Latest news with #Montalvo
NBC News
05-07-2025
- NBC News
Inside prison walls, here's how a book program is changing lives
Maria Montalvo speaks with emotion, her eyes shining as she recounts her reading experiences. She says she especially enjoys books by Isabel Allende, Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison, Erika L. Sánchez and John Grisham because, in her words, 'reading makes you wiser and you learn how people live in other countries. It takes your mind to other places you can't travel to.' Montalvo isn't an ordinary reader. During her incarceration at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, a prison in New Jersey, she has participated in the activities of Freedom Reads, a nonprofit organization that has been promoting reading in U.S. prisons since 2020. 'Freedom Reads has brought books on different topics, and it's very important to read because it makes you wiser,' Montalvo, 60, said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. 'Books change the prison climate; they change the way people think about themselves. This opens your mind and makes you want to change.' Montalvo proudly recalled the arrival of the books at her prison in May. "They brought two bookcases that are very symbolic and very important, because they relate to literature, justice and writers like Martin Luther King,' she said. The origin of Freedom Reads is closely linked to the life of Reginald Dwayne Betts, who pleaded guilty to car theft at age 16 and was sentenced to nine years in the Virginia prison system. "In prison, I discovered books. I became a poet and also a very good communicator. I was able to make friendships and connections that have lasted decades. Books gave me an understanding of the world,' Betts said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. Years later, Betts earned his law degree from Yale University, began publishing books of poetry and won prestigious Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships, and in 2020, he was one of the founders of Freedom Reads, where he has worked to increase access to books for the U.S. prison population. Finding reading material in prisons is difficult, Betts said. Most facilities have only one library, which is open a few hours a day and requires a permit to access it. 'I asked myself, 'What would a library be?' And I decided it would be a collection of 500 books, and I called it the Library of Freedom, because I believe in the idea that freedom begins with a book." Betts worked with architects at Mass Design, a nonprofit firm focused on architecture's role in supporting communities and fostering societal healing, and they decided the bookcases' structure should be curved. Many of them are built by former inmates, he said. The libraries themselves are objects of design, each consisting of two to six freestanding bookshelves, handcrafted from maple, walnut or cherry wood. Betts has fitted the libraries into empty cells for easy access and designed each shelf to be 44 inches tall so as not to obstruct guards' vision. The curves of each reading structure contrast with the harsh, angular architecture of the prison system. "We want to show that it's possible to be kind in places as violent and dangerous as some prisons, and we're projecting our idea with libraries we make with our own hands,' he said. Betts read several books in prison that changed his life. One was "One Hundred Years of Solitude," by Gabriel García Márquez, which he said 'taught [him] to understand Latin America and its people.' According to figures from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, there are 46,334 Hispanic prisoners in the United States. Therefore, from the beginning of the project, bilingualism has been present, and Spanish-language titles are abundant. 'We have a list of more than 100 books in Spanish, and it continues to grow every year,' said David Pérez, Freedom Reads' library coordinator. According to the organization, Spanish-language books in the library's permanent collection include "The House of Spirits," by Isabel Allende; "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," by Sánchez; "In the Time of the Butterflies," by Julia Álvarez; and "The Shadow of the Wind," by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, in addition to classics such as the novels of García Márquez and English-language works by Ernest Gaines, William Faulkner and George Orwell. 'I'm so pleased that my novel has reached so many unexpected places. I'm proud that incarcerated people find some relief in Julia's story," Sánchez said in an email about her book. "She's a complicated protagonist who wants to escape her circumstances, like many women around the world." 'A lot of work ahead of us' Maria Montalvo was convicted in 1996 of the deaths of her two children in a car fire, which she claimed at the trial was an accident; she's serving a life sentence. During her trial, prosecutors acknowledged that she was ' emotionally disturbed ' during the incident, which contributed to her not being sentenced to death. Years later, Montalvo says she has dedicated her time in prison to studying the problems of mass incarceration, reading literary works and engaging with other inmates in reading circles that discuss books in Spanish and English. 'There are many books in Spanish and English. So you can sit with many of the women who don't speak English and read a book, but at the same time, another group is reading the same book in English, and you can have a conversation afterward,' she said. Noticias Telemundo asked the Federal Bureau of Prisons for figures on its prisons' literacy and reading initiatives, but it didn't receive a response about the data. However, spokesperson Scott Taylor said in an email that the bureau closely monitors reading promotion programs like Freedom Reads, which 'includes regular coordination meetings, staff training on safety expectations, and ongoing oversight to address any concerns." In addition, Taylor said, the bureau's education branch has implemented a strategy focused on literacy and improving language skills for inmates who don't speak English. 'Bilingual instructions and materials are provided in Spanish and English, supported by digital tools that offer accessible resources for those learning English,' he wrote. In 2023, research published by the Mackinac Public Policy Center, a nonprofit organization espousing free-market principles, found that prison-based reading, job training and education programs reduce the likelihood of recidivism by 14.8%. It also found a 6.9% increase in the likelihood of employment. "I love having conversations with people inside prisons,' Pérez said. 'They read a lot, and it moves you when you see them crying because they've read a poem or a novel — it's unique.' 'Having a voice' Freedom Reads has installed 498 libraries in 50 adult and youth prisons across the United States. It has placed an estimated 280,000 books in the hands of inmates. 'Despite that success, we've probably reached less than 1%, maybe 0.5%, of the prisons in this country," Betts said. "We're not in any federal prisons yet. We're only in 13 states, and we're missing more than 30. So we have a lot of work ahead of us.' Betts' aim is to have libraries in 20,000 prisons. Since 2023, Freedom Reads has administered the Inside Literary Prize, a literary award judged by incarcerated people. The inaugural award went to Imani Perry's book "South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation," selected by more than 200 judges from 12 prisons across six states. By 2025, the competition had expanded to include more than 300 judges from 13 prisons in five states, and this year's edition also included Puerto Rico. Montalvo was part of this year's jury, and its decision will be announced Thursday. 'It's a feeling of inclusion. It makes you realize that what we think about books and what we read matters,' Montalvo said excitedly. 'It's having a voice.'
Sunday World
21-04-2025
- Sunday World
Lawyer who sued Daniel Kinahan and MTK Global for €8.7m hands over legal dossier to CAB
US lawyer urges Garda investigation into Kinahan's business dealings with fighters A US lawyer who sued drug cartel boss Daniel Kinahan and MTK Global for €8.7 million has handed over a legal dossier on the defunct boxing agency's dealings with fighters to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Eric Montalvo, who successfully represented boxing promoter Moses Heredia in a civil racketeering case in the US against Kinahan, confirmed this week he has been in contact with CAB and has handed over information relating to MTK financial transactions 'I'm calling for these transactions to be examined,' Mr. Montalvo told the Sunday World. Daniel Kinahan's gym in Marbella 'There are banking records that show MTK was paying hundreds of thousands of euros to fighters who had entered into zero percent contracts. 'According to the contracts, MTK was making nothing from representing these fighters, while at the same time bank records show it lodged sums in excess of half-a-million euros to their accounts. 'How any company could operate in this manner and turn a profit is beyond me? 'I have been in contact with CAB. I was in the UK last month and I sent over a batch of information to them. It is for the law agencies to examine these transactions and see what, if anything, is there.' In September of last year, Kinahan and MTK were ordered by Californian Judge John Holcomb to pay damages of $9.7 million or €8.7 million to Mr Montalvo's client Moses Heredia after he accepted the claim they had used cartel drug money to poach boxer Joseph Diaz from him. Police searching the MTK gym As part of his case, and during court proceedings covered by privilege, Mr. Heredia had alleged MTK was using fighters to wash Kinahan's drug money. In an unredacted transcript from the US court case obtained by this newspaper, Mr Montalvo submitted that fighters, who were not identified by name, were given 'zero pc' representation by MTK. This meant the boxing company charged these fighters nothing to represent them and took no portion of any winnings associated with their fights. During a hearing on August 25, he told Judge Holcomb: 'The big takeaways are I travelled to both the Middle East and Ireland,' Mr Montalvo said. 'I sat down with key persons, and I acquired a fair amount of documentary evidence already that demonstrates MTK had a plan and practice to attack managers, put them in arbitration postures, and then also sue. Kinahan's MTK tried to poach boxer Joseph Diaz 'In the discovery in the litigation, it reveals that MTK would enter into zero percent agreements with the fighters and then push in half-a-million to a million dollars' worth of euros in increments, and then you would see that money leave the fighter's bank account in also large sums. 'So, it appears this is a mechanism upon which they were moving their money.' Crucially, it's understood that during the course of Mr Heredia's four-year case against Kinahan, Mr Montalvo obtained extensive bank records showing how MTK moved cash around. It's understood banks – including institutions based in Ireland – were used in the transactions which Mr Montalvo now wants probed. Cash taken from Kinahan's boxing gym As well as furnishing law enforcement with information gained during the case, Mr Montalvo is currently documenting assets linked to MTK and Kinahan that can be liquidated to pay his client the €8.7 million he is owed. He told the same court sitting he had brought in an expert from the US Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Division to help in this regard. 'He has got 30-plus years of money-laundering experience across the globe. I have worked with him previously, so we are excited to bring him on board and sort of tidy up the connections that I have established. We are doing pretty well,' he said. Company documents filed by MTK Global USA in the state of Delaware – where it was incorporated in 2020 – show it 'voluntarily cancelled' its status as of May 26, 2022. The development occurred a month after Kinahan had a €5 million bounty placed on his head by the US government. Both Kinahan and MTK Global USA fired their legal counsel in the case in California and 'ghosted' the legal proceedings. Daniel Kinahan's involvement in the world of boxing is the subject of a separate multi-million law suit in California. A leading boxing 'fixer' says Kinahan secretly struck a multi-million dollar deal with global fight promoter Top Rank to be its exclusive consultant outside of the US. Lawyer Eric Montalvo Former Top Rank agent William (Billy) Keane claims in a lawsuit filed in California in March the 'under the table' deal was struck after Kinahan helped him to get world champion Tyson Fury to agree to a rematch fight with Deontay Wilder. Keane is suing the promoter for in excess of $25 million, plus interest, in allegedly unpaid fees. He claims that he spent $27,000 courting Kinahan and Fury in Dubai for Top Rank in January 2019 ahead of the fighter's change of promoters the following month. Keane says Top Rank president Todd duBoef wanted to woo Fury away from Frank Warren because Top Rank needed a new star fighter to satisfy sports broadcaster ESPN. But deBoef allegedly told Keane that ESPN could not find out that Kinahan was involved because the Irish press had reported that the Dubliner was the leader of a drug cartel, and if duBoef were linked to him, ESPN might be forced to terminate their contract. 'It had been more than six months since Top Rank signed the 2018 ESPN Extension, Top Rank was earning more money under the new deal terms but had not yet signed any new, meaningful talent, ESPN was not happy..,' the filing adds. In a statement to International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, duBoef's attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, rejected Keane's claims: 'Nothing was secret. [Keane's] allegations are false and his lawsuit is frivolous.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fairfield man arrested after allegedly causing $3,000 in damages in New Haven
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A Fairfield man was arrested on Friday morning after allegedly pulling up plants and saplings on Temple Street and Chapel Street, according to police. 40-year-old Samuel Montalvo was seen allegedly pulling plants and saplings from the ground, around 6:26 a.m. He allegedly caused approximately $3,000 in damage. Volunteers rebuild CITA Park in New Haven after vandalism Police were dispatched to 900 Chapel St. which houses the Downtown Ambassador's program. Montalvo was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, and interfering with an officer. He was held on $10,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
On the Lookout: Michael D. Montalvo
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Syracuse Police are looking for your help in locating this week's fugitive of the week, Michael Montalvo Montalvo is 53 years of age. He is 6'1″ and weighs 210 lbs. He is a sexually violent level 3 sex offender who is required to maintain his registration for life. He had resided at Catholic Charities but has not been there since November 29, 2024. Montalvo failed to make a notification of an address change and failed to complete his annual Sex Offender Registry. Michael Montalvo has an active warrant for: Sex Offender – Failed to register a Change of Address Sex Offender – Failed to complete annual registry If you can help police find Mr. Montalvo you're asked to give the Syracuse Police Warrants Squad a call at 315-442-5230 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Montalvo fuels SLAM girls' basketball team's victory as it chases return trip to state
Despite all it accomplished on the way to Lakeland last season, SLAM Miami's girls' basketball team was still hurting when they lost in the semifinals. Senior wing Adaya Montalvo was in even more pain a short time later when she tore her ACL while competing in a showcase event in front of college scouts. Neither Montalvo nor the Titans let either setback stop them. On Tuesday night, both showed how strong they have recovered as Montalvo scored 18 points to help SLAM secure a 75-52 victory over Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in a Region 4-3A semifinal at the Titans' home gym. SLAM (15-12) will next host Miami Carrollton, which ousted Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest in its semifinal, on Friday at 7 p.m. in the regional final for a chance to return to Lakeland next week. 'This has been the culmination of everything we've done this season, testing ourselves and playing the best teams in every class, and the girls look like they're putting it all together,' SLAM Miami coach Krystal Cabrera said. 'We're a little more seasoned and we returned our core players who know what it looks like. With the rigors of the season, we're ready for this moment.' Montalvo is one of the team captains Cabrera is referring to who keyed SLAM's run to state last season. She spent most of the offseason off the court rehabbing her injury. Montalvo, whose two sisters, Alivia, an eighth-grader, and Aubreyanna, a junior, are also on the team, returned to the Titans in December. But it took some time before Montalvo felt like herself on the court. 'It took me about 10 games and a lot of practices. It was rough the first month and I've been a little inconsistent too, but I feel like I'm finally finding my groove and my teammates have helped me a lot with that,' Montalvo said. 'I feel like the coaches give me confidence because, honestly, I was doubting myself coming off the ACL. I just want to go back to state and make it a big comeback.' 'AD,' as Montalvo's teammates and coaches call her, took another big step in that goal on Tuesday. She set the tone for SLAM's win with 10 quick points in the first quarter, which put the Titans ahead and allowed them to lead for the duration of the game following a 2-2 tie. 'AD played with a lot of energy and that kid came back at midseason and is the heartbeat of this team,' Cabrera said. 'Seeing her play like that after everything she's been through is a great feeling.' From that point on, it was a collective effort, which Cabrera believes will be the key if SLAM is to achieve its ultimate goal. Samantha Bautista drilled four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Makayla Turner added 10 points while Taeler Suber and Aubreyanna Montalvo each scored nine points. The Titans had to contend with Cardinal Gibbons' senior Savanna Nicholson, who scored a game-high 30 points and made six 3-pointers. '(Nicholson) is a really good player and we knew we had to respect her game and stop her, and still she had a phenomenal night,' Cabrera said. But the Chiefs (16-9) were unable to slow down SLAM in the paint and yielded too many open shots from the perimeter as well. Makayla Midgett also had 10 points for Gibbons. 'Most of us have been in this program for a long time and we want something new,' Adaya Montalvo said. 'The state tournament is a different type of feeling so when we step out there, it's going to be a different hunger and we're gonna show out.'
