administration. Now I'm not saying the assassination attempt was part of a conspiracy but the epic and unprecedented failure of the Secret Service sure makes one raise a lot of questions about how it happened.

Hernando County is dominated by Republicans, but don't be fooled, most of them aren't "Trump" style conservatives and they certainly do not want their swamp drained. One of the main reasons Trump was elected and then "re-elected" in 2020, is because he promised to drain the swamp in Washington D.C. Trump was not just referring to Democrat leadership, oh no, he wanted to take out all dirty backdoor dealers, especially those belonging to the Republican Party. That same "Swamp" is what's taken over Hernando County under the current RINO, establishment, and they aren't going to hand over power to real conservative leaders without a fight – even if they have to lie, cheat, and destroy anyone who gets in their way.

For those who may be new to Hernando County and do not know the history of my news reporting, let me provide a brief history lesson.

In 2015, while operating Real News Real Fast, I stumbled upon a criminal operation disguised as a domestic violence shelter in Spring Hill. Dawn Center used to be a reputable and genuine asset to victims of domestic violence, but the new local RINO club found a way to tap into the voting demographic associated with Dawn Center, primarily Democrat women.

Throughout my near-10-year investigation, I discovered evidence of drug trafficking, human/child trafficking, sexual abuse, physical abuse, kidnapping, prostitution, and most recently federal fraud and forgery. Despite dozens if not hundreds of complaints I received from former employees and clients, Sheriff Al Nienhuis refused to launch a single investigation into the nonprofit. As a side note, former Dawn Center executive April Johnson helped Nienhuis facilitate the attacks on R News and even filed her own false report against me for alleged harassment. Thanks to a few good honorable deputies, I was tipped off at the plot and immediately filed a complaint. Yes, that's right, everything suddenly went away quietly.

In 2016, then-Representative Blaise Ingoglia offered me $250,000 to stop writing articles about the corruption. When I declined the offer, the next two years brought a hailstorm of attacks that ultimately led to multiple false arrest attempts, two false arrests, a wrongful conviction, a false arrest against my son, and my business being stolen through a dirty deal orchestrated by Sheriff Nienhuis. Again, not a single state or federal agency would launch an inquiry into the mafia-style attacks perpetrated by local elected officials. It didn't take long to realize the local mafia was "untouchable." Oh, and don't bother trying to search for any of my articles between 2011 and 2019 because they immediately deleted any trace of my work from the internet, so that it couldn't be used against them in future elections. If you want to know the full story, watch my documentary Behind the Gate.

Now that I've built a foundation, let's take a look at what the establishment incumbents are doing to their opponents to hold on to power.

Just before this year's June 14th qualifying deadline, the "Mob" fired a warning shot over the bow of all the non-establishment candidates, hoping they would reconsider their candidacy. In an email never sent to candidates before, Supervisor of Elections Shirley Anderson stated:

Qualifying is fast approaching, and elections will begin to heat up. I would like to remind you of some very important election laws. Election integrity and lawful campaign financing are foundational to our elections and to our system of government. If you have any concerns about the listed statutes, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Sheriff's Office, the Division of Elections, Florida Elections Commission, Florida Commission on Ethics, or myself.

It sounds like Anderson was just trying to make sure everything went smoothly for all candidates, but don't be fooled, Anderson is dating the "Godfather" of local politics, Blaise Ingoglia's father, Andrew Ingoglia – and that should be enough to make an educated judgment, but there's more.

Anderson warns candidates and media outlets about serious criminal implications associated with candidates who use "Internet Media" to promote their campaigns. Anderson writes: "Here are a couple of the more serious crimes/statutes that are especially important to candidates and their supporters:"

Why is this unusual? Because the "Mob" wanted to make sure they did not use the only media source that could threaten the incumbent's chances of reelection – R News. You see, I don't care what they do to me anymore. I stand by my values as a truth-telling, traditional, checks and balances journalist. I won't get rich doing it, but end the end I'll have peace of mind knowing that I didn't sell out to the crime family - but I digress...

The following statute was placed in the email with the term "the Internet" highlighted for candidates to see. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know Anderson was warning candidates not to advertise with R News. Sadly, for the establishment, some of them didn't listen.

(4) "Communications media" means broadcasting stations, newspapers, magazines, outdoor advertising facilities, printers, direct mail, advertising agencies, the Internet, and telephone companies; but with respect to telephones, an expenditure is deemed to be an expenditure for the use of communications media only if made for the costs of telephones, paid telephonists, or automatic telephone equipment to be used by a candidate or a political committee to communicate with potential voters but excluding the costs of telephones incurred by a volunteer for use of telephones by such volunteer; however, with respect to the Internet, an expenditure is deemed an expenditure for use of communications media only if made for the cost of creating or disseminating a message on a computer information system accessible by more than one person but excluding internal communications of a campaign or of any group.

On a side note, after taking a three-year hiatus from reporting news in Hernando County, I notified the "mob" that I would be returning in early 2022 under R News. As soon as I launched my new website, I received a text message from Commissioner John Allocco who asked to speak to me by phone. When he called, he stated, "Tom, do you mind if I pray for you?" Befuddled at the strange request, I said, "Okay." After about a 2-minute prayer, John said, "That's all" and we ended the call. looking back now and witnessing the lengths the establishment will go to in protecting their empire, I realize that John was actually delivering a, "Il bacio della morte," or "the kiss of death." After what I've experienced with them over the years, I'm not sure how seriously I should take the threat.

The Sheriff's Office didn't hold back either and quickly contacted a private company that provides immediate notifications of press releases around the state, Media-Alert, and told them to stop working with R News. The evil gatekeeper for the Sheriff, Public Information Officer Denise Moloney, refused to answer my questions, respond to media-related emails, and quickly blocked me from the agency's Facebook page. Hmm, what are they scared of?

The above is just a taste of what they will do to prevent an independent journalist from doing their job. I'm sure a lot more is to come, which is why I have chosen to live outside the county.

Now, let's move on to what they are doing to the opposition candidates, since we are in the homestretch of the Primary Election on August 20th.

In full disclosure, Joe Puglia and Marvin Baynham have purchased advertising with R News. Also in full disclosure, at the beginning of the election cycle, I contacted all the incumbents and offered my advertising service, but of course, none of them responded. Well, except John Allocco who told me, "My opponent better spend a lot of money to try and beat me." Allocco may have spoken too soon because there are sources who say Baynham may just be beating him.

When being a good sport and winning fairly doesn't work, always turn to cheating and lying, right? No, of course not, but that's what they are doing to the Baynham campaign, now that it appears he is doing well.

Over the last few weeks, the mob has begun a campaign of hit pieces mailed out to voters around the county alleging that Baynham is a socialist, that he supported the Biden Harris Campaign, and even voted for late-term abortion. Let's break that down.

First, Baynham doesn't try to hide the fact that he was once a registered Democrat, but he has made it very clear to voters that his views have changed. On a side note, Allocco flat lied about not running for a third term and just told voters, "I changed my mind." What's good for the goose... Baynham says the black community has been lied to by the Democrat Party for decades. He knows the lies they tell and how they've done nothing but oppress black communities. Of course, the mob took advantage of that past and used it in a recent mail-out to try and sway voters. Okay, that's fair game but not what followed.

Last week, Baynham was contacted by 19-year-old Liv Caputo, a student at Florida State University (Coincidentally in Tallahassee), claiming to be a journalist with the Floridian Press. Right, I never heard of it either. Caputo asked why Baynham signed a petition in favor of late-term abortions. Baynham vehemently denies the claim and says the document is a forgery. Baynham even cited other investigations involving political forgeries perpetrated by a group associated with, you guessed it, the local mafia. It should be noted that Florida Press is just an news aggregate and is most likely run by one of many shell PACs used to launder money for local incumbent campaigns.

Just when you thought they couldn't stoop any lower, Baynham says his opponent is sending out mailers that shows him wearing a Biden/Harris logo on his shirt and hat. Well, Baynham provided a side-by-side comparison of the fake image and the original that proves it was really his Fire Department logo. How reprehensible. A first responder who has spent his career saving lives and protecting property, only to have dirty politicians try to soil that honor.

Candidate for Sheriff Joe Puglia is preparing for what he expects to be all-out-war on his campaign, but so far, the attacks have been limited to questioning his experience as a law enforcement officer. A laughable attack, says Puglia, because his experience with NYPD and New Port Richey P.D. is immensely more valuable than sitting behind a desk and playing politics your entire career. Puglia says, "I know what it's like to sit in a patrol car, respond to calls, and actually make arrests." Puglia has seen what the current regime has done to the citizens and deputies of Hernando County and he's ready to make change.

Part of Puglia's plan is to bring back transparency and protect his deputies through the immediate implementation of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs). He says he'll consider making changes to the radio encryption that just went into effect and bring back morale to the deputies. Puglia is also vehemently opposed to placing a $350 million burden on the taxpayers, just so Nienhuis can build a massive, windowless law enforcement compound.

Republican Ryan Amsler has fared well so far, despite a few verbal warnings to stay away from R News. That may be because the establishment has given up on his opponent Commissioner Beth Narverud, who some say is causing damage to the establishment.

Over the last year, Narverud has led an unpopular fight to try and remove Animal Shelter Director James Terry and turn over operations to Sheriff Al Nienhuis. Making things worse, the recent "slaughterhouse" failure has a lot of voters questioning Nienhuis' ability to protect animals.

The mob stays away from attacking Commissioner Steve Champion because he has proven to have the support of most conservative voters. Champion is the only commissioner who will push back against the machine and opposes all tax and budget increases without knowing the facts. The other four commissioners follow the mobs' orders and always "rubber stamps" budget increases, especially their pal Sheriff Nienhuis'.

Champion's does have a "Republican" challenger, but she has a reputation of aligning herself with Democrats. After she lost her bid for Hernando County School Board in 2022, she quickly threw her support behind Democrat incumbent Susan Duval. That and her lack of understanding how to manage a multimillion-dollar budget, is what Champion hopes will be enough to easily put him over the top in the upcoming Primary.

There is still fifteen days until the Primary Election, so a lot can happen. Just do your homework and don't believe everything you read in a mail-out.

After watching my documentary, please purchase my book for more details into the Hernando County Mafia: Victim Shopping 101 by Tom Lemons