Debbie Schlussel: Miami vICE: Fed Agent Movie Star You Subsidized Debuts on A&E
**** CORRECTION: Earlier, I wrote that Agent Lorenzo Toledo is an Assistant Special Agent in Charge. I mixed him up with his fellow ICE Agent Actor, Alexander Alonso. Toledo is a Group Supervisor, still a high rank in any ICE office. I apologize for the error (should have read my entry on him from the summer more closely). ****
Last year, I wrote about the budding acting career of Lorenzo Toledo, a Group Supervisor of Miami Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (I also wrote about allegations that Agent Toledo vouched for Fernando "Felix" Arango--a fugitive drug smuggler with a criminal record--which got him a job as a Customs and Border Protection agent and inspector at the border.)
At the time, Lorenzo and another high-ranking ICE agent, Alexander Alonso, had roles in the motion picture dud, "Miami Vice." I recounted how Miami ICE Special Agent in Charge Jesus Torres gave "Miami Vice" star Colin Farrell information on classified law enforcement techniques (more here), which could jeopardize the lives of agents involved in undercover drug buys. I also wrote about how Special Agents Toledo and Alonzo allegedly got paid "sick" days off in order to act in "Miami Vice." All approved by top ICE officials, including Torres and his superiors at ICE Headquarters.
Well, soon, another movie starring Special Agent Toledo will debut. A&E announced that the A&E original movie, "Kings of South Beach," will premiere on March 12th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Toledo plays Sgt. Willard. No word on how many tax-funded "sick" days Toledo received to make the flick starring Jason Gedrick and former New Kids on the Block member/eternal thug, Donnie Wahlberg. "Scarface" has-been Steven Bauer is also in it.
A&E's description:
This is the wild true-life story of Brooklyn wiseguy Chris Troiano, the club promoter who reinvented South Beach into a nightlife mecca, until undercover cop and best friend Andy Burnett took him and his gangster associates down.
The movie is described as "part 'Donnie Brasco' and part 'Scarface'" from the writer of "Goodfellas" and "Casino," Nick Pileggi. Sound like a guy whose film career taxpayers need to subsidize in the name of immigration enforcement? Didn't think so.
I note that Agent Toledo's acting career has been very prolific of late. Last year, he acted on "America's Most Wanted." And this year, he's also starring as "Leo" in "Bumping Off Burt." Tagline: "Some people just deserve to die."
Since Toledo also probably got tax-subsidized "sick" days off to star in that one, I wonder what the claimed ICE public relations benefit there is to subsidizing B-movie acting in a movie, the plot of which is:
After months of enduring Burt's gross and annoying antics, four diner patrons decide the only way to rid themselves of the menace is murder. But when the hit man they hire to do the job vanishes, they resolve to take matters into their own hands.
With all of this new acting work, it seems that taxpayers are finally getting a pay-off on their $1 billion dollar investment in ICE . . . and Toledo's acting career.
One wonders: Does this mean we get to come on stage with him to accept the Razzie?
Just asking. Oh, and just a reminder. Remember when ICE sachem Julie L. Myers a/k/a "The ICE Princess" told Congress she'd introduce "fiscal responsibility" to ICE?
How fiscally responsible is it to knowingly give multiple paid "sick" days to ICE Agents to subsidize their acting careers (for which they are also being paid by the filmmakers)? Does your employer give you paid "sick" days to pursue a side career?
And you, the taxpayer, thought you were paying for the enforcement of federal immigration and customs laws. Ha.
Nice work, if you can get it.
Posted by Debbie on January 16, 2007 12:52 PM to Debbie Schlussel