Libre!

According to the anonymous link left on the last entry, Leon Land, a.k.a. Dr. Leon Foreman, was released from prison on May 14, 2008. The countdown to when Leon returns to the Dominican Republic begins.

Click this link for the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

"Dr." Leon (Foreman) Land is Sentenced

Our nightmare is finally over. Leon Land has been sentenced.

A Swedesboro man was sentenced to a two-year prison term yesterday for using another man's identity to defraud Commerce Bank of more than $550,000, authorities said.

Leon Land, 39, pleaded guilty in January to two counts each of wire fraud and money laundering. Land, also known as Leon Foreman, admitted he received four loans from Commerce and funneled the money into a checking account by using a stolen Social Security number, said Greg Reinert, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.

Land spent the money, defaulted on the loans, and fled to the Dominican Republic. Last August, FBI agents brought Land back to the United States to face charges. U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler ordered Land to pay $79,395 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence, Reinert said.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Now, all we have to worry about is Hurricane Dean approaching our little oasis. Will keep you posted.

American Airlines is having a sale from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, to Santo Domingo. Click here for more information. Sale ends July 31, 2007, for travel dates between September 4, and December 11, 2007. JetBlue, not to be outdone, is also having a sale, which includes Santo Domingo. Tickets must be purchased by August 8, 2007, for travel between September 5, and November 14, 2007.

The Pan American games are starting to get really good now, especially with all the track & field options. Though the gymnastics weren't bad. Luis Rivera, above, of Puerto Rico, was the gold medal winner of the pommel (sp?) horse.

Still some tickets left for the 5th annual White Party Moonlight Cruise. Click here for more information. He-Man (Dominicano!) is one of the strippers amongst the entertainment for the evening. I swiped the photo from the Tropical Desires Blog.

Speaking of blogs, Enrique Cruz, has started a blog, which also has some interesting video feeds for some of his work. Definitely worth checking out. NSFW (Not Safe For Work!)

For all those that have asked, yes, Leon Land is supposed to be sentenced sometime at the end of this month. Once I get confirmation I will post the information here. Also, I have found 2 great dancers for my party. The next post will be about one of them. His name is Reynaldo.

Until soon,
The Monaga Blogger

Update: Leon Land was supposed to be sentenced in front of U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler (Docket #06588) yesterday, July 26, 2007. At the last minute the judge was called to other matters. Leon is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, August 2, 2007. Will keep you posted.

Que lo que?

Everything is fine here. Just been really busy. Trying to figure out something to write has been duanting. Everything here is pretty much the same.

While I write this it is raining so hard there is a small river running down the middle of the street. I guess the rainy season is now upon us. That means hurricane season can't be far behind.

There is a new trip being planned called Dominican Heat. Not Dominican Island Heat, just Dominican Heat. Imagine my surprise when receiving the link to the site and seeing photos taken from my website. There was some confusion, but after talking to the gentleman behind this endeavor, Renard (sp?), everything worked out fine. Here's wishing the folk behind Dominican Heat the best of luck.

Oh yeah, Leon Lands' sentencing has been postponed until July 2007.

Sorry, that's all I can think of right now.

I know, I know ...

I need to blog more often. I just feel like one of the people that can't wait to start my new job that is going to have me traveling to points across the globe. After doing the job for a year you get bored and want to do something else. That's my dilemma now. I was so gung-ho when I started this blogging thing, and now, I feel like it is a job I don't get paid for. I will keep doing it as long as I can.

I have been asked why I closed the comments to the Leon Land entry. Honestly, I just think it is overkill now. Everyone who wanted to comment has had their chance. I had a dream the other night that Leon escaped and made his way back to the DR through Haiti. He and Angie were on the Conde sitting at Paco's telling people not to go out that evening. Then I wake up! Anybody a dream interpreter? The only other thing I will write is if I can confirm his sentence, which is to take place Thursday, April 26. Or, if he escapes ...

The weather has been really up and down lately. Yesterday was beautiful, but very breezy and cool. And I don't know if there is a convention going on, but there are many tourists in town this weekend (and next!). Quite a few people are staying for a month or more, so I have been going to see many apartments for rent. It is amazing what is going on here in the Colonial Zone, and the prices are skyrocketing. The nicer areas of the city have many places for rent, too. If you just happen to be looking for that fabulous penthouse with ocean views, check this building out. The penthouse is a mere $1.2 Dollars (not pesos!).

If you are in town this week, I would suggest you go and peruse the offerings at the International Book Fair in Santo Domingo. Don't read? Well, go anyway and peruse the folk walking around, or take in the many exhibits. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Mag, this really great blog where I found the Dominican model, Deilin Sanz. Well, they have some more great photos of Deilin, along with some other Beautiful models. The photo shoot was photographed by Ricardo Muniz, for a fashion company called Boiish Clothing.

David and Byron have finally updated their blogs. Send them an email and encourage them to update more often.

Pollo Victorino, my favorite fried chicken place in DR is opening up stores in NYC.

Okay, I hope that holds your for a couple of days, while I figure out what else I can say.

Until soon,
The Monaga Blogger

Leon Land (a.k.a. Dr. Leon Foreman)

Finally, the mystery has been solved. I want to thank the anonymous person who sent the link to me. For months the speculation had been RAMPANT that Leon had murdered someone. Just last month rumors spread like wildfire that Leon was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Now, the truth can be told. Leon Land (a.k.a. Leon Foreman) has pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. He will be sentenced on April 26, 2007. He faces up to 30 years in prison, along with a $500,000 fine.

As I stated before, I would not write or comment on Leon until I could get some definitive information. Well, now we have it.

You can read the entire press release for yourself from the United States Dept. of Justice, U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey. Click here for the press release.