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In Mr. Farrell's own words...

Greetings:

It seems my most recent post was a little too dense and the press release
was missed by many subscribers.  The Nwe Haven Register piece referred to
is related to the press release I posted a couple of days ago.  As
journalists frequently get things confused, isn't it better to go directly
to the source?  

At the risk of being redundant for many of you, I submit for your
consideration, in Mr. Farrell's own words... 

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(Intro)

Special to Sky & Telescope

Would you please consider exploring matters with the meteorite businessmen
framed and jailed in Brazil (they are now fugitives) and abandoned by the
US consulate?  The full ordeal has not been reported in the US; there are
other American, European, Japanese and African Businessmen, framed and
abused, currently languishing in Rio's jail.  In light of recent rapes in
Guatemala, killing of Americans in Costa Rica and Chile, there may be a
pattern of violence in certain Third-world countries.

(Headline)  

Yankee, Stay Home!!

American Businessmen Framed, Jailed, Abused, Robbed; Facts Justify Putting
Blame on Rio and Washington.  A tale of Meteorites, "Madam Curator," and
the Police State Ordeal to be Aired at Coming Minerals Show in Tucson.

(Body)

Last June, meteorite broker Ronald E. Farrell, 42, of New Haven, and
mineralogist Frederick J. Marcelli, 67, Cortaro (near Tucson), Arizona, met
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the scheduled purpose of exchanging
meteorite specimens with Brazilian authorities.  What ensued was a
nightmare: they were set up by officials working in concert with Federal
Police and "framed" for "the theft of national treasures;" spent four
months in incarceration, mostly in a 6-man cell holding 13 other Brazilians
and foreigners, including murderers, drug dealers and rapists, as well as
innocent men.  Farrell and Marcelli were robbed of their rights, property,
health, reputations, and were beaten and further abused.

Compounding the injustices were some US consulate staffers that did little
to assist the two Americans.  At least one official asked for a cash payoff
to secure legal help; Mrs. Farrell was even "billed" a delivery fee for
services.  US Senators from Arizona, Ohio and Connecticut were contacted
but were unhelpful.  The US State Department told Mrs. Farrell that her
attempts to get attention to her husband's travail were "a nuisance."
Subsequently, private, multinational legal efforts "liberated" the men, who
are back in the US.  Details of their ordeal are likely to emerge January
29th at the Tucson International Minerals and Meteorites Show.
Shortly after Farrell and Marcelli were "arrested," two Brazilian attorneys
suggested they lie about what really happened, to obtain less severe
"justice," such as a heavy fine and expulsion.  The men refused to confess
to a crime they did not commit, and relied on an abundance of fact,
evidence, witnesses and testimony to prove their innocence.  Their refusal
led to considerable suffering and life-threatening consequences, in a
nation where the Federal Police are above the law and the court system.

Foreigners, especially business persons, engineers and scientists,
respectively thought to be affluent and/or highly skilled, are easy prey
for similar setups and detention, warns Farrell: "Our ordeal should alert
American and other businessmen and tourists to such dangers and outrage."


Farrell and Marcelli's chief accuser and a likely co-conspirator, Mrs. M.
Elizabeth Zucolotto, was angling for a curator's position despite
questionable credentials and experience.  She exploited the affair and
manipulated Rio's media to subsequently gain the appointment.  A crusader
for the repatriation of Brazilian meteorites and antiquities "questionably
obtained" over generations by various Western institutions, Zucolotto made
scapegoats of the Americans.

As Farrell is prepared to document to the world press, the entire incident
is part of a growing pattern of "reverse colonialism," marked by bribery,
extortion, conspiracy against innocent parties.  Similar goings-on have
taken place in Egypt, Sudan, Chile, Costa Rica and elsewhere.

"Brazil is a Third world nation where some officials are accustomed to
bribery, self-dealing, Gestapo-like acts", he said.  "Marcelli and I were
convenient "fall guys" for the earlier "sins" of governments and
institutions, as well as victims of what appears to be an international
plot that was hatched before we arrived in Rio."

The "purloined" meteorites, which neither American saw or handled, had an
estimated worth of $42,000, which is a fraction of what it cost the
businessmen during their inquisition.  A valuable meteorite commands $200
(and up) a carat, or, $1000 per gram.  Less precious but rarer than
diamonds, some meteorites are worth an estimated $10,000 per gram.

While the meteorite business is gaining more prominence, as recently
reported in business outlets, this affair could have severe consequences
for the precious stones business, which is a much larger part of the
Brazilian economy, and which attracts dealers, collectors, brokers,
institutional officials and others from many other nations.  Farrell and
Marcelli met other framed and imprisoned foreign nationals, including
Americans, Europeans, Asians and Africans, in the jail.  One foreign
businessman has been languishing in a cell for eight years; another being
held is a noted nuclear physicist.  Mr. Marcelli, though free, is in ill
health.

"Foreigners are simply not comfortable with Police States that deprive them
of their rights and put their lives and property at risk.. Once alerted,
they'll take their business elsewhere," he opines.  Farrell adds, "There
could even be a domino effect that will hurt tourism, trade, and
international relations."  He said, "if it weren't for the private
liberation efforts, Fred and I would either be dead or still rotting away
in that jail cell."

*****

To arrange an interview of Mr. Farrell, Call M. Leeds, 212-819-0769
  
(END)
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