You Wont Believe This
November 15, 2018
Most people I know have gone through a rough patch in their life, struggling to make ends meet. I go through it every time the City of West Palm Beach wants to charge be exorbitant fees for my public record requests that should be free and public information!
But when it comes to elected officials who are responsible for spending our tax dollars, I think they should be held to a little higher standard, such as, just paying their bills!
In the case of Commissioner Keith James, it has been common knowledge that he has had more than his share of rough patches in his life, starting back in 1997, going all the way up to 2013, with over $124,000.00 in federal income tax liens; two mortgage foreclosures, totaling almost $500,000.00; and multiple law suits by creditors for failing to pay his bills.
I think being able to pay your bills should be a prerequisite before being allowed to run for Mayor.
But hey, the past is the past, and after a 15 year rough patch, it appeared Commissioner James was on the wagon and was finally getting his life on track… until October 17, 2018.
Poor Commissioner James (and I do mean poor), has fallen off the wagon again.
Apparently Commissioner James has not been paying his bills, according to a Final Judgment issued by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit here in Palm Beach County against Mr. Keith A. James, which grants the Midland Funding LLC, the garnishment of Commissioner James’ wages he receives from the City of West Palm Beach for being a Commissioner. If that isn’t a new way of tax dollars being used, I don’t know what is!
I am sure Commissioner James sees nothing wrong with this and will brush it off as bad luck, or another rough patch, and just keep on running for Mayor. And I can think of a few developers and lobbyists that will continue to help him do just that. Read the judgment below, and ask yourself if this is the man you want running WPB with a budget of hundreds of millions of tax payers dollars.
After this story was published, an observant reader questioned if the attorney that represented Commissioner James was an attorney working for the city. On page 2 of the attachment you will see the name Zoe Panarites who is indeed a city attorney. That’s what we old timers call “rubbing salt in the wound.” Ask yourself why Mayor Muoio would allow our tax dollars to be used for a personnel court case.
Federal Keith James had the following tax liens placed against him by the Internal Revenue
Service for failing to pay his taxes
1. Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 4510 PORTOFINO WAY APT 209
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-8101
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $299
Filing Date: 10/21/2008
Filing 1
Number: 20080384408
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Book: 22915
Page: 1558
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
2.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 4510 PORTOFINO WAY APT 209
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-8101
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $1,349
Filing Date: 5/2/2007
Filing 1
Number: 20070212917
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Book: 21686
Page: 1648
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
3.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 4510 PORTOFINO WAY APT 209
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-8101
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $89,825
Filing Date: 1/25/2006
Filing 1
Number: 20060049411
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Book: 19845
Page: 28
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
4.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 2054 CHAGALL CIR
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-7524
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $32,969
Original Filing
Number: 01166941
Filing Date: 4/30/2001
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Release Date: 12/26/2002
State of Florida Taxes
Keith James had the following lien for failing to pay his state taxes.
1.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 319 BUCKINGHAM RD
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33405-1607
Creditor Information
Name: STATE OF FLORIDA
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $178
Filing Date: 3/14/1997
Number: 97091558
Type: STATE TAX LIEN
Book: 9698
Page: 302
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
Palm Beach County
Keith James had the following liens and judgments filed against him.
1.Case Number: 50-2013-CA-016573-XXXX-MB (2013)
Green Tree Serving, LLC Filed a mortgage foreclosure against Keith James and his ex-wife, Elaine Johnson James, for $380,403.13.
2.Case Number: 50-2011-CC-010187-XXXX-MB (2011)
Business Loan Fund of the Palm Beaches sued Keith James for failing to pay back his loan, in the amount of $13,219.81.
3.Case Number: 50-2008-SC-000416-XXXX-MB (2008)
LVNV Funding sued Keith James for failing to pay his bills. The case was dismissed for lack of activity. A summons against Keith A. James returned because they could not locate him.
4.Case Number: 50-2007-SC-012118-XXXX-MB (2007)
Keith James was sued by Capital One for failing to pay his bills. The case was voluntarily dismissed. A summons against Keith A. James returned because they could not locate him.
5.Case Number: 50-2007-SC-006166-XXXX-MB (2007)
Midland Funding, LLC sued Keith James for failing to pay his bills, in the amount of $1,374.91.
6.Case Number: 50-1997-CA-001116-RFAI-MB (1997)
Citibank, Federal Savings Bank filed a mortgage foreclosure against Keith James, in the amount of $187,193.29.