Note: The following was submitted by Dana Jefferson. Although it requests a retraction from the Free Press, we stand behind our story.
Dear Editor;
I am writing you today in reference to an article you recently published regarding the awards presented by Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis on the occasion of the birthday salute remembering the late great civil rights leader of our country, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You, sir, are completely entitled to your opinion regarding the selection of the recipients of the awards given. However, you particularly criticized the recipient of the James Sharp, Jr. Justice Award in your article claiming that my husband, Mr. Steve Jefferson, was guilty of taking advantage of a “blind” client by stealing money from said client. I do not know for sure where you got that information, but it is not true and you should retract that accusation.
We have reviewed the Supreme Court documents regarding the temporary suspension of Steve’s license and there is no mention of a “blind” client. I am very suspicious of where you would get such erroneous information, but I can assume it was given to you by the very evil man who has done his best to ruin my husband and take away his means of livelihood. This man is a known con artist who has a trail of offended and defrauded individuals in his wake! He is neither blind nor poor and he has never worked a day in his life. He spends lots of time in casinos gambling with other people’s money.
We are in the process of having him arrested. I can’t relay all he has done to my husband and my family here. We have 4 large boxes of papers concerning “legal” work for which my husband never received a dime.
The Disciplinary Board has been fed lies by Bartucci and Steve has not even had a hearing on the charges brought against him to testify regarding his side of the story. This has been a huge burden on him as he has many clients who were counting on him for their cases and he hasn’t been able to finish his work for them. There are many clients and friends who have written letters on Steve’s behalf, but the board won’t look at them until there is a hearing which has been postponed indefinitely.
As a man of about our age, you can imagine what this has done to our wellbeing, both financially and emotionally. My husband has practiced law in Monroe for nearly 50 years with an impeccable reputation.
Regarding the award, he was so very proud to receive it having known and deeply respected his fellow colleague, Mr. James Sharp, Jr. personally. His words upon receiving the award expressed his high regard for Mr. Sharp and his pride on that occasion. I’m afraid, sir, that you are being that horrible word ”racist” which is so bandied about, in your comments.
The fact that you published this situation erroneously is an affront to us personally and I believe a public apology is needed in your paper.
The evil that Bartucci has perpetrated on my family is frightening and hurtful. He actually had the audacity to threaten us by saying, “I can do anything I want to you (my family). You can’t do anything to me. You have nothing left.”
My husband and I are lifelong residents of our beautiful city. We are individuals who believe in the future of our community and we try to “give back” as best we can.
We are not wealthy citizens, but we are good citizens. The Disciplinary Board referred to my husband as a “danger to our community”! The real danger is this man named Joseph Bartucci. I pray for his soul as it is steeped in darkness.
Thank you,
Mrs. Steve Jefferson (Dana Tucker Jefferson)
