ACI Blues

December 17, 2010

Today I learned that Ron Bell, CEO/Owner of First Services, LLC, is under investigation and it is possible that he may not be returning to continue with his telemarketing business at Eagle Point Unit.

For those just joining Persevering Prison Pages, I had previously written about my resigning with First Services a few months ago.

Based on what I've heard discussed through the unit, here's the gist of it...

Mr. Bell was hiring prisoners to work for First Services, based on demand. When First Services would secure a contract with a business, generally on a trial basis, Mr. Bell would hire the number of prisoners required to fulfill the contract. Some of the prisoners hired by Mr. Bell do have computer skills, but most have only barely earned their GED (a requirement for working at ACI). It's apparent that Mr. Bell hired a prisoner who had more than just a functional knowledge of computers. This prisoner was employed by Mr. Bell for only a few months, when he was let go after Mr. Bell discovered that he was not performing the telemarketing calls he was hired to make.

Well, this guy left the yard and apparently on his way out he told the staff that while he was working at First Services, Ron Bell had him doing things which were not only a violation of ADOC/ACI policy, but could be a violation of State and Federal laws. Criminal acts.

Ron Bell has not been present, not anybody else, to run First Services' business since these accusations. All orangemen workers are suspended and not working either.

Rumor has it that Ron Bell and his employees (orangemen included) are under investigation for a range of things. Possibly obtaining a top of the line hacker program, hacking, stealing, and an inmate doing a blog from in First Services are just a few things ADOC is supposedly investigating. The blog I found interesting and had to ask about, which I spoke to the Lt., explaining how I had this and have had for multiple years and did it via a third party by pen, paper and snail-mail. Persevering Prison Pages has never had a single entry done from any computer inside prison. I don't suspect anything will pan out investigating me and my blog, because I'd never jeopardize this great faucet for me so stupidly, but I suspect this won't end that simply if it is in fact my blog they are investigating.

Having worked with Mr. Bell for awhile at First Services, I don't believe he is guilty of what has been said and I hope he gets a fair shake. Although I quit due to his misrepresenting his purpose for coming into prison for the betterment of prisoners, he is a good person and I can't imagine him allowing, much less recruiting someone to commit any of these things. He was a businessman. He wasn't the type to steal or cheat to get ahead. He did come to prison for prisoner labor, but in my opinion his only error was trying to capitalize on the labor of desperate and captive employees while trying to convince them he was trying to help them.

I hope that Mr. Bell gets a fair investigation and outcome. Do you think the inmate who left making these accusations will be charged since he admitted to his part? Should he?