When will African-Americans get a break? As baby boomers some of us think the playing field is finally level but is it?

***Let me preface this by saying I did not write what you're about to read but I was compelled to share it because it affects a baby boomer (and the brother of a friend of mine)***

The Prison Industrial Complex is touted as the New Slavery, incarcerating primarily black and Hispanics. According to a report from the National Criminal Justice Commission black males are incarcerated at a rate of 1,947 per 100,000 compared to their white counterparts of 306 per 100,000.  It is estimated that the lifetime risk of arrest for urban black men is an alarming eighty percent.  The overwhelming majority of persons of color are locked up for non-violent crimes.  Following is an example of how this new slavery is being fueled at the expense of yet another black man’s life under different circumstances, nonetheless the same story.

Reginald Anthony Glenn is a 50 year old architect living in Houston, employed by EDI Architectural Firm for the past 2 years and had lived in the Washington D.C. area fifteen years prior, working in his profession.  He is the father of two daughters ages 23 and 12 and a devout Christian with no prior criminal record. Divorced for the past 5 years, in January 2006 Mr. Glenn decided to enlist a dating service, where he met 35 year old known con artist Jocelyn Diad. 

Ms. Diad explained to Mr. Glenn she needed his assistance in collecting monies due her from a lawsuit.  Taking the bait Mr. Glenn agreed to help.  He arranged for the purchase of a lavish home, cars were bought, other real estate investments and the relocation of Ms. Diad’s family from St. Louis to Houston.  When the time came to close the deal on the house, Mr. Glenn was told by Ms. Diad that her “attorneys” would be wiring funds to the title company Pinnacle Title.  When said funds were in place, real estate agent Rosemary Hoyt indicated she would notify Mr. Glenn.    What ensued from here was a series of events that point to scams, con artistry and the victimization and innocence of Mr. Glenn.

What happened, a wire transfer was made directly to Pinnacle Title.  Mr. Glenn was then called in to close on the home.  The wire was more than the purchase of the home, therefore Pinnacle Title then issued a refund to Mr. Glenn of the overage.  

One month passed and Mr. Glenn and Ms. Diad were enjoying the benefits of their new found wealth.  On April 5^th, 2006 Pinnacle Title contacted Mr. Glenn requesting a copy of the wire for funds that they received and indicated a mistake had been made.  Pinnacle Title claimed they mistakenly put someone else's wire into Mr. Glenn's account that should have gone into the account of another client and that he had 10 days to return any and all assets acquired with the proceeds in question.  On day two Mr. Glenn was contacted by investigative prosecutor Mike Kelly and arrested.  When asked during the trial why Mike Kelly did not honor the 10 day time to act granted to Mr. Glenn by Warren King of Pinnacle Title, Mike Kelly’s response was “I knew it was fraud” with no evidence of any intent.

Mr. Glenn willingly turned everything back to Pinnacle Title; the home, the vehicles, over $200k in cash, the real estate investment and furnishings from the house.  To date Pinnacle Title has not itemized what exactly had been turned over to them.  The home builder McVaugh Homes has since discontinued their business relationship with Pinnacle Title.  Ms. Diad left Houston and cannot be found.  A warrant is currently out for her arrest.

At trial Reginald Anthony Glenn was sentenced to 20 years in prison for theft by Judge Devon Anderson of the 177^th Harris County Criminal Court.  Key issues were not dealt with.  Namely, Jocelyn Diad’s past criminal record.  What happened to the $730,000 for the home?  There was no investigation of Pinnacle Title personnel who implemented and authorized the transaction nor was there a viewing of the actual paper trail.  Instead before an all white jury Mr. Glenn was sentenced to 20 years, with no past criminal record or wrong doing for a non-violent crime. Judge Anderson was quoted as saying, “Mr. Glenn, we're here because of you.  This has nothing to do with Pinnacle Title.  I feel that you are a con-artist.”

The out cry in this case is the sentencing by Judge Anderson.  An inquiry into her sentencing record is underway by several community members. There are many unanswered questions and dots that have not been connected in this case.  These kinds of disparities must continually be questioned and highlighted in light of certain facts such as the use of prison labor for a large and ever growing sector of the corporate sector and the privatization of the prison industry formally run by state and federal governments.  At least 37 states have legalized the contracting of prison labor by private corporations that mount their operations inside state prisons.  This new slavery is fueled by factors such as issuing longer prison sentences, the passage of laws that require minimum sentencing, without regard for circumstances and a large expansion of work by prisoners creating profits that motivate the incarceration of more people for longer periods of time.

It is clear that Mr. Glenn is yet another black man to become victim to the ongoing perpetuation of injustices of people of color in this country and to a prison system whose inmates provide in effect free labor.

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