Stolen Equipment by a fellow filmer... Is it worth calling the cops? (orlando beware)

WTF is going on with this kid? that detective mentioned obviously isn't doing enough, so someone needs to make something happen.

End up in the cell next to him? maybe after he gets out of the hospital. Call me stupid for not "taking the high road", but I say F&^K that. If the cops aren't doing anything about it, this criminal needs his @ss kicked, plain and simple.

Gee, I wonder why it's still happening more than a YEAR after the cops made their case... maybe it's because there's no consequence's to his actions. Why would he stop ripping people off? he obviously has no conscience, he's not getting in any trouble more than a slap on the hand, and he doesn't have to work for his money. If we allow it, maybe we're the stupid ones...

I'm sorry, but this sh!t REALLY pisses me off.
 
The 'not taking the high road' part isn't the stupid part.

Advertising an intent to commit battery on the internet, is the stupid part.

That is, assuming that anyone is really serious about the battery.
 
Funny.... I'm in orlando right now and had my camera stolen yesterday..... not by this guy, but there seems to be a lot of this kinda thing in Flo'rida......

It wasn't a scam, just good old fashion pick pocketing.....
 
WTF is going on with this kid? that detective mentioned obviously isn't doing enough, so someone needs to make something happen.

End up in the cell next to him? maybe after he gets out of the hospital. Call me stupid for not "taking the high road", but I say F&^K that. If the cops aren't doing anything about it, this criminal needs his @ss kicked, plain and simple.

Gee, I wonder why it's still happening more than a YEAR after the cops made their case... maybe it's because there's no consequence's to his actions. Why would he stop ripping people off? he obviously has no conscience, he's not getting in any trouble more than a slap on the hand, and he doesn't have to work for his money. If we allow it, maybe we're the stupid ones...

I'm sorry, but this sh!t REALLY pisses me off.

Me too, but putting him in the hospital hurts you more than him. Well, maybe not physically :) , but the ramifications could cause you problems down the road. Yes, you feel good about it... but it that job down the road that requires some sort of clearance or clean record (or in my case, re-upping my concealed pistol permit) tends to be a little harder to get with a felony assault charge on your record.

One of these days he'll piss off the wrong person who doesn't care about a clean record, and he'll get his.
 
This kid would get destroyed if America practiced "Mob" justice, good luck on getting your gear back.

P.s. Attention documentary filmmakers... can you see the writing on the wall?
 
'Writing on the wall?'

It seems to me that the environment for documentaries has been improving for many years now.
 
heh, didnt mean it like that. I just think with all the scams this kid has pulled off (some hilarious- i.e. attempted car "upgrade" theft), that the story of this guy would make some great content.
 
I posted an early compilation thread of this guy's scams (now stickied at the top of the Marketplace), and have had 3 DVXusers who were scammed (and requested anonymity) contact me for suggestions.

One, from up north, was going to try a confrontation when he was in Florida, decided otherwise.

The quoted "Detective Gomes" either doesn't exist or doesn't return calls on this suspect.

I remember Dono did go to court on some case, don't recall if it was cars or cameras.
I believe he was released on his own recognizance, but is in the system now (hence his mug shot) and subsequent charges may not bode well for him if he has a probation officer.

Last I heard, one of the addresses listed was his (his families, that is, I think he still lives at home), possibly the Springhill one.
And he answers his cell.

This is the first face to face incident involving gear I've heard him pull off.
Many of his "deals" involve shipping and sending lesser quality items.
I'm surprised mail fraud and credit card criminal charges haven't been filed.


And it looks like he's cast a wide net for his face to face operations, being possibly 1.5 or more hours from Orlando.
BUT, this is also a new area of legal jurisdiction, and I encourage the OP to fully pursue legal options.

The problem is, $1000 is a low level of interest for the cops, and Dono knows it.
And he's probably reading this thread, too.
Just be aware Joe- it will catch up to, sooner or later.

Although this is as good a time as any (as if any reason is needed) to quote The Simpsons-
"There's no justice like angry mob justice..."

And Timur, sorry about your incident. There's been gangs that, for years, have gone to major events and airports, and use distractions to steal large format cameras.
Years ago, word was lots of stolen Betacams were sent to S America to shoot porn...

Moral of all this (and the part that bites because it affects those of us who haven't even been hit by him ) is BE CAREFUL!
In who you're dealing with and in your surroundings!

:banned:


 
Look what's on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntZIwA9Q50c

JTMultimeidaLLC — September 25, 2009 — Director: Joseph Dono
JT Multimedia Productions
813-802-7381
JTPLLC@GMAIL.COM

And this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwQp3mtYek&feature=channel

JTMultimeidaLLC — June 18, 2010 — Short documentary that we shot in Cannes, France back in May.
We shot this in four hours after meeting the woman on the streets of Cannes.



http://vimeo.com/user1677936



Joseph Dono

Tampa Florida

The name is Joseph Dono, 21 Years young. I'm currently chasing my dreams as a cinematographer & editor. I'm currently going on my second year as a film student.

I've been editing since I was 14 years young, I started out on windows then later opened my eyes up to Mac.

I have a strong passion for the work that I do, everything I do is usually extravagant. I don't settle for second best, I'm usually aiming for perfection as I am a perfectionist.

I'm currently shooting on a DVX100a with a Letus35mm extreme Adapter with 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm prime lenses.

I have a 15 foot ride along dolly, I'm going to invest in the pocket jib when it comes out in the months to come.

I've been shooting drifting events in the Florida area, I recently had the chance to shoot D1 Pro drifting with media passes.

I'm working on a documentary currently for ' All Children's Hospital ' I've also been working on a local bands Music video that should be finished at the end of July.

I hope that the little I've spoken you'll have a understanding of who I am and what I do.

JTP
 
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This is a sucky situation and I hope you get your Letus back and this guy gets some kind of concrete legal punishment, but I must also say the one-two punch of the original post with "Joseph M. Dono" and the subsequent blizzard of shady activity documented on DVXuser made me laugh.
 
Look what's on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntZIwA9Q50c

JTMultimeidaLLC — September 25, 2009 — Director: Joseph Dono
JT Multimedia Productions
813-802-7381
JTPLLC@GMAIL.COM

And this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwQp3mtYek&feature=channel

JTMultimeidaLLC — June 18, 2010 — Short documentary that we shot in Cannes, France back in May.
We shot this in four hours after meeting the woman on the streets of Cannes.



http://vimeo.com/user1677936



Joseph Dono

Tampa Florida

The name is Joseph Dono, 21 Years young. I'm currently chasing my dreams as a cinematographer & editor. I'm currently going on my second year as a film student.

I've been editing since I was 14 years young, I started out on windows then later opened my eyes up to Mac.

I have a strong passion for the work that I do, everything I do is usually extravagant. I don't settle for second best, I'm usually aiming for perfection as I am a perfectionist.

I'm currently shooting on a DVX100a with a Letus35mm extreme Adapter with 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm prime lenses.

I have a 15 foot ride along dolly, I'm going to invest in the pocket jib when it comes out in the months to come.

I've been shooting drifting events in the Florida area, I recently had the chance to shoot D1 Pro drifting with media passes.

I'm working on a documentary currently for ' All Children's Hospital ' I've also been working on a local bands Music video that should be finished at the end of July.

I hope that the little I've spoken you'll have a understanding of who I am and what I do.

JTP

I wonder if he read Dove Simmon's (or whatever his name is) book about stealing to make your movie. Anyway, loaning something with no agreement is a civil matter not a criminal matter, something everyone should be aware of.

You guys should forward this to Dove so he knows when you steal to make your movie it hurts other people.
 
Ohh yea, get this... You guys are making him famous and he knows it. It's gonna turn into a 'catch me if you can' indie movie that you'll all pay to go see when he makes it.
 
So take him to Small Claims Court. gather all of the evidence you can an document exactly what happened on paper. May even be beneficial to file a police report to make it official. Either he will show up and have to explain to a judge, or he won't, then many times you automatically win because there is no defense. If he doesn't return the gear or pay after that, you file a lein against him. Most leins also affect credit. I hope everyone does this as a coordinated effort. If everyone does this at the same time, the judge(s) will automatically see that something is wrong and may help to get the case more attention.

People keep saying that the police won't mess with it because it's too small, but from all of these storeis I keep hearing, sounds like he's got a pretty large and widespread pattern going and should be a pretty big fish once everything is compounded. Especially when you start crossing state lines is where things really start to get tricky. Fraud comes to mind....
 
Camera operator: Hey where's my 7D? It was on the tripod 5 minutes ago.

Grip: 'dono.

ba-dum-crash :2vrolijk_08:
 
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