Fred DeLuca, CEO of Subway. Delray Beach and Palm beach Government Corruption Text, Lies and
This video excerpt is from an August 2012 conversation including Rick Hutchison and Bill Shepherd, executive partners at the Law Firm of Holland and Knight, located in West Palm Beach, Florida and their client, billionaire Fred Deluca, CEO and Founder of Subway. Together they conspired with individuals at the highest level of the Palm Beach County state attorney’s office. They devised a plan to file criminal charges against Deluca’s former business partner.
Hutchison admittedly, “MADE UP” information to thwart a $5 Billion civil lawsuit filed against Deluca over a massive 43,000 acre land project called Destiny in central Florida. As evidenced in this video, the plan consisted of Hutchison and Shepherd creating a “perfect,” “MADE UP” Notebook, with the consent of Fred Deluca that they hand delivered to the State Attorney’s Office. The notebook ensured charges were filed against Deluca’s former business partner. Shepherd uses his connections and relationships as a former Florida statewide prosecutor with Michael McAuliffe (State Attorney and former Holland & Knight Equity Partner), Paul Zacks (Assistant State Attorney) and Robert Flechaus (lead detective on the case) as the “Unusual Channel” that led directly to the highest-ranking levels of the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s. Hutchison clearly states in the video “They (the State Attorney’s Office) need to stick to the Notebook. It’s a well mapped out case for the prosecutor. I mean perfect! It’s MADE UP!”
Further, Hutchison and Deluca discuss Holland and Knight’s “Unusual Channel” inside the State Attorney’s office that “no one else has,” referring to McAuliffe, Zacks and Flechaus. The State Attorney’s Office leaks confidential inside case information to Bill Shepherd about the defense team’s strategy, evidence and specifically a “meeting on Friday.” “I want to make sure the document is disposed of before the meeting on Friday,” referring to a meeting the State Attorney had scheduled with the defense team. Deluca agrees to a meeting at the state attorneys office the day before. The ‘Document’ to be disposed of is the defense’s exculpatory evidence. During the conversation, Deluca asks Hutchison “Won’t you lose your license for lying?” Hutchison replies, “Forget the Bar. Worry about Fred Deluca.” Hutchison: I had a good conversation with the ASA, the Assistant State Attorney (Paul Zacks) earlier today and I will update you later. I have offered you to go for Thursday. Say yes or no. To explain the documents. I want you to go with me and Bill (Shepard), but he may not be there. As of last Friday, the detective (Robert Flechaus) was totally convinced the documents were all non-sense.
Deluca: The FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT?
Hutchison: (Chuckle) And so they got a name for everything like they are so important. And um, I just need the prosecutor to come to the same conclusion. But I want to make sure the “DOCUMENT IS DISPOSED OF” before the meeting on Friday.
Deluca: Mm Hmm (yes)
Hutchison: Because the prosecutor, the State Attorney, is meeting with his (Pugliese’s) defense team on Friday.
Deluca: If he wants to see ya, it’s probably a good sign.
Hutchison: Or if he doesn’t need me it’s a good sign too. I mean, we do have an “UNUSUAL CHANNEL” to whats going on. It’s much better communication. You get 99 times out of 100, he (Paul Zacks) won’t tell you anything. And the prosecutor had even said that to Shepard, similar that is. Well that’s a lot different but then he said basically we did a good job and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t charge Anthony (Pugliese)
Deluca: So the stuff that you gave to the prosecutor, I imagine he kept it pretty tight, It was all the stuff that he testified to and the documents related to the money he (Pugliese) took.
Hutchison: Oh yea, I gave it to him, absolutely.
Deluca: Yeah: Hutchison: Its a notebook this thick (gesturing size of binder). And they got to stick to that notebook. That notebook’s like they got to stick to that notebook. It’s a well mapped out… the case perfect for the prosecutor, I mean perfect. “ITS MADE UP!” But so are they.
Deluca: Isn’t it, won’t you guys loose your license for “LYING”? Hutchinson: Forget the bar… Deluca: OK… Hutchison: Worry about Fred Deluca! Deluca: OK… Hutchison: Quit looking ahead…
