Letter on Chuck Turner's First Days in Prison

Now that the media circus is over, the tremendous price being paid by former Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner and his family following his conviction on charges of taking a $1,000 bribe from a government informant is only under discussion at the grassroots level. Fortunately, his supporters have made it their business to circulate information about the facts of his incarceration at a federal penitentiary in West Virginia - and other relevant updates - throughout the Boston progressive community. So when I saw a copy of the following letter from Green-Rainbow Party activist Mike Heichman on a local listserv, I decided it was important enough to get his permission to run it as my weekly editorial. The full text follows - along with Mike's contact information if you have any questions or comments for him. Read on ...

3/31/11

The following is an update about what I know about Chuck Turner since he arrived in prison. Most of this information is not from Chuck, but from a reliable long-time supporter.

Chuck is in a medium security prison. It has a good library. One of his fellow inmates is an African-American CEO of a Fortune 500 company, who is 2 beds away. Chuck will have an opportunity to earn “good time”, and could be out in 2 years.

Chuck was not able to surrender to US Marshals in Boston and was forced to pay the expenses to travel to his prison in West Virginia. His flight from a NY airport was delayed for many hours. This is another example of further harassment.

You can write to Chuck at:

Hazelton Penitentiary, P.O. Box 2000,
Bruceton Mills, West Virginia 26525.

His Prison Number is 80641038.

Know that while you can write to Chuck, his mail will be opened up by the prison authorities.

Also, do not send Chuck any books. Books that Chuck wants must be sent through the publisher.

[4/2/11 correction: Mike double checked and said that if you want to send Chuck anything, please contact him beforehand to see what he needs and how it can be sent.]

Because Chuck has now been declared an indigent, he has a new attorney – Charles Rankin.

Chuck’s wife, Terri, cannot collect Chuck’s pension while he is in prison. During his time in office, Chuck and Terri lent his campaign committee about $170,000 in order to pay most of the expenses of having an office in the district. This office not only served the residents of his district, but was also an important meeting place for many groups. Work-4-Quality Schools, Fight-4-Equity and the Boston Workers Alliance were both born in Chuck’s office.

Terri and the family need our $ support while Chuck is in prison. Please send a contribution to:

Committee to Elect Chuck Turner, PO Box 190251, Roxbury, MA 02119

Please include your name, home address, occupation and employer. Cash and money order cannot be accepted for donations over $50. Personal donations are limited to $500 per year. Donations are not tax deductible. Corporations may not donate.

On another note, Tito Jackson, who Chuck endorsed, has taken office. He refused to take Chuck’s office space at City Hall, which required other Councilors to move their offices.

[4/3/11 correction: Gintautus Dumcius from the Dorchester Reporter spends a lot of time at City Hall and issued a correction that Mike has acceded to, "I have not seen anybody moving besides Jackson and the council staffers, who are now in two offices next to one another, instead of one office on one side of City Hall and another office on the other side."]

Additionally, he refused to hire any members of Chuck’s staff. Charles Yancey, the only Councilor who has stood with Chuck, has temporarily hired Lorraine and Edith.

Mike Heichman
mikeheichman [at] verizon.net

Jason Pramas is Editor/Publisher of Open Media Boston