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.

kjamesGarnished Wages

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.