This videotape, which we are calling the “Putt Putt Video,” contains deliberately orchestrated lies. Ed Magedson never offered to remove reports from RipoffReport.com for $500.00, or any amount of money. And, RipoffReport never authorized anyone to change the content of reports, period. Note: The “star” of this videotape told investigators that John Brewington did 3 different takes to make the video the way he wanted it.

The maker of the Putt Putt Video is John Brewington, a private investigator from Arizona. He has done business under John F. Brewington and JFB Acquisitions. Mr. Brewington openly admits that he posted this video to retaliate against the editor of RipoffReport.com, Ed Magedson, because Mr. Magedson informed the Arizona Department of Public Safety that the Mr. Brewington committed perjury to a federal judge. “Now it is my turn,” stated Mr. Brewington. This video is carefully produced in an attempt to injure RipoffReport.com with falsehoods.

We feel it is essential to expose falsehoods of this video and bring the truth to light so that the public will not be misled.

The maker of the videotape, John Brewington

John Brewington calls himself a “paladin” a knightly or heroic champion. He also states that he is the “managing member” of Paladin Investigations. Managing member is the term for the person in charge of a limited liability company or “LLC”. But “Paladin Investigations” is not a limited liability company, it is only a trade name for J&S Trust. And, we believe that John Brewington is the only person who works for J&S Trust.

John Brewington testified under oath in deposition that he spent “hundreds” of hours investigating Ed Magedson without ever being paid by anyone. When asked, “you’re obsessed?” he responded, “someone accused me of being obsessed, yes.”

Ed Magedson and his company sued Mr. Brewington last year (2008), for defaming Mr. Magedson and assisting a third party in a plan to attack and take down RipoffReport.com.

The beginning of the Putt Putt Video reflects that it is “supplemental to the interview we were having.” The Putt Putt Video is only a small part of a longer interview. Mr. Brewington paused the camera in between the long interview and the shorter video – perhaps to rehearse or get straight what he wanted the people on the video to say. During the video, Mr. Brewington guides the two people in the video by rephrasing and spinning their statements, leading them to say what Mr. Brewington wants them to say. They readily agree with his spin.

The Putt Putt Video starts from a very biased viewpoint. John Brewington’s website explains that he produced the video to retaliate against Ed Magedson and Ripoffreport.com. It states that Ed Magedson’s counsel filed a complaint on his private investigator’s license, and “Now it’s my turn.” This is posted on the webpage just below where this videotape was first posted.

Ed Magedson’s complaint was filed with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (“DPS”), the regulatory agency that licenses private investigators. It notified DPS that John Brewington lied to a federal judge about Mr. Magedson. Mr. Brewington was refusing to answer questions regarding the identity of Ed Magedson’s neighbors that he interviewed. Mr. Brewington told the federal judge that he did not want to answer because he thought identifying the neighbors would put them “at risk.” While under oath, he told the judge, “All of the neighbors have expressed great fear, both physically and from being defamed on the Internet, if their information is disclosed.” Mr. Brewington was ordered to disclose the information. Three months later, Mr. Brewington stated the following under oath:

Q: “But is it your testimony that [name of neighbor withheld] told you that she had great fear of Ed’s physical – including physical harm, that she could be physically harmed?

A: No. I don’t think anyone ever indicated physical harm.

Q: So none of the neighbors you spoke with told you that they feared physical harm as a result from Ed?

A: Correct.

Tony Agerone

The videotape features a man named Tony Agerone, who claims that he witnessed Ed Magedson offering to remove a posting about Putt Putt car lot on Rip-off Report for $500.

The statement is ludicrous. Ripoff Report has battled dozens of very expensive lawsuits to protect its right NOT to remove reports. These dozens of lawsuits could have been avoided if RipoffReport.com would agree to remove reports. It is absurd to think that Ed Magedson would offer to remove a report for $500.

Tony Agerone later denied knowing the Putt Putt car lot or Lloyd Jorgeson. He did admit that Brewington coached him on what to say in the video. Police records reveal Tony Agerone’s history of involvement in criminal activities, including:

• 2000 - assault and disorderly conduct
• 2001 - two counts of endangerment
• 2002 – assault
• 2004 - theft of means in connection with the theft of a boat
• 2004 - disorderly conduct
• 2005 - false reporting to law enforcement (he falsely reported that Jay Silvers’ wife who is mentioned in the Putt Putt video hit him with her vehicle)
• 2005 - threatening and intimidation
• 2007 - false reporting to law officers

Krysta Agerone

The woman in the videotape is Krysta Agerone, Tony Agerone’s daughter. She claims that two people, John Unger and Matt Mott, edited the content of postings on Ripoff Report.com. That statement is fabricated. Matt Mott is the father of Ms. Agerone’s child and has sole custody. Also, John Unger has had no involvement with or access to the Ripoff Report since 2003, and is completely removed from contact. John Brewington’s own website posts a link to an order of protection that Mr. Unger sought against Mr. Magedson back in 2003.

Texas Small Business Owner Shawn Richeson

Shawn Richeson of Computer Nerds and Click a Nerd in Killeen Texas is not in the Putt Putt Video, but he and Mr. Brewington have tried to use it against RipoffReport.com. Ripoff Report first became aware of the Putt Putt Video when Shawn Richeson, the owner of an online business operating in Texas, sent a link to the lawyers for Ripoff Report.com. Richeson’s email essentially threatened to post the videotape if Ripoff Report.com did not take down postings on the website about Richeson and his business Computer Nerds and Click a Nerd. RipoffReport.com does not cave in to blackmail and extortion, and instead informed Mr. Richeson that the video was false, and then Ripoff Report began an investigation to uncover the hidden identities of the actors in the video tape, and get to the bottom of the plot.

Previously, Richeson admitted to posting an altered audiotape of Ed Magedson online, and completely fabricating a story about the FBI raiding his computers. He also has a criminal record. In 1997 Richeson received two convictions for deceptive business practices. Both convictions were misdemeanors. He pled guilty and was fined $500. In 1995, Richeson was charged with felony theft which involved money and a computer. Those charges were dropped because he made restitution and he pled guilty in another related case. In 2000, Richeson was convicted of felony theft involving 25 computer systems. He received a six month state jail sentence and a $10,000 fine (plus court fees and restitution). However, whether Richeson is a hardened criminal or just a small time crook, it is clear that he and John Brewington are working together.

As soon as Mr. Richeson learned that Ripoff Report.com was investigating the origin of the videotape, Mr. Brewington sent an email to our investigator with four little words. “Welcome to the game,” said Mr. Brewington.

UPDATES TO COME

View the video…link to it if you wish.

http://www.paladinpi.com/content.php?id=21

As we all know, Yahoo did indeed sell it’s search engine functions to Microsoft. And Bing seems to be gaining in popularity. I’ve already found it superior to Google in some searches (Google is still my default search engine, but that’s more from habit and using Firefox all the time).

If Microsoft can fix their crappy Explorer browser they may really give Google a run for its money.

Google has other competitors to look out for also. Facebook has its own search functions and is becoming a communications tool in its own right. Almost like the cell phone.

IMHO, Google has two very big things going for them: AdWords and YouTube. No one even comes close to matching Google’s dominance in those areas.

So even if they lose a little bit of search dominance, Google is still far and away the King of Cyberspace.

Since this is personal and not as company, I am going to write to Ed and the Arizona AG to get it off..
What can I do?