September 30, 2025 • 31 mins
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
It's that time time, time, time, luck and load.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
The Michael Verie Show is on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
If your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement,
you can go straight to Hell and you have no
place in the.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Political conversation of the United States of America.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
ICE is looking more and more like an American Gestopo.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
They're huddled around the elevator banks in masks without identifying information,
with a terrifying like these are Gestapo tactics, but it.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Has created this year as they've seen the kind of
fascist ICE Gestapo militias go around the Latino American citizens
in places like La.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
ICE agents, masked ICE Gestoppo agents getting more funding than
any other law enforcement agency in the history of the
United States.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
ICE running guestopo like around our country.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
The Gestapo had the same function. It was there to
draw distinction between us and them. It was not federally,
it was controlled from the by the leader. And we're
seeing a disturbing similarities between this force and the Gestapo.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
We've got these masked thug cowards kidnapping innocent people and
sending them off to be slaves or tortured in other countries.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Dressing like thugs and acting like thugs.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
People still want to come here, despite the crazy They
still want to come here because they know in this
land their voice is protected, their rights are protected, and
there won't be jack boottt thugs coming in wearing masks
over the face to take them off the streets.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Oh wait, oh wait, I'm sorry about that's happening. That's
happening right now.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
We've got to figure out a way to stop ICE
from what they are doing as soon as possible. We've
(02:37):
got to figure out a way to stop ICE from
what they are doing as soon as possible.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
This is not about the pronoun police.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
This is about the secret police.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
We're not North Korea, mister President, We're not the Soviet Union.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Man to see his rabbi in a very serious tone,
he said, Rabbi, something terrible is happening, and I have
to talk to you about it. Rabbi asked, what's wrong.
The man replied, my wife is poisoning me. The rabbi
(03:44):
was very surprised by this and asked how can that be,
to which the man pleaded, I'm telling you, I'm certain
she's poisoning me. What should I do? Rabbi said, what?
Let me talk to her. I'll see what I can
find out, and i'll let you know. A week later,
(04:07):
the rabbi called a man and said, well, I met
with your wife. We talked for three hours. The man
anxiously replied, yes, Oh, you want to punchline now, Mattina Minnie.
(04:35):
How in the world were so many violent criminals in
Harris County able to bond out so easily? Well? The
Houston Chronicle in Fox twenty six provide a look into
the Aabel bail Bond's fraud scheme. That's the letter A
and then a a Able Bailbond's fraud scheme that helped
(04:56):
get violent criminals back out on the street. Chronicles says
many of the people indicted are accused of being straw
co signers who put their names on documents they knew
painted an incorrect financial picture. The proof, according to prosecutors,
came in the form of forged payt ubs. In many cases,
(05:17):
the pay stubs that were submitted to the insurers were
from companies that didn't even exist or that never employed
the person who submitted the pay stub, according to court documents.
The story from Fox twenty six.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
After an Astros game in July of twenty twenty one,
thirty eight year old Gerald Wayne Williams shot and killed
seventeen year old David Castro in a road rage incident.
In twenty twenty three, Williams was sentenced to thirty years
in prison. Friday afternoon, he appeared in federal courts to
plead guilty to conspiracy.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
To commit wire fraud.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
That's charge stems from williams three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars bond he posted while awaiting trial for David's murder.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
He conspired with a number of people, including Aable Bonds
in Nashiba mahab to put together falsified records, and those
falsified records were submitted and sent across state lines in
order to get them bailed out.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Soon, corrupt bail bonding practices here in Irris County would
come to light. In August of twenty twenty two, the
FBI rated Aable bonds, leading to several of us, including
company owner Shiba Maharab, our ongoing series breaking bond exposed
defendants free on multiple bonds for aggravated robbery. Turns out
(06:35):
some of them were robbing people in order to make
payments on their multiple bonds. It became sort of well
known that defendants weren't posting ten percent of the bond amount.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
Yeah, so separately on top of it being falsified, they
also weren't putting up the entire ten percent that people assumed.
And what we found out as a community was that
was more of an understanding and not a policy, and
so we started making a push that that's something that
had to change.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
That push led to a new state law mandating ten
percent of the bond amounts for violent offenses and a
decrease and violent crime here. Old Williams will be sentenced
next month. Shiba Mahara is expected to stay in trial
later this year.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
There comes a point where you realize we have people
we live among with whom we do not share values.
This is not a nation in that sense. As regards
those people. We can coexist to some extent, and we
(07:45):
all know at some point we're going to be a
victim of one of their crimes. It's simply going to
be a question of whether we're armed and prepared and
blast them and then deal with other people like them claiming,
you know, they did nothing wrong, or whether they're going
to get the better of us fast. We're going to
(08:06):
serve on juries with other people like this who are
going to be sympathetic to them. But we might as
well just go and admit this and work around it.
Rabb I said, you want my advice? What flavor park? Chocolate?
I said, chocolate. Freak freaking out. I worked for Papa's
(08:35):
family around ninety ninety one. I was in college at
the University of Houston. I trained. I got hired at
the location the Papasitos at Richmond and Kirby. You remember
(08:55):
that location. I think it's still there. It's it's one
lot east of Kirby, and I can't remember what was there,
but they bought it and it had like a covering aray,
and they just kept it and they put a sign
there and they made that they're parking because they had
insufficient parking. So I got hired there. I trained at
(09:21):
the they called it Little Sidos at Richmond and Hillcroft, which,
by the way, is where I met Jim NaN's in
phil Simms unrelated what hello friends, uh fellow u H
grad So hired at the one at Richmond and Kirby,
(09:48):
trained at the Little Seados at Richmond and Voss not
on the hard corner, but it's close. You know where
it is. And then I was sent to to the six'
ten south across from The astronome. Location AND i would
(10:08):
say unfortunately because the demographic didn't. Tip and as a,
waiter that's a, real real rough way to make a.
Living it's like a good. Boat it doesn't. Tip you're, right,
okay please let. Me i'll tell the stories if you don't.
Mind thank. You so, yeah, EXACTLY i would say unfortunately
(10:36):
because the people there didn't. Tip but there were two,
highlights one of which was at Art howard eat there every,
day and you, know he was coaching The. Astros astros
were playing The astrodome at the, time and he would
come in and sit at a table by himself AND
(10:59):
I i would BE i was kind of the star
in the manager's. Eyes he loved me AND i loved,
him still, do and he Would it was kind of
a standing rule that Of Art house came, In michael
gets to wait On Art house and so that was
always a treat and he'd come in mid afternoon before
(11:21):
going to The. Astronaut and the second REASON i loved
working at that location was that the manager was a
fellow Named Terry. Mitchell Terry mitchell was a long Time
pappus family, employee And terry made one hundred thirty two
thousand dollars a. YEAR i know because WELL i asked.
(11:45):
Him no, surprise, Right BUT i remember, thinking, man you
can make that kind of money as a manager of a.
Restaurant that's a lot of. Money and it was nineteen
ninety ninety, one there was a lot of. Money still
still not, bad but in those, days the trade off
(12:08):
was it was a tough. Job he was THE. GM i,
mean he was responsible for that. Store it was he
was basically like an owner operator the Way chick Fil a.
Does And terry was such a charismatic. Leader he was
a guy that came. In he was a guy THAT
i don't THINK i ever beat him to, work but
he was a guy when you came. In he was
(12:28):
in the kitchen yelling at one, guy telling another guy
you're farting, around and giving baseball tickets to the other.
Guy just always just just a whirling dervish of energy around,
him and it was. Infectious he was a charismatic. Leader
Chris pappas is. Smart you, know you get good. People
pappus family have great. Systems there are a great systems,
(12:51):
restaurant and that should that should seem. Obvious, well, yeah
they're a successful. Company restaurants are not known for. Systems in,
fact the reason you go to your favorite restaurant and
sometimes it's, spotty is because they don't have. Systems they
are all personality. Driven and when that personality is away the,
(13:13):
chef the, manager the, waiter things. Drop it was three,
days it was three weeks of working there BEFORE i
was able to go to a table and you, know
take their order and be the waiter representing The papas,
family which is how they approach, it which is a whole.
Different you, KNOW i worked other places as a. Waiter
(13:34):
and you walk in the door for a two o'clock
meeting about two oh. One you've got tables eight through.
Fourteen here's the seating. Chart you don't know what's on the,
menu you don't know. Anything you don't know who's in the,
kitchen you don't know how to tell when your ticket is,
up you don't know what our pot point of sale
system is not, then but they need, waiters and you
(13:57):
know your job is to be a. Waiter and you
see difference if you ever ate a papas, restaurant you
understand why they've been so successful over the. Years terry
was a just a fantastic, leader AND i had so
much respect for him and how much charisma he, has
(14:18):
what passion he brought to. It and you, know when
you're working jobs as a college, student you don't always
see people who are doing what they're meant to do
in life and who are passionate about it and good at.
It and he ended up from. THERE i don't know what,
year but he ended up because he lived out in Great.
(14:40):
Wood he ended up being moved out to The Great
wood location AND i caught up with, him you know
WHERE i saw, Him. Ramona we went to the to
THE Uh miami game In Miami sunday NIGHT. Espn i'm
On NATIONAL tv standing in Between Leroy burrell And Carl.
(15:01):
Lewis one of these is not like the. Other, no
not because of my, race you, Fool Because i'm not a.
SPRINTER i still had my hamstring at that. POINT i
had one hundred percent. HAMSTERING i didn't have ham hamstring
disability from you, know my injury and. Everything but, anyway,
yeah which is why When Russell lebara hired his number
(15:25):
two who opened his first. Franchise he hired from The
papas family because that's that's that's the. Training man started
in radio in two thousand and five anymore. Teen he
gave me an opportunity with a weekend show On sundays
from ten to eleven. AM i was on city council
(15:46):
and we had a little. Place NOTHING i, did no kids.
Yet we had a little place out In carmen and
we co owned it with some friends of. Ours which
if you can find a couple you really like on
a second, home there's a way to do. It we
did that With Uncle jerry later with the place In. Wilder,
now if you don't like that, person you're married to,
(16:08):
them you're living in the same. House but we really
liked The pacheco's and of Course Uncle jerry's my best,
friend so both of them worked out very well for.
Us but it was my treat On friday evening at
the end of my week. Too OBVIOUSLY i was on
city council and my wife would finish her week and
she could. Work she was still practicing a lot of the,
(16:30):
time and we would cut out On friday evening and
drive out To, carmene which is a wonderful. Drive Leaving,
houston hit two ninety and just head on out and
it was right off to. Ninety when you go through
the little tiny town Of, carmene don't blink or you'll miss.
It there's a little there's a little bit convenience store right.
(16:55):
There and when you pass that convenience, STORE i think
it was three miles almost exactly on the, right and
there was a little windsock you turn on that and
it was a red dirt road and at the very
end you drove into our. Driveway AND i loved going
out there so. MUCH i never. FORGET i Would Chris
(17:16):
baker AND i were, buddies AND i would text him
about whatever he was talking about On friday evening AND
i think he was doing four to seven at the,
time AND i text, him you, know with a request or,
whatever and he would play it AND i thought that
was the coolest. Thing and he'd, said this is for
a buddy of. Mine, anyway you remember those red Boots
chris had had the coolest pair OF i think those
(17:38):
were probably custom red, boots just awesome pair of red. Boots,
anyway he would wear those out in, publish you. KNOW
i went to one of his stand up comedy. Shows,
yeah out way out northwest. Anyway so back in those,
days there was a guy who was running the radio
stations and he was a tyrant in a, tyrant and
(18:01):
he didn't like me BECAUSE i wasn't brought in by.
HIM i was brought in By Eddie, martini who at
the time was not the head of the. Company he
was a director of. Sales And EDDIE i had Met
Eddie martinez through some friends and he had asked. ME
i was mayor of pro temoth the. Time he'd asked
me some city, stuff and SO i would tell him
(18:22):
what was going, on And i'd give him the skinny
and kind of tell. Stories and he, said, man you
ought to be on the. Radio this is interesting. Stuff
and so he told the then head of our, stations
programming side, programming programming is what's on the, air sales
and operations was, separate and never the twain shall. Meet
(18:43):
But eddie pushed and got me, on and so WHEN
i went, on they Took glenn back. Off glenn back
was on nine to, eleven and they Took glenn back
off and put me On. No. Salary for two. YEARS
i worked for no, salary but it was just an
opportunity to be on in the budget And eddie drives
a hard bar and what CAN i? Say AND i
wanted to be. ON i thought it'd be. Cool and
(19:06):
there was a standing deal that the programming director had
With Ken charles because With Ken, hopman because he really Liked.
Hafey Ken hopman would come in Every wednesday morning at
ten o'clock and he would be my. Guest and every
Every wednesday morning when he would come, On Mike houghton
(19:26):
was board up at the, time AND i would instruct
him to play you don't have to be a star
to be on my. Show AND i thought that was so,
funny and it's, true you don't have to be a
star to be on my. Show to prove the, Point
Ken hopman is our, guest, well you gotta. Understand anybody
that Knew hoffey was he had very much an edgy
(19:50):
style of humor and. Presentation its one of these guys
that was always real quick with a, quip but it
could be. Biting it could be very very. Biting and
he used to brag that when someone would come to
work at The. Chronicle he'd been there, forever and he
was probably by that time even Well Leon hale might
(20:13):
have still been, around But leon was out and Round
top so Or. Windale So haffee was kind of a
really big deal with The, chronicle and so new reporters
when they would get, hired and they would send an,
email you, know please Welcome John. Smith he's just joined us,
here and So hafee would send him an email and,
say looking forward to meeting. You come by and say
(20:37):
hello to. Me i'm located at this. Corner and it
was a spot that he had a sightline, for but
they couldn't see, Him and so the new employee would
go there and they would stand there and they'd look
around and there'd be No Ken hoffman and he would just, giggling.
Giggle so they would go back and say, sorry DID
(20:58):
i miss? You and and he'd go back and, forth
where were? YOU i THINK i was at the right.
Spot so he would do it, again but this time
in a different, corner, giggling giggling, Giggle AND i remember, thinking,
man that is really. Cruel he thought it was the
funniest thing. Ever and that was Just. Hoffey if you
only knew him on the. Air you wouldn't know this
(21:18):
guy could he could Be uh, Well SO i thought
it was very funny to kind of put him in
his place and do this play this. Song and so
we had kind of a friend of me, relationship BUT
i didn't know he took it. Personally so THEN i
Took Pat gray's. Job and then WHEN i took over
(21:40):
the DAY i took, Over Ken hoppman brings he finds
out That i've taken, over he brings a letter of.
Resignation he's. Leaving he's going to keg out Where john
And lance are, now and they're going to put him
on the air with his own, show which turned out
to be a terrible idea because it's not easy to
carry a show Like Whoopy. Goldberg he was very funny
(22:00):
in my opinion in his, column but two hours on the,
RADIO i think it was. Suspect never, Mind so he
he starts on the air and he just unloads that
you know What Michael berry used to do to. Me
he would dishonor me and disrespect, me and he would
(22:21):
tell the story of me playing that song and how
it hurt him so. BADLY i was, like you are
a grown, man and you are talking about this LIKE
i bullied you or. Something and anytime that song comes
on it came on last, NIGHT i always think of that.
Story SO i told my wife that story last. Night she, said,
(22:44):
well you, know you can be a little well if
you're not going to take my, side really have a
lot of, hope DO?
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I The queen.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
See, Jeebias Michael berry Fring.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Jabias That kings, story, well The capacito's. Story the REASON
i went into that IS i don't know when The
Gypsy kings. HIT i don't know what year that. Was
AND i MEAN i was fresh From. ORANGE i HADN'T
i hadn't been In houston for very. Long and it
(23:26):
might seem laughable to you now coming To houston From.
ORANGE i might as well have been In mozambique Or.
Casablanca it was the big, city. Man things were, fast
things were, moving everybody was everybody was on the go and.
Powerful and the Way houstonians feel when they walk the
(23:51):
streets Of New york and in the, eighties not. TODAY
i don't mean like you get mugged and pooped on
and a rat bigger than you runs in front of,
you and you, Know palestinians are having a rally in.
FRONT i don't mean like, today but you remember the
first time you, went if you're From, houston first time
you went To New, york it felt like every everything
was so brisk and. Fasted he couldn't keep. Up, well
(24:14):
that's How that's How houston was to, me this little you,
know fair, haired bright, eyed bushy tailed kid of eighteen
and then probably nineteen WHEN i went to, WORK i
might have still been eighteen At papasitos and they played
The Gypsy. KINGS i think On loop it was, constant
(24:36):
And i'd never heard. THIS i, mean we didn't Have
we HAD kzzb ninety five In orange In, beaumont which
played the top, forty and then we HAD kogt In
orange which did kind of morning. LOCAL i love, that
love that. Format Eddie martini last because he thinks that's
(24:58):
What i'm trying to make this. Show he says that
that's what you're trying to make your. Show. EDDIE i
got news for. You that's WHAT i made our show
twenty years. Ago you just never. NOTICED i had. To
you had to ease it in. There it's a little
just like a little bit it's just a tip a
little bit in the time, Anyway so they the Gypsy
kings would play AND i remember, Thinking, man this this is, it,
(25:21):
man this is this is this? Music this is. Cool
where does this come? From this is so. Amazing AND
i don't know what happened to the Gypsy. KINGS i
don't know if if they hit in eighty nine to
ninety and they had just, hit or if they'd been
around for a. While i've never, looked but they were
really big on The papacido's playlist and they played all the,
(25:43):
time and SO i would listen to their. Music they
would play a lot of The spanish language stuff AND
i would practice with that boy. There they're not easy
to understand so and back then you couldn't just look
up the lyrics. Online BUT i grew to really enjoy
the Gypsy kings out of the. DEAL i really really
(26:04):
enjoyed their. STUFF i was going to tell you something
related to, that AND i can't remember what it. WAS
i can't. REMEMBER i Guess Russell labarr was, listening because
he said he sent me an. Email. Papasitos not only
DID i Hire Joel perkins to be the general, manager
(26:25):
for the Second, gringo so he had the first one In,
paarland and he Hired joel to be the general manager
for the Second ringos in nineteen ninety. Six but he
would go on to become a franchise, partner opening up
five locations FOR, us and then sold them back TO
us in twenty twenty one for an eight figure. Deal,
(26:47):
moan if you got to think how long how much
an eight figure deal, is then you're not really in that.
League you got to start running commas and. Things he's now,
retired but he's our landlord at two of our. Locations
you simply cannot write that. Script how about that good?
Story great story actually the stories of people working for
(27:13):
a long time at the same, place building a business
starting from. Scratch you Know i've had. Addicts tell. ME
i think you can learn a lot from. Addicts because
we all have our own, weaknesses whether it's an addiction or.
Not we all do things that are not in our best,
interest despite the fact that we know they're not in
(27:35):
our best. Interests for some, reason we keep giving in
to these. DECISIONS a lot of people like to make
it the case that addiction takes the choice out of
the addict's hand because that reduces the personal. Accountability but
anybody that goes to one of those treatment programs will
tell you that the treatment programs are all about taking
(27:55):
responsibility for who you. Are that's part of what being
an addict. Doesn't god help you if you have a
friend who goes to an addiction, program ESPECIALLY, aa Because
i'm going to tell you. How i'm gonna give you
the arc of how this thing. Works it starts, with, oh,
Good bob's going TO. Aa he's going to get the
(28:17):
help he. Needs and then a little while Later bob gets.
Out he's, Like bob'm so proud of.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
You.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Thanks and then about a month, later you get an, Email,
hey when you borrowed my mower and didn't bring it
back for three. Weeks that was selfish and it really offended.
Me it put me in a, pickle and it challenged
(28:46):
our friendship and it wasn't. Right. Dude that was seventeen years.
Ago what are you talking. About i'm just sharing with.
You you could have Not, WELL i just got out OF,
aa AND i have to be. Honest, Now MAY i
THINK i liked you better drinking you? Like because if
(29:10):
that's if that's the first one you're gonna lead. With
there's probably ten other things That i've done that have
irritated you a whole lot worse To can we just
get them all? Out can you write them? Down pass a?
Note so, anyway it's it's a it's a cool thing
and an increasingly rare thing that people build something and
(29:34):
stay with, it you, know build a, business stay with the,
Business go to work for a, business and stay with the.
BUSINESS i told the story one. Time a, boy a
young man Named Steve madrigal who works For Johnny carraba
at The voss location and he's been there over twenty,
years went TO, uh got a finance degree while he
(29:55):
was working AT. Uh while he's working AT, U i'm,
sorry while he was going to school at you age
getting his finance, degree went to work At, carabas gets
married WHILE i was in. College they start having. Kids
he's waiting. Tables turns out he's making pretty good. Money
gets out of, college goes to work somewhere during the,
day continues to work as a waiter at. Night he,
(30:16):
Realized i'm doing better as a waiter THAN i am
at this day, job AND i actually enjoy being a.
WAITER i enjoy interacting with. People so here we are
TWENTY i think twenty three years, later twenty one years,
later and now he's a manager At. Carabas you see
these successful Companies, Pappus Russell Lebarro's, Gringoes Johnny, Carabas johnny Or.
(30:41):
Carabas you see these raging Cajun you see these companies
that have long time employees and a. Culture it's like a.
Family it's a, calling it's a, mission it's a. Ministry
culture is. Everything who is? It says culture beats? Down
that's a movie in A oh, NO i know. Who
(31:03):
he's that goofball that calls himself the prophet Uh. Limnas never,
mind never, MIND i even brought that. UP i used
to watch that. IDIOTS i used to watch that idiot.
Show what was his? Name OH i can't he can't
stand up and punching it show
It's that time time, time, time, luck and load.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
The Michael Verie Show is on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
If your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement,
you can go straight to Hell and you have no
place in the.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Political conversation of the United States of America.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
ICE is looking more and more like an American Gestopo.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
They're huddled around the elevator banks in masks without identifying information,
with a terrifying like these are Gestapo tactics, but it.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Has created this year as they've seen the kind of
fascist ICE Gestapo militias go around the Latino American citizens
in places like La.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
ICE agents, masked ICE Gestoppo agents getting more funding than
any other law enforcement agency in the history of the
United States.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
ICE running guestopo like around our country.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
The Gestapo had the same function. It was there to
draw distinction between us and them. It was not federally,
it was controlled from the by the leader. And we're
seeing a disturbing similarities between this force and the Gestapo.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
We've got these masked thug cowards kidnapping innocent people and
sending them off to be slaves or tortured in other countries.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Dressing like thugs and acting like thugs.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
People still want to come here, despite the crazy They
still want to come here because they know in this
land their voice is protected, their rights are protected, and
there won't be jack boottt thugs coming in wearing masks
over the face to take them off the streets.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Oh wait, oh wait, I'm sorry about that's happening. That's
happening right now.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
We've got to figure out a way to stop ICE
from what they are doing as soon as possible. We've
(02:37):
got to figure out a way to stop ICE from
what they are doing as soon as possible.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
This is not about the pronoun police.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
This is about the secret police.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
We're not North Korea, mister President, We're not the Soviet Union.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Man to see his rabbi in a very serious tone,
he said, Rabbi, something terrible is happening, and I have
to talk to you about it. Rabbi asked, what's wrong.
The man replied, my wife is poisoning me. The rabbi
(03:44):
was very surprised by this and asked how can that be,
to which the man pleaded, I'm telling you, I'm certain
she's poisoning me. What should I do? Rabbi said, what?
Let me talk to her. I'll see what I can
find out, and i'll let you know. A week later,
(04:07):
the rabbi called a man and said, well, I met
with your wife. We talked for three hours. The man
anxiously replied, yes, Oh, you want to punchline now, Mattina Minnie.
(04:35):
How in the world were so many violent criminals in
Harris County able to bond out so easily? Well? The
Houston Chronicle in Fox twenty six provide a look into
the Aabel bail Bond's fraud scheme. That's the letter A
and then a a Able Bailbond's fraud scheme that helped
(04:56):
get violent criminals back out on the street. Chronicles says
many of the people indicted are accused of being straw
co signers who put their names on documents they knew
painted an incorrect financial picture. The proof, according to prosecutors,
came in the form of forged payt ubs. In many cases,
(05:17):
the pay stubs that were submitted to the insurers were
from companies that didn't even exist or that never employed
the person who submitted the pay stub, according to court documents.
The story from Fox twenty six.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
After an Astros game in July of twenty twenty one,
thirty eight year old Gerald Wayne Williams shot and killed
seventeen year old David Castro in a road rage incident.
In twenty twenty three, Williams was sentenced to thirty years
in prison. Friday afternoon, he appeared in federal courts to
plead guilty to conspiracy.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
To commit wire fraud.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
That's charge stems from williams three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars bond he posted while awaiting trial for David's murder.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
He conspired with a number of people, including Aable Bonds
in Nashiba mahab to put together falsified records, and those
falsified records were submitted and sent across state lines in
order to get them bailed out.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Soon, corrupt bail bonding practices here in Irris County would
come to light. In August of twenty twenty two, the
FBI rated Aable bonds, leading to several of us, including
company owner Shiba Maharab, our ongoing series breaking bond exposed
defendants free on multiple bonds for aggravated robbery. Turns out
(06:35):
some of them were robbing people in order to make
payments on their multiple bonds. It became sort of well
known that defendants weren't posting ten percent of the bond amount.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
Yeah, so separately on top of it being falsified, they
also weren't putting up the entire ten percent that people assumed.
And what we found out as a community was that
was more of an understanding and not a policy, and
so we started making a push that that's something that
had to change.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
That push led to a new state law mandating ten
percent of the bond amounts for violent offenses and a
decrease and violent crime here. Old Williams will be sentenced
next month. Shiba Mahara is expected to stay in trial
later this year.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
There comes a point where you realize we have people
we live among with whom we do not share values.
This is not a nation in that sense. As regards
those people. We can coexist to some extent, and we
(07:45):
all know at some point we're going to be a
victim of one of their crimes. It's simply going to
be a question of whether we're armed and prepared and
blast them and then deal with other people like them claiming,
you know, they did nothing wrong, or whether they're going
to get the better of us fast. We're going to
(08:06):
serve on juries with other people like this who are
going to be sympathetic to them. But we might as
well just go and admit this and work around it.
Rabb I said, you want my advice? What flavor park? Chocolate?
I said, chocolate. Freak freaking out. I worked for Papa's
(08:35):
family around ninety ninety one. I was in college at
the University of Houston. I trained. I got hired at
the location the Papasitos at Richmond and Kirby. You remember
(08:55):
that location. I think it's still there. It's it's one
lot east of Kirby, and I can't remember what was there,
but they bought it and it had like a covering aray,
and they just kept it and they put a sign
there and they made that they're parking because they had
insufficient parking. So I got hired there. I trained at
(09:21):
the they called it Little Sidos at Richmond and Hillcroft, which,
by the way, is where I met Jim NaN's in
phil Simms unrelated what hello friends, uh fellow u H
grad So hired at the one at Richmond and Kirby,
(09:48):
trained at the Little Seados at Richmond and Voss not
on the hard corner, but it's close. You know where
it is. And then I was sent to to the six'
ten south across from The astronome. Location AND i would
(10:08):
say unfortunately because the demographic didn't. Tip and as a,
waiter that's a, real real rough way to make a.
Living it's like a good. Boat it doesn't. Tip you're, right,
okay please let. Me i'll tell the stories if you don't.
Mind thank. You so, yeah, EXACTLY i would say unfortunately
(10:36):
because the people there didn't. Tip but there were two,
highlights one of which was at Art howard eat there every,
day and you, know he was coaching The. Astros astros
were playing The astrodome at the, time and he would
come in and sit at a table by himself AND
(10:59):
I i would BE i was kind of the star
in the manager's. Eyes he loved me AND i loved,
him still, do and he Would it was kind of
a standing rule that Of Art house came, In michael
gets to wait On Art house and so that was
always a treat and he'd come in mid afternoon before
(11:21):
going to The. Astronaut and the second REASON i loved
working at that location was that the manager was a
fellow Named Terry. Mitchell Terry mitchell was a long Time
pappus family, employee And terry made one hundred thirty two
thousand dollars a. YEAR i know because WELL i asked.
(11:45):
Him no, surprise, Right BUT i remember, thinking, man you
can make that kind of money as a manager of a.
Restaurant that's a lot of. Money and it was nineteen
ninety ninety, one there was a lot of. Money still
still not, bad but in those, days the trade off
(12:08):
was it was a tough. Job he was THE. GM i,
mean he was responsible for that. Store it was he
was basically like an owner operator the Way chick Fil a.
Does And terry was such a charismatic. Leader he was
a guy that came. In he was a guy THAT
i don't THINK i ever beat him to, work but
he was a guy when you came. In he was
(12:28):
in the kitchen yelling at one, guy telling another guy
you're farting, around and giving baseball tickets to the other.
Guy just always just just a whirling dervish of energy around,
him and it was. Infectious he was a charismatic. Leader
Chris pappas is. Smart you, know you get good. People
pappus family have great. Systems there are a great systems,
(12:51):
restaurant and that should that should seem. Obvious, well, yeah
they're a successful. Company restaurants are not known for. Systems in,
fact the reason you go to your favorite restaurant and
sometimes it's, spotty is because they don't have. Systems they
are all personality. Driven and when that personality is away the,
(13:13):
chef the, manager the, waiter things. Drop it was three,
days it was three weeks of working there BEFORE i
was able to go to a table and you, know
take their order and be the waiter representing The papas,
family which is how they approach, it which is a whole.
Different you, KNOW i worked other places as a. Waiter
(13:34):
and you walk in the door for a two o'clock
meeting about two oh. One you've got tables eight through.
Fourteen here's the seating. Chart you don't know what's on the,
menu you don't know. Anything you don't know who's in the,
kitchen you don't know how to tell when your ticket is,
up you don't know what our pot point of sale
system is not, then but they need, waiters and you
(13:57):
know your job is to be a. Waiter and you
see difference if you ever ate a papas, restaurant you
understand why they've been so successful over the. Years terry
was a just a fantastic, leader AND i had so
much respect for him and how much charisma he, has
(14:18):
what passion he brought to. It and you, know when
you're working jobs as a college, student you don't always
see people who are doing what they're meant to do
in life and who are passionate about it and good at.
It and he ended up from. THERE i don't know what,
year but he ended up because he lived out in Great.
(14:40):
Wood he ended up being moved out to The Great
wood location AND i caught up with, him you know
WHERE i saw, Him. Ramona we went to the to
THE Uh miami game In Miami sunday NIGHT. Espn i'm
On NATIONAL tv standing in Between Leroy burrell And Carl.
(15:01):
Lewis one of these is not like the. Other, no
not because of my, race you, Fool Because i'm not a.
SPRINTER i still had my hamstring at that. POINT i
had one hundred percent. HAMSTERING i didn't have ham hamstring
disability from you, know my injury and. Everything but, anyway,
yeah which is why When Russell lebara hired his number
(15:25):
two who opened his first. Franchise he hired from The
papas family because that's that's that's the. Training man started
in radio in two thousand and five anymore. Teen he
gave me an opportunity with a weekend show On sundays
from ten to eleven. AM i was on city council
(15:46):
and we had a little. Place NOTHING i, did no kids.
Yet we had a little place out In carmen and
we co owned it with some friends of. Ours which
if you can find a couple you really like on
a second, home there's a way to do. It we
did that With Uncle jerry later with the place In. Wilder,
now if you don't like that, person you're married to,
(16:08):
them you're living in the same. House but we really
liked The pacheco's and of Course Uncle jerry's my best,
friend so both of them worked out very well for.
Us but it was my treat On friday evening at
the end of my week. Too OBVIOUSLY i was on
city council and my wife would finish her week and
she could. Work she was still practicing a lot of the,
(16:30):
time and we would cut out On friday evening and
drive out To, carmene which is a wonderful. Drive Leaving,
houston hit two ninety and just head on out and
it was right off to. Ninety when you go through
the little tiny town Of, carmene don't blink or you'll miss.
It there's a little there's a little bit convenience store right.
(16:55):
There and when you pass that convenience, STORE i think
it was three miles almost exactly on the, right and
there was a little windsock you turn on that and
it was a red dirt road and at the very
end you drove into our. Driveway AND i loved going
out there so. MUCH i never. FORGET i Would Chris
(17:16):
baker AND i were, buddies AND i would text him
about whatever he was talking about On friday evening AND
i think he was doing four to seven at the,
time AND i text, him you, know with a request or,
whatever and he would play it AND i thought that
was the coolest. Thing and he'd, said this is for
a buddy of. Mine, anyway you remember those red Boots
chris had had the coolest pair OF i think those
(17:38):
were probably custom red, boots just awesome pair of red. Boots,
anyway he would wear those out in, publish you. KNOW
i went to one of his stand up comedy. Shows,
yeah out way out northwest. Anyway so back in those,
days there was a guy who was running the radio
stations and he was a tyrant in a, tyrant and
(18:01):
he didn't like me BECAUSE i wasn't brought in by.
HIM i was brought in By Eddie, martini who at
the time was not the head of the. Company he
was a director of. Sales And EDDIE i had Met
Eddie martinez through some friends and he had asked. ME
i was mayor of pro temoth the. Time he'd asked
me some city, stuff and SO i would tell him
(18:22):
what was going, on And i'd give him the skinny
and kind of tell. Stories and he, said, man you
ought to be on the. Radio this is interesting. Stuff
and so he told the then head of our, stations
programming side, programming programming is what's on the, air sales
and operations was, separate and never the twain shall. Meet
(18:43):
But eddie pushed and got me, on and so WHEN
i went, on they Took glenn back. Off glenn back
was on nine to, eleven and they Took glenn back
off and put me On. No. Salary for two. YEARS
i worked for no, salary but it was just an
opportunity to be on in the budget And eddie drives
a hard bar and what CAN i? Say AND i
wanted to be. ON i thought it'd be. Cool and
(19:06):
there was a standing deal that the programming director had
With Ken charles because With Ken, hopman because he really Liked.
Hafey Ken hopman would come in Every wednesday morning at
ten o'clock and he would be my. Guest and every
Every wednesday morning when he would come, On Mike houghton
(19:26):
was board up at the, time AND i would instruct
him to play you don't have to be a star
to be on my. Show AND i thought that was so,
funny and it's, true you don't have to be a
star to be on my. Show to prove the, Point
Ken hopman is our, guest, well you gotta. Understand anybody
that Knew hoffey was he had very much an edgy
(19:50):
style of humor and. Presentation its one of these guys
that was always real quick with a, quip but it
could be. Biting it could be very very. Biting and
he used to brag that when someone would come to
work at The. Chronicle he'd been there, forever and he
was probably by that time even Well Leon hale might
(20:13):
have still been, around But leon was out and Round
top so Or. Windale So haffee was kind of a
really big deal with The, chronicle and so new reporters
when they would get, hired and they would send an,
email you, know please Welcome John. Smith he's just joined us,
here and So hafee would send him an email and,
say looking forward to meeting. You come by and say
(20:37):
hello to. Me i'm located at this. Corner and it
was a spot that he had a sightline, for but
they couldn't see, Him and so the new employee would
go there and they would stand there and they'd look
around and there'd be No Ken hoffman and he would just, giggling.
Giggle so they would go back and say, sorry DID
(20:58):
i miss? You and and he'd go back and, forth
where were? YOU i THINK i was at the right.
Spot so he would do it, again but this time
in a different, corner, giggling giggling, Giggle AND i remember, thinking,
man that is really. Cruel he thought it was the
funniest thing. Ever and that was Just. Hoffey if you
only knew him on the. Air you wouldn't know this
(21:18):
guy could he could Be uh, Well SO i thought
it was very funny to kind of put him in
his place and do this play this. Song and so
we had kind of a friend of me, relationship BUT
i didn't know he took it. Personally so THEN i
Took Pat gray's. Job and then WHEN i took over
(21:40):
the DAY i took, Over Ken hoppman brings he finds
out That i've taken, over he brings a letter of.
Resignation he's. Leaving he's going to keg out Where john
And lance are, now and they're going to put him
on the air with his own, show which turned out
to be a terrible idea because it's not easy to
carry a show Like Whoopy. Goldberg he was very funny
(22:00):
in my opinion in his, column but two hours on the,
RADIO i think it was. Suspect never, Mind so he
he starts on the air and he just unloads that
you know What Michael berry used to do to. Me
he would dishonor me and disrespect, me and he would
(22:21):
tell the story of me playing that song and how
it hurt him so. BADLY i was, like you are
a grown, man and you are talking about this LIKE
i bullied you or. Something and anytime that song comes
on it came on last, NIGHT i always think of that.
Story SO i told my wife that story last. Night she, said,
(22:44):
well you, know you can be a little well if
you're not going to take my, side really have a
lot of, hope DO?
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I The queen.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
See, Jeebias Michael berry Fring.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Jabias That kings, story, well The capacito's. Story the REASON
i went into that IS i don't know when The
Gypsy kings. HIT i don't know what year that. Was
AND i MEAN i was fresh From. ORANGE i HADN'T
i hadn't been In houston for very. Long and it
(23:26):
might seem laughable to you now coming To houston From.
ORANGE i might as well have been In mozambique Or.
Casablanca it was the big, city. Man things were, fast
things were, moving everybody was everybody was on the go and.
Powerful and the Way houstonians feel when they walk the
(23:51):
streets Of New york and in the, eighties not. TODAY
i don't mean like you get mugged and pooped on
and a rat bigger than you runs in front of,
you and you, Know palestinians are having a rally in.
FRONT i don't mean like, today but you remember the
first time you, went if you're From, houston first time
you went To New, york it felt like every everything
was so brisk and. Fasted he couldn't keep. Up, well
(24:14):
that's How that's How houston was to, me this little you,
know fair, haired bright, eyed bushy tailed kid of eighteen
and then probably nineteen WHEN i went to, WORK i
might have still been eighteen At papasitos and they played
The Gypsy. KINGS i think On loop it was, constant
(24:36):
And i'd never heard. THIS i, mean we didn't Have
we HAD kzzb ninety five In orange In, beaumont which
played the top, forty and then we HAD kogt In
orange which did kind of morning. LOCAL i love, that
love that. Format Eddie martini last because he thinks that's
(24:58):
What i'm trying to make this. Show he says that
that's what you're trying to make your. Show. EDDIE i
got news for. You that's WHAT i made our show
twenty years. Ago you just never. NOTICED i had. To
you had to ease it in. There it's a little
just like a little bit it's just a tip a
little bit in the time, Anyway so they the Gypsy
kings would play AND i remember, Thinking, man this this is, it,
(25:21):
man this is this is this? Music this is. Cool
where does this come? From this is so. Amazing AND
i don't know what happened to the Gypsy. KINGS i
don't know if if they hit in eighty nine to
ninety and they had just, hit or if they'd been
around for a. While i've never, looked but they were
really big on The papacido's playlist and they played all the,
(25:43):
time and SO i would listen to their. Music they
would play a lot of The spanish language stuff AND
i would practice with that boy. There they're not easy
to understand so and back then you couldn't just look
up the lyrics. Online BUT i grew to really enjoy
the Gypsy kings out of the. DEAL i really really
(26:04):
enjoyed their. STUFF i was going to tell you something
related to, that AND i can't remember what it. WAS
i can't. REMEMBER i Guess Russell labarr was, listening because
he said he sent me an. Email. Papasitos not only
DID i Hire Joel perkins to be the general, manager
(26:25):
for the Second, gringo so he had the first one In,
paarland and he Hired joel to be the general manager
for the Second ringos in nineteen ninety. Six but he
would go on to become a franchise, partner opening up
five locations FOR, us and then sold them back TO
us in twenty twenty one for an eight figure. Deal,
(26:47):
moan if you got to think how long how much
an eight figure deal, is then you're not really in that.
League you got to start running commas and. Things he's now,
retired but he's our landlord at two of our. Locations
you simply cannot write that. Script how about that good?
Story great story actually the stories of people working for
(27:13):
a long time at the same, place building a business
starting from. Scratch you Know i've had. Addicts tell. ME
i think you can learn a lot from. Addicts because
we all have our own, weaknesses whether it's an addiction or.
Not we all do things that are not in our best,
interest despite the fact that we know they're not in
(27:35):
our best. Interests for some, reason we keep giving in
to these. DECISIONS a lot of people like to make
it the case that addiction takes the choice out of
the addict's hand because that reduces the personal. Accountability but
anybody that goes to one of those treatment programs will
tell you that the treatment programs are all about taking
(27:55):
responsibility for who you. Are that's part of what being
an addict. Doesn't god help you if you have a
friend who goes to an addiction, program ESPECIALLY, aa Because
i'm going to tell you. How i'm gonna give you
the arc of how this thing. Works it starts, with, oh,
Good bob's going TO. Aa he's going to get the
(28:17):
help he. Needs and then a little while Later bob gets.
Out he's, Like bob'm so proud of.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
You.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Thanks and then about a month, later you get an, Email,
hey when you borrowed my mower and didn't bring it
back for three. Weeks that was selfish and it really offended.
Me it put me in a, pickle and it challenged
(28:46):
our friendship and it wasn't. Right. Dude that was seventeen years.
Ago what are you talking. About i'm just sharing with.
You you could have Not, WELL i just got out OF,
aa AND i have to be. Honest, Now MAY i
THINK i liked you better drinking you? Like because if
(29:10):
that's if that's the first one you're gonna lead. With
there's probably ten other things That i've done that have
irritated you a whole lot worse To can we just
get them all? Out can you write them? Down pass a?
Note so, anyway it's it's a it's a cool thing
and an increasingly rare thing that people build something and
(29:34):
stay with, it you, know build a, business stay with the,
Business go to work for a, business and stay with the.
BUSINESS i told the story one. Time a, boy a
young man Named Steve madrigal who works For Johnny carraba
at The voss location and he's been there over twenty,
years went TO, uh got a finance degree while he
(29:55):
was working AT. Uh while he's working AT, U i'm,
sorry while he was going to school at you age
getting his finance, degree went to work At, carabas gets
married WHILE i was in. College they start having. Kids
he's waiting. Tables turns out he's making pretty good. Money
gets out of, college goes to work somewhere during the,
day continues to work as a waiter at. Night he,
(30:16):
Realized i'm doing better as a waiter THAN i am
at this day, job AND i actually enjoy being a.
WAITER i enjoy interacting with. People so here we are
TWENTY i think twenty three years, later twenty one years,
later and now he's a manager At. Carabas you see
these successful Companies, Pappus Russell Lebarro's, Gringoes Johnny, Carabas johnny Or.
(30:41):
Carabas you see these raging Cajun you see these companies
that have long time employees and a. Culture it's like a.
Family it's a, calling it's a, mission it's a. Ministry
culture is. Everything who is? It says culture beats? Down
that's a movie in A oh, NO i know. Who
(31:03):
he's that goofball that calls himself the prophet Uh. Limnas never,
mind never, MIND i even brought that. UP i used
to watch that. IDIOTS i used to watch that idiot.
Show what was his? Name OH i can't he can't
stand up and punching it show
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.