Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
How we traced the money
By KEVIN WACK, Staff Writer Maine Sunday Telegram Sunday, May 6, 2007

The only initial clue about the origin of the RECAF contribution came from the address that was reported to the state of Maine: 170 N. State St., La Verkin, Utah 84745.
In order to learn more, the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram sent a freelance photographer to La Verkin, a community of about 4,000 people near the Arizona border.
As it turns out, the entire 100 block of North State Street is occupied by a residential center for troubled teenagers.
The facility, known as Cross Creek Programs, includes a colonnaded two-story building framed by a green lawn and palm trees.
Outside, there is no sign for RECAF Inc. and no evidence of the 170 N. State St. address listed with the Maine contribution. Entrances to the complex are marked as 150 and 180 N. State St.
In phone calls, Cross Creek employees said they were unaware of a company called RECAF. "What kind of a business is that?" replied a woman who identified herself as Pat Gubler.
Kerry Gubler, who is listed as Cross Creek's administrator, did not return phone messages seeking comment.
But public records in two states connect RECAF -- a company incorporated in Nevada, where records do not show the origins of the firm's name -- and a 53-year-old Utah businessman named Robert B. Lichfield. During the 1990s, Lichfield was listed as the registered agent for a Utah corporation called Cross Creek Manor Inc., located at 180 N. State St. in La Verkin.
In addition, land records from the Washington County recorder's office in Utah show that the North State Street property is currently owned by the Robert Browning Lichfield Family Limited Partnership.
Finally, business records from the Nevada secretary of state's office show that Lichfield's wife, Patricia P. Lichfield, was formerly listed as RECAF's president.


Reader comments

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1-10 of 10 comments:

ADAM ZYCH of Rancho Cucamonga, CA
May 8, 2007 1:18 AM
While it seems most of you are only interested in politics, perhaps you should dig deeper into Robert Lichfield's activities. You should pay extremely close attention to results including "Casa By The Sea" and "Tranquility Bay." It's a relief to see somebody exposing these people for the criminals they are, even if it is only in this instance.report abuse
Kay of Durham, ME
May 7, 2007 5:31 PM
You should see the "investigative journalism" on the right wing blogs online about John Edward's expensive haircut! Those "journalists" are amazing too. Very thorough and it would please me if they would search to find the missing $9 billion in Iraq and the 5 million emails/documents missing from the White House that were connected to the Republican National Convention. Think maybe these emails are missing because if they're found they might prove that Secretary of State Ken Blackwell of Ohio helped in the stealing of the 2004 election? Huh. Could be.

Oh, but Edward's haircut!!!! Criminal!

*rolling eyes at the right wing hypocrisy*report abuse
Todd of Portland, ME
May 7, 2007 8:30 AM
Now if the PPH would just "trace" the unqualified cronies and buddies that Governor Baldacci has put into high-paying state jobs. Four years ago reporter Paul Carrier looked into this, and the administration covered up the real numbers. Look into it again. It's disgusting, and a disservice to Maine citizens. report abuse
Jeff Dubay of Cambridge, ME
May 7, 2007 6:41 AM
CommonSense, they can't do that. They were part of the payoff.report abuse
Fred of WTVL, ME
May 6, 2007 8:54 PM
Three stories about the same topic.

Congratulations, PPH.

Now, can we hope to ever see the same attention paid to Mrs. Clinton's campaign?

I won't hold my breath.

report abuse
Jim Moore of Brunswick, ME
May 6, 2007 5:24 PM
Hey, a real investigation by the PPH.

Hope you liked it.

Try to make it a habit.

report abuse
Mitch of Freeport, ME
May 6, 2007 1:36 PM
MainelyJack,

I wonder if you would have the same viewpoint if it were a Democratic funding source that had been uncovered?

I wish more news outlets took the time and resources to dig for real news stories, instead of just chasing the Celebrity-pap of the day.

report abuse
Company Girl of PTLD, ME
May 6, 2007 12:24 PM
Wow. Journalism does take work sometimes. You are now a man, PPH.report abuse
MainelyJack of New Gloucester, ME
May 6, 2007 12:19 PM
Damn. You are so clever. Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. report abuse
CommonSense of Augusta, ME
May 6, 2007 11:30 AM
How about applying this same level of sleuthing to figuring out where $50 million dollars of state Medicaid money went? report abuse

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