The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee County Post • March 17, 2017 Milwaukee breaks March 12 snowstorm record MILWAUKEE — The official recording station for the city at Mitchell International Airport set a record for one-day snowfall on March 12 with 8.7 inches falling on Monday. The previous March 12 record was 6.7 inches in 1972. The three-day total for the storm that began late Sunday was 11.2 inches officially in Milwaukee, according to the National Weather Service records. The amount for those three dates was the third highest since official records were kept in 1877 — 15.5 inches in 1923 and 14.2 inches in 1904, Marcia Cronce, National Weather Service meterologist, said. "A March snowstorm of that caliber probably happens once every few years," she said. Noting the intense and localized impact of the snow bands that hit the southern Wisconsin counties along Lake Michigan, Wind Point lighthouse in Racine County had more than 22 inches for the three days, Cronce said. Media reported at least four deaths in Milwaukee County due to the storm. WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Longtime broadcast journalist Anderson to retire MILWAUKEE — Following more than 36 years of broadcast journalism, WISN 12's Mike Anderson has decided to retire, effective March 31, 2017. "Mike is a staple of not only this television station, but of the entire community," said Jan Wade, president and general manager of WISN 12. "Everywhere I go, people know Mike Anderson. He has an uncanny ability to capture the humanity of each story, and bring clarity to chaotic events. "He is a wonderful journalist and storyteller." Anderson has produced reports about issues involving racial inequality, economic development, local governance, political upheaval, and inner-city violence, including award-winning docu- mentaries "Children in the Line of Fire" and "Solutions to Violence." On the national front, he has covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in his hometown of New Orleans, and interviewed four U.S. presidents. "I was extremely blessed to land on the tarmac of a great family- oriented company in Hearst Television and WISN 12," said Anderson." Many thanks to my God, to my mother, to the company, to my colleagues, and to the people of Milwaukee for gracing me the privilege to live and work among you as family." Anderson attended Louisiana State University and the Career Academy School of Broadcast Journalism. He began his professional career in Birmingham, Ala., working as a radio journalist and then transitioning into television news. Prior to working at WISN 12, Anderson was a news anchor and reporter at KIRO-TV in Seattle, Wash. Scam involving alleged grandchild targets elderly WEST ALLIS — The Police Department announced it has noticed an increase in tele- phone scams targeting older people during the past year. In a popular scam, scammers will call a targeted victim pretending to be the victim's grandson or granddaughter saying they are in jail. Often the story, told while crying or hysterical, is that the caller was in an accident and has been arrested. Often hard to understand, the callers say their attorney will contact the grandparents to arrange bail for them to get out of jail, according to a news release. Another caller pretending to be the attorney will then contact the victim with instruc- tions to purchase gift cards in order to get the grandson or granddaughter out of jail. The person pretending to be an attorney might make subsequent calls. Immediately after purchasing the cards, activating the cards, the victim will then be instructed to scratch off the code and provide it along with the card number to the scammer on the phone. The cards purchased are mainly iTunes and Target prepaid gift cards. The average amount of the scam is $4,000 per victim, but can range as high as $15,000. After a successful scam, the scammer will continue to attempt to scam the victim, sometimes requesting a cash advance or credit card, the Police Department said. When retailers encounter a customer purchasing gift cards where some of the warn- ing signs are present — such as multiple gift card purchase for high amounts by an older person — they are encouraged to ask the customer why they are purchasing the cards and did someone say they were an attorney. Retail clerks or their managers are then urged to contact law enforcement. Liquor store armed robbery suspect sought MILWAUKEE — Police are seeking a suspect wanted in connection with an armed robbery at Scott Beer & Liquor, 1201 S. 33rd St., at about 3 p.m. March 10. The male suspect walked into the store, pointed a gun at an employee, and demanded money from the cash register. The employee handed the money to the suspect and the suspect fled the scene on foot. The suspect is described as a black male, around 24 years old, 160 pounds to 170 pounds, 5 feet 10 inches tall and a thin build. He was last seen wearing a red-and-blue checkered scarf, a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, a black pea coat and a black skull cap. Former CEO of Coupon Clearinghouse sentenced to 10 years in federal prison MILWAUKEE — The former CEO of the nation's largest coupon clearinghouse, Thomas C. Balsiger, 63, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced in federal court in Milwaukee to 10 years in prison to be followed by three years' supervised release. Balsiger also was ordered on March 6 to pay more than $65 million in restitution, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Gregory J. Haanstad announced. In December, following a monthlong trial, Balsiger, formerly of International Outsourcing Services, was found guilty of 10 counts of wire fraud, one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of conspiring to obstruct justice. During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Charles N. Clevert remarked that in his 20 years as a judge he had never seen a more sophisticated fraud scheme as the one designed and executed by Balsiger. Clevert referred to Balsiger as a "chameleon" and a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," who could be positively involved in his community while orchestrating a wide-ranging fraud scheme and directing a relentless effort to obstruct justice. During the sentencing hearing, Clevert noted findings in the presentence report establishing that Balsiger provided and directed others to provide false information to law enforcement and grand jury subpoena recipients. Clevert said Balsiger also coached witnesses to lie and sought to intimidate and prevent witnesses from communicating with law enforcement, including dispatching a private investigator to "menace" a wit- ness. The report also found Balsigner falsely blamed cooperating witnesses for his criminal conduct and perjured himself at trial. Clevert also found that Balsiger's attempts to intimidate and threaten the prosecution team were the "worst abuse" of the judicial process that he had seen while a judge. Clevert noted that Balsiger's "conduct ill-affected the consuming public." The court previously noted in a co-defendant's sentencing that the scheme "shook the coupon industry." Haanstad said, "The investigation that ultimately led to the prosecution and convic- tion of Balsiger and his codefendants stemmed from a single Milwaukee store owner contacting law enforcement to report that someone had offered her money to use her store's name to submit fraudulent coupons. FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin Tomoleo said of the sentence: "The widespread grocery coupon fraud, perpetrated by Mr. Balsiger and others, cost our community mil- lions of dollars. We expect this sentencing to serve as a warning to any future offenders looking to defraud the American people." Officer, wife identified in double fatality that MPD calls 'domestic violence related' MILWAUKEE — A police spokesman said on Wednesday the department continued to investigate a double-fatality involving Milwaukee Police officer Leon Davis, 47, and his wife, Sherida R. Davis, 38. The double shooting appeared to be "domestic violence relat- ed," and no suspects were being sought, police said. The shootings occurred at about 2 p.m. Saturday in the 9600 block of West Goodrich Avenue, police said. The officer died on scene and the woman was taken to a local hospi- tal where she died from her injuries, police reported. The Police Department said the circumstances are still being determined and the investigation is ongoing. Anderson

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