Research Help! Luggage-gate. Retailer claims he's redeemed

[johnaries]

FEMA cards for Louis Vitton luggage.
I actually received a reply from Mark RW Mark Christopher in Nashville re: luggage-gate. Here's his reply:

"Dear John,
I don't " spread rumours " I report news...and if you listen to my show carefully, you'd already know that I reported this story about the seized knock-offs. Nashville PD has done the same thing with it's seized clothing...it appears however, that you don't listen very carefully nor did you do your own research before you accused me of spreading rumours.
The story I reported about low lifes using taxpayer charity to buy Louis Vitton luggage and such is NOT rumour....

Here's the story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/345030p-294601c.html
Lavish tastes of card-carrying lowlifes
Profiteering ghouls have been using debit cards distributed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - intended to buy essentials for evacuated families - in luxury-goods stores as far away as Atlanta.
"We've seen three of the cards," said a senior employee of the Louis Vuitton store at the Lenox Square Mall in affluent Buckhead, who asked not to be named. "Two I'm certain have purchased; one actually asked if she could use it in the store. This has been since Saturday."
The distinctive white cards were distributed by the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and carry a value of up to $2,000.
"It doesn't say anything on the card other than alcohol, tobacco and firearms cannot be purchased with it," the store employee told me. "There's nothing legally that prevents us from taking it, unfortunately. Other than morally, it's wrong."
The source told me that the two women who had made purchases with the card each bought a signature monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbag in the $800 range. "They didn't look destitute by any stretch. You would never have said, 'They must be one of the evacuees.' … The one that I dealt with yesterday was 20. She'll be 21 next month." The source described the reaction of other store-keepers in the mall - which includes luxury brands Ferragamo, Burberry, Judith Leiber and Neiman Marcus - as "outrage."
"It doesn't say anywhere on there, but it would have to be a good amount to be shopping in here," the source said with a dark chuckle.

NYDailyNews.Com

I do extensive research in preperation of my show. My suggestion is that if you are going to attempt to call me out on something I report, that you realize that, and do the same....
and finally, if you have any questions about anything I talk about, it's all sourced on my website so you can verify it for yourself. Doing this would save you some embarrasment in the future."

The "retail reports" are news to me. I'm researching it now, but any help is GREATLY appreciated!

[teach1st]

1. Could have been some evacuees...

...could have been some relief workers who liberated the cards instead of distributing them.

[scarletwoman]

2. Oh cripes, this is such a bogus story!

The $2000 debit cards were first issued on 9/8 and discontinued on 9/10. This story appeared in a GOSSIP column on 9/9 citing an UNNAMED SOURCE.

The story claims that "This has been since Saturday", which would have had to have been Saturday, 9/3 (9/9 being a Friday) -- well BEFORE the debit card were issued.

The bulk of the debit were distributed at the Astrodome on Friday, 9/9, and ALL of the debit cards were distributed ONLY in Texas.

So how does someone in the Astrodome in Texas, who is only there because they were one of the thousands of people in NO left behind without a car, make their way to Atlanta to go shopping sometime during the week BEFORE the debit cards were issued?

This guy's "extensive research" consists of ONE source, a single gossip column citing an anonmymous "informant". That's just pathetic...

sw

[johnaries]

3. THANKS! you gave me my reply.

Without even try to discredit his "source", the fact that the cards were onlly only distributed in Houston and his source was in Atlanta automatically throws up a red flag - since there is no way the Houston folks could have traveled or even mailed the cards in the tme frame he claims.

So, either the source is wrong, or there is fraud in the Fed Gov'T.

I sent my email, I can't wait for the response!
:bounce:

[Liberal In Texas]

4. I don't know if this has anything to do with this "story" but when the

evacuees got to Texas (I can't remember if it was Houston or Dallas) the feds opened up the confiscated illegal import storage and distributed tons of knock-off designer clothing and luggage for free.

It may have nothing to do with this story, but if some mean spirited people are ticked that the evacuees are walking around with what appears to be designer clothes and luggage, the urban legend may have been born.

[yankeedem]

5. Why would the victims buy Vuitton bags in Atlanta

When there are 2 Vuitton outlets right in Houston? He is lying, no doubt.