COMING FRIDAY: ADDICTION MARKETING 101

How Per Wickstrom convinces you to send your family member to his facility for "holistic treatment".

Hint: he spends a fortune on marketing. And Miss Fortune will explain it all...Friday, June 14th.

BEST CHOICE REHABILITATION: BAD JUJU UP IN MARNE?

Best Choice Rehabilitation

The picture at left is an exterior shot of a rundown, abandoned nursing home about to be reborn as Per Wickstrom's newest addition venture, Best Choice Rehabilitation.

The building is located at 15140 16th Avenue in Marne, Michigan.

According to official property records, Wickstrom purchased the building in 2012. A former assisted living/adult foster care home, the place had a checkered history.

CREEKVIEW LODGE SHUTS ITS DOORS

On May 17, 2011, the Grand Rapids Press reported that Creekview Lodge I, a Marne assisted living center operating out of 15140 16th Avenue, was under investigation by the Michigan Department of Human Services. According to the report, the state confirmed that it was investigating the center, which shut down quickly the prior week, giving little notice to elderly residents whose families had to move them to a new home.

The Press reported that interviews with the out-of-state landlord and utility companies paint a picture of a building that had been foreclosed on in recent years — and was for sale — and mounting unpaid gas bills that had led to a recent shutoff notice.

Residents’ family members say they were given four days to find new homes for them after learning that Creekview Lodge I was to close last week. The facility’s owners helped make arrangements for the seniors before surrendering their DHS license.

Creekview’s closure came after its owners were notified the building’s gas would be shut off by the end of last week due to delinquent bills and tens of thousands of dollars owed to the utility, DTE Energy.

In meetings with families, they said the center’s owner, Jill Shepard, blamed the shutdown on the landlord’s failure to pay utility bills. Shepard said Monday she plans to pursue a lawsuit against the building landlord and has it in writing that the utility bills were his company’s responsibility.

But one of the landlords, reached in California, told the Grand Rapids Press a different story. John Edwins, an investor in the property and assistant manager of the limited liability corporation that owned the property, said his company  not responsible for the utility bills. He said he began paying them to help Shepard “get back on her feet” after the property fell into financial distress.

Edwins, an investor with Financial Freedom Loans Inc., said he was one of many investors who lent Shepard millions of dollars to renovate the facility, which she purchased in 2006. Financial Freedom foreclosed on the property in November 2009, Edwins said. At that time, no payment had been made on the property for 19 months, he said.

Soon after the foreclosure, Shepard began leasing the building from Michigan Retirement Holdings for $10 per month, Edwins said.

Shepard had difficulty paying the utility bills, Edwins said, and he attempted to help by paying for them through March 2010.

A spokesman for DTE Energy, Scott Simons, called the Creekview situation “a mess” and said no payment has been received since February. Before that time, partial payments and insufficient checks were received, he said.

Records indicate the State of Michigan never opened an investigation in 2011. However, in early 2009, the Department of Human Services launched an investigation of Creekview after a flurry of complaints landed in Lansing.

Among the complaints were allegations that residents were required to do chores in the facility, that medications were not always administered by staff  as required, bathrooms went unclean for days and they contained urine and fecal materials, and residents would often go days without being showered.

A significant number of violations were established after the investigation and owner Jill Shepard and administrator Marlene Jacobs were given a plan of correction for the 20 bed facility.

In October 2009, the state granted the facility a temporary license after inspecting the facility and completing its investigation.


PER WICKSTROM BUYS "A TRUE LIQUIDATION"

Wickstrom bought the property for a relative song in 2012 when he purchased the bank-owned "distressed" property.

Built in 1975, the property was described on LoopNet as a "potential 100-200 beds facility". The description indicated the property was priced at $1.44MM ($15.6 sq. ft.). Wickstrom must have been there they day they had a 50 percent off sale, since official records show he paid $650,000 for the property.

The facility consists of an assisted living section (one-story) and an independent living section (three-story, partially complete). The two sections are legally separated and have a firewall between the structural walls for the two sections. The assisted living section was appraised at $3.7MM based on a 70 beds operation in November  2007.

The facility includes security and fire alarm systems, two elevators, one drive-in door, and one emergency generator. Amenities include an equipped kitchen and laundry, three dining rooms, two outdoor courtyards, two solariums, three therapy rooms, and a classroom, a beauty parlor, an activity room, and parking for 132 vehicles. 

Miss Fortune wonders if there's enough paint and polish to make this crumbling hulk the "peaceful retreat" described on Best Choice Rehabilitation's newly-released website:
http://www.bestchoicerehabilitation.com/ 

Something tells me the answer is no.

DAVID LEE HUNTER DISCOVERED IN HAWAII! LET'S CAPTURE THIS SCAMMING FUGITIVE!

Michigan fugitive David Lee Hunter in Hawaii, skipping out on bar tab and hotel room charges. Claims on Facebook to be at a resort in Bali.


Hunter was seen at the Sheraton Waikiki's RumFire bar last Friday night, June 7. Accompanied by a woman, he attempted to leave the bar without paying his tab even though he was acting like a big shot, waving around his Walmart prepaid credit card.

When confronted by security about his bar tab, Hunter's female companion paid the tab and the two left together. Hunter reportedly skipped out on paying his room charges.

If you see David Lee Hunter, call your local police department and let them know where he is. Hunter is on the run from a Grand Traverse County, Michigan open felony warrant for a Craigslist rental scam.

In addition, Macomb County, Michigan issued a bench warrant on April 4, 2013 for Hunter's arrest.

The official Macomb County child support case history indicates that Hunter has skipped numerous "show cause" hearings. A show cause hearing legally requires a person who has not paid child support, like David Lee Hunter, to appear before the court to explain to the court why he should not be held in contempt.

David Hunter is a fugitive from a felony warrant issued in 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Here's the link to the story on my blog:
http://glisteningquiveringunderbelly.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-believe-i-can-fly-medical-miracle-man.html

The Traverse City Police detective working the case is Evan Warsecke.

Hunter's list of scams includes a number in Hawaii--about ten years ago when he lived in Oahu, Hunter reportedly stole about $3,000 from the safe at the hotel where he worked.

He also embezzled money from at least two restaurants on Kauai. Miss Fortune interviewed his former boss for a story I called "Misadventures In Paradise""http://glisteningquiveringunderbelly.blogspot.com/2013/04/exclusive-misadventures-in-paradise.html

About two years ago, he was living in Lihue, Kauai and scammed hundreds of thousands in a "private social club" scam he pulled using Kalihi Kai Vista. He told his victims he owned the place and got several people to pay him a $25,000 fee for a membership--in a resort he did not own!

Recently, he's tried to pass himself off as a movie producer (of the new Marvin Gaye biopic) and an investment broker. 

LET'S GET THIS GUY BEHIND BARS! GOING TO PRISON IS HIS BIGGEST FEAR...LET'S GIVE HIM WHAT HE DOESN'T WANT!

BEST DRUG REHABILITATION-MARNE GETS GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERY

BDR goes all girly and stuff with new brand identity--"Best Choice Rehabilitation"


With a logo whose graphic elements looks suspiciously like lady parts, Per Wickstrom is about to barnstorm Marne, Michigan with a "new residential treatment facility".

That's corporate-speak BS for a hell hole that sucks money from every bodily orifice, including a few you didn't know existed.

WHERE THE HELL IS MARNE?

According to the BCR website, Marne is an unincorporated community in Wright Township in Ottawa County, Michigan. You can find Marne off exit 23 on Interstate 96. It is just northwest of Grand Rapids. Marne was originally named Berlin due to the many German settlers. This name was changed to Marne in 1919.

ACTIVE INTERNET MARKETING AND INFOGRAPHICS

Michael Myles and his crew at AIM have been busy as beavers creating florid infographics for BCR that remind Miss Fortune of that great movie, "Reefer Madness". Here's the link to the new site, registered on January 21, 2013 by Per Wickstrom's bumbling nephew, Stephen Anderson (hey, every family has a Fredo).
http://www.bestchoicerehabilitation.com/

Marijuana: The Gateway Drug

 "Reefer Madness", The Gateway to "Fritz the Cat"

Myles and his brew crew at AIM, who've created quite a niche for themselves designing and building "trojan horse" websites for many other Narconon treatment facilities, famously created the memorable soft, gauzy look for Best Drug Rehabilitation.

From AIM's portfolio comes this case study excerpt:

Existing site overhaul for Best Drug Rehabilitation. The project description was simple: recreate every piece of content and all design work to improve organic search traffic and conversion rates. 

Market Analysis We took a close look at who this website was meant to attract, and what their interests and personalities were. Since we already have years of experience in the addiction treatment vertical we were able to quickly segment their target market into just a few personas.

The Plan
Planning out hundreds of pages of content is a tall order. We followed Google’s Webmaster Guidelines every step of the way, and quickly had a complete editorial plan designed and ready for action. A team of writers worked long hours, for a few weeks, to get the 100,000+ words of content written, and off to the optimization, beautification, and publishing team.

Forward Thinking
We knew that we would be able to grow their organic traffic somewhat just by replacing old mediocre content with new excellent content, but the client needed much more than just a small increase. Looking forward to substantial organic traffic increases we created a plan for writing great content, repurposing it as much as possible, and promoting it. This all with the hope that visitors would love the content and share it with their social networks.

The Results
It worked. People saw the client’s new, excellent, content, and shared it. A lot. They posted URLs to infographics to their Pinterest accounts, they shared celebrity blog posts with their Facebook friends. Social signals increase, as did linking root domains. Organic traffic more than doubled in just a few short months, and the new website design increased conversion rates by an incredible 25%.

Translation: Gee, golly, gosh! We managed to put even more filthy lucre in Per Wickstrom's sweaty pockets!  

Here's some more bullshit from Best Choice Rehabilitation, courtesy of the wordsmiths at AIM:

Those battling a daily fight with addiction can find the hope for a brighter future at our facility, Best Choice Rehabilitation in Marne, Michigan. Located in this small town of only 4,500 residents, our facility offers a peaceful retreat for clients to help them feel safe and nurtured during their entire treatment process. Our addiction treatment facility is in a residential setting which means that the client will stay in our homelike environment while receiving treatment. Leaving behind the stress of daily life helps our clients relax and focus their attention toward healing and learning. Our location, surrounded by historical sites and a small-town ambiance, is sure to have a positive effect on the overall success of each our clients.

We also provide a highly skilled and caring staff of professionals from a wide variety of modalities to ensure that each client gets the exact level of attention and support they require. Many of our well-trained, compassionate staff members are recovered addicts themselves. They have been educated to help others going through these struggles. They have experienced all of the feelings and fears each of our clients has, and are empathetic and an excellent support system. Their goal is that each client has the same success that they have had.

Some Program Options at Our Facility

We strive to provide a well-rounded program that meets the needs and preferences of each individual. Through many years of treating addicts, we have gained extensive knowledge about the complexities of addiction and about what works to resolve each contributing aspect involved such as:

• Low self-esteem
• Family history of addiction
• Behavior problems
• Chronic physical health issues
• Traumatic events experienced earlier
• A combination of disorders

In order to make sure each of these factors is addressed, our programs offer:

• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Exercise
• Sauna
• Acupuncture
• Self-help Programs
• Faith-based Approaches to Therapy
• Holistic Treatment
• Native American Treatment
• Aftercare

These methodologies are incorporated to ensure that the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects are treated concurrently to avoid any chance of relapse. Once the client is ready to step back into the real world, our aftercare program provides much needed guidance and support during this period of transition. Best Choice Rehabilitation offers continued counseling and therapy after the client has graduated from our facility. We realize that just because one has been through the treatment programs, it does not mean that they will never have urges or temptations again. We supply a safety net for our clients. If they feel they are about to relapse, we are here to help them through this rough patch and get back on the right track.

If the client does not feel confident returning to their home environment where drugs or alcohol are so easily attainable, we make arrangements for a sober living, also known as halfway, house. Here they live with other recovering addicts while remaining under the supervision of a counselor. They can go about their daily activities and still be monitored in a drug-free and alcohol-free environment. This is another step towards returning to a productive, responsible individual in society.

Client room, or just a picture from the latest West Elm catalog?

In the past, many people treated addicts as if they were possessed by demons. They were isolated in a cold, clinical, impersonal environment and left to suffer through withdrawals on their own. This treatment rarely worked to provide lasting recovery. Today, addiction specialists have learned that addiction is comprised of more than just the physical dependency, and are aware that detox alone is not a cure. Before lasting recovery can be achieved, the individual must learn new behavior patterns and attitudes. They must regain lost confidence and find more effective coping mechanisms, and acquire new skills that can be used to claim their place as a contributing member of society. Our treatment programs are designed to help clients acquire each of these skills and feel motivated and empowered to embark on an addiction-free lifestyle.
Learning about the options available is the first step in seeking addiction treatment. More information about Best Choice Rehabilitation, Marne, Michigan can be obtained by contacting one of our highly skilled professionals day or night. If you are looking for an alcohol or drug treatment facility for you or a loved one, don’t wait until it is too late. 

And guess what? Even though the place hasn't opened yet, the site is already boasting about its "success stories" with testimonials like David's!

"Ups and downs really helped me understand how the life I was previously living was in an anti-social nature. It also help me tell the difference between good and bad friends. Also with the new understanding I found out just because I have a few anti-social traits that doesn’t make me anti-social. So far this book has been the most helpful in my life."
 David H., 2/13/13

Ups and downs? Why, isn't that Book 5 in the Narconon Life Course? Yes, yes it is! (Oh, I'm such an SP!) Gee, Per Wickstrom says BDR and BCR and AFR are NOT Narconon! Could he be lying?

For all of you readers who'd like to apply to be an ass-kicking security guard or a staggering counselor, you'll just have to wait. Even Miss Fortune doesn't know where to send a resume.

But the good news? There are 19 homeless shelters within a 25 mile radius of Marne who may soon be experiencing an influx of new, out-of-state visitors.

SCAMS, SCHEMES & SWINDLES: GUESS DAVID LEE HUNTER'S NEWEST CON GAME

 

Is it a long con or a short con--and Miss Fortune's not talking stature here. I posted this Facebook screen capture yesterday showing David Lee Hunter and his "Aussie mate" Walter.

Or is Walter just a fish out of water and Hunter's newest mark?

Post your guess in the comment box. Miss Fortune thinks it's a recycled version of Hunter's business investment scam.

 

MISS FORTUNE'S PICK FOR COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR!

DIARY OF A FUGITIVE-DAY 80 (DAVID LEE HUNTER'S LIFE ON THE LAM)

Talking business by the sea--looks more like the outdoor food court at a tacky mall.

Hold onto your wallet, Walt! Your "mate" David Lee Hunter might try to get you to pay for his hotel room, his airline ticket, and that frosty cold one.

Hang loose? That only works in prison, Dave!

Here's David Lee Hunter with his bro (or should I say "beau"?) Matthew Theodore enjoying a dinner date at Benihana's in West Hollywood. We get the "pacific rim" joke, Dave. Not buyin' it.

ASS CLOWN TEARDOWN? TRAVERSE CITY "DEVELOPER" AND CHARTER SCHOOL MAVEN STEVE INGERSOLL FACES DEMOLITION IN BAY CITY

Bay City Commission to vote tomorrow night on whether or not to tear down three blighted Bay City properties--and one of them belongs to real estate "developer" and charter school hustler Steve Ingersoll.

Background story:
Steve Ingersoll: Ass Clown and His Media Circus 

The Bay City Times reported in today's edition that

crews this month could tear down three blighted properties in Bay City.

The Bay City Commission during its Monday, June 3 meeting is scheduled to vote on whether or not to tear down structures at 921 and 407 N. Vanburen along with 801 Fraser, records show.

Bay City Acting Manager Dana Muscott said the owners of the structures have not responded to requests to remedy the blight, and after a number of hearings regarding the sites, the city has secured demolition permits.

The commission must give final approval, she said. The group gathers at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the Pere Marquette Depot, 1000 Adams in Bay City.

Muscott said demolitions typically cost $10,000, and the estimated $30,000 in costs for Monday’s measures would be covered by a $226,000 state grant.

City officials in April 2007 began the process at 407 N. Vanburen, owned by Arts District LLC, records show.

And guess who's the owner of this lovely structure?

Mlive.com, Justin Engel

Although Bay City property records show the owner as "Arts District LLC", a check of the State of Michigan's corporation records shows that Arts District LLC is one of Steve Ingersoll's many shell companies. And the Vanburen home is only one of the eight properties Ingersoll controls under the Arts District LLC business entity.

Before you read the official record excerpts below, think about the irony of Steve Ingersoll--feeding at the public tit to fund his "charter school" empire, getting huge property tax breaks, not paying his property taxes, and sticking the taxpayer with the bill for the teardown.

And if the words "ass clown" come to mind, you read it here first!

4 sale record(s) found.

Sale Date Sale Price Instrument Grantor Grantee Terms Of Sale Liber/Page 07/17/2012 $0.00 QCD INGERSOLL, STEVEN J & DEBORAH M ARTS DISTRICT, LLC QUIT CLAIM DEED 2893/282 10/12/2011 $1,600.00 QCD BAY COUNTY TREASURER INGERSOLL, STEVEN J TAX SALE 2830/670 05/26/2011 $0.00 C/D MCEACHIN, ANDREW J BAY COUNTY TREASURER FORECLOSURE 2805/499 02/08/1994 $16,500.00 WD RUNBERG, JOHN S & CAROL A MCEACHIN, ANDREW J WARRANTY DEED 1309/248

Parcel Number	Owner Name  ↑	Property Address
160-033-353-008-00	ARTS DISTRICT LLC	1906 BROADWAY
160-022-309-001-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	1022 N BIRNEY ST
160-027-113-001-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	248 N LINCOLN ST
160-028-204-012-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	407 N VANBUREN ST
160-028-208-008-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	232 N JEFFERSON ST
160-028-208-019-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	253 N MADISON AVE
160-028-240-019-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	241 N FARRAGUT ST
160-028-252-013-00	ARTS DISTRICT, LLC	111 N MONROE ST

CAREERS IN CRIME-AN APPLICANT'S GUIDE TO CON MAN 101

In the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines Histrionic Personality Disorder as a "pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts."  According to the APA, this disorder is diagnosed by identifying at least five of the following behaviors:
 

-Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention

-Interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior

-Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions

-Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self

-Has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail

-Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion

-Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are

Ding, ding, ding! Looks like we've got a match!

For example, let's look at a recent Facebook post from your girl Miss Fortune's favorite fugitive and soon-to-be convicted felon, David Lee Hunter. 

Dazzling hometown friends with tales of his high life has become too old-school for Hunter, so he's troweling on the name-dropping, star-f***er bullshit like Thin-Set on the back of a bathroom tile.

Last Thursday, May 30th, Hunter claimed that Tom Petty "watched me drink alchohol [sic]" before he left to go meet his "girl MIA [sic]": 

You know there's a plot twist coming, right? As transparent as any of the best "Lifetime" movies Miss Fortune loves (especially "Till Murder do us Part: The Betty Broderick Story"), there's a bend in the road.

Notice how Hunter says Petty was just sitting in a club with "his hair up in a ball cap", minding his own business, watching El Davo the Hunted drink "alchohol"?

That's a little tough to do when you're still in New York City for a few days of downtime after playing five sold-out shows at the Beacon Theatre. And his "girl MIA"?  Like Hunter's conscience, she's not in his mother's basement either.       Free fallin', anyone?

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN? "GREEK SPARTAN" A KNOWN ASSOCIATE OF DAVID LEE HUNTER

Burp! Anybody seen my car?

The man in the mugshot is Matthew Theodore, although if you follow this blog (and who the hell doesn't, eh?) you might recognize him as one of David Lee Hunter's "business partners" in the South African music festival scam.

Yes, I used the "S" word! So sue me, already.

Miss Fortune hears El Davo The Hunted is trolling LA's tastiest tranny bars with Mr. Theodore. So if you spot this mug at The Silver Platter or the Frolic Room or even Franks N Hanks, nudge the lady next to you and have him call the police.

Chances are good Theodore's running with David Hunter, and there are at least two warrants out for Hunter's arrest.

Here's a refresh: