GUILTY

I have delayed in updating my blog; I wanted time to adjust to this finally close to being over. As you know by now former attorney, Avalon Betts Gaston was pronounced guilty on all charges July 2, 2015. The sentencing will be October 7, 2015.

A lot happened during the trial that was just downright disgusting to me. I will try to cover some points but most of what went on I have decided that it is not worth my covering. I will post the transcript when I receive it.

The trial was from June 23 to July 2, 2015 and a lot was covered while a lot was not (per my opinion). The jury was not permitted to hear that Betts-Gaston was disbarred or sued and lost. I guess this was probably not to have the jury biased. I wonder if they had been allowed to hear that IJCN stood for In Jesus Christ Name what they would have thought. I also wondered about the “A” buyers whose credit or falsified credit was used to obtain loans. Whereas I do believe that the banks and mortgage companies have a lot to be held responsible for the “A” buyers who were paid (in some cases $5,000.00) caused serious financial and emotional damage to homeowners and in my mind should be prosecuted. See what you think once the transcript is posted.

My personal impression during the trial that EVERYONE associated with Betts-Gaston was thrown under the bus and then the bus backed up a few times and squashed them, flat.

After the verdict was read Betts-Gaston screamed, yelled, threw herself on the floor and had to be removed from the courtroom by stretcher to an ambulance. I felt bad for her until my husband reminded me of our situation with her. I still feel sorry for her especially as her behavior gave me the impression she was not prepared for a guilty verdict. Gaston-Betts was licensed as an attorney in 2000 and disbarred November 19, 2012 a short twelve years; not long enough for a lawyer to really get their feet wet. By 2003 (?) the RYM Technology fraud was up and running. In my mind, I wonder what was the point of law school especially such a distinguished school as John Marshall (1996 to 2000) then to be disbarred and convicted is a terrible mark. I reread the disbarment recommendation (see web site http://www.fedupandfightingback.com) and it appeared the same thing happened in the trial; Betts-Gaston failed to take responsibility and blamed everyone else. I wish that when she was working with RYM Technology she had learned from her victims’ pain that she would not have started In Jesus Christ Name, which to me continued the fraud.

Speaking of the name In Jesus Christ Name (IJCN) I just do not understand why she would pick that Name to commit fraud. I wonder if it was picked to make people feel “safe” in her actions. I guess we will never know the truth on that. Per Gaston-Betts’ sworn testimony (part of the transcript) she is now working at St. John Lutheran Church and School so maybe she can gain redemption even using In Jesus Christ Name (IJCN) that hurt people who needed a lawyer to help them save their homes.

Okay my next point, behavior in Court. I just think Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr. qualifies as the most patient person who could ever sit on a federal bench! This man in my opinion was disrespected and he did not lose his cool, he just kept the trial moving forward. Some law students had been in the courtroom got on the same elevator I was on and I was listening to them talk among themselves and one laughed and said “well now we know how not to act in a courtroom before a federal judge.” Is it proper procedure or even allowed for a lawyer to yell, bang their pen, make faces while going back to her seat (I think the jury could see), tell the judge he is out of order and also tell the judge he should take his robe off and come down to the other side. Is this the way courts are now conducted? I thought there was such a thing as contempt of court and jail time. Is that just on television law shows? I was in total shock; I looked up her bio, this is a magnificent attorney, graduated from a wonderful Chicago Law School, did outstanding work for the underprivileged, so why? I am not a lawyer so maybe this is just the way they act but to me personally it was uncomfortable to observe.

Oh well, in closing Avalon Betts-Gaston was found guilty. She has the right to appeal and her sentence date is October 7, 2015 10am before:

Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr.
Dirksen Courthouse
215 S. Dearborn Street Courtroom 2341
Chicago, IL 60604
Court Docket # 1:11-CR-00502