Official Update Regarding Riley Robinson

Raeviendha al'Toma

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Ismene thank you so much for sharing with us. :hug :hug That must have been very difficult for you and you're very brave for putting down in words how you're feeling. :hug

Hammar thank you thank you thank you. :hug
 

Katarianna al'Leya

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Your appreciation is appreciated.

I have exacerbated the Board's problems on this issue, so it is only fair that I help alleviate it. What I mean is that the Leadership is under very strict instructions from me to say damn near next to nothing about this topic. I have done this for a lot of reasons, some of which are obvious and some of which are not. I am extremely pleased at how the Leadership have conducted themselves on this thread (mostly by staying out of it except to address tone). There are things I know some of them are dying to say that I will not permit, whether expressions of their feelings, or what they want done, or additional facts, etc.

Instead I am shouldering the burden of giving you guys the information I think we can give that doesn't imperil a good result. The Board has trusted me on this and I am honored by their trust and the positive reactions I've received from the community.

TLDR; I don't mind doing this at all.

Thank you for sharing and being as amazingly awesome as you are!
 

Autumn Sapphira

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Ismene :hug I don't even have words. I'm sure that was really difficult to type out and post. I have a lot of respect for you for doing so.
 

Miya Kiyoshi

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Wow that was a lot to read, but worth it.

Hammar, thank you for the update. It's appreciated.
Ismene - Thank you for sharing your thoughts. :hug
Eli - I'm fairly sure no one would hold you (or anyone else tied to him) in contempt or suspicion just because you were close to Riley. If anything, I think many people would feel badly for you as you were close to someone who was so duplicitous.

It's fair to say that there are a lot of folks here on the site with family, who are struggling, who would NEVER do what Riley did. To look people in the eyes, hug them at live events, and then literally pocket their money. Some of my sisters and I were recently discussing how much money we gave in cash to Riley at live events to do pranks... I have to wonder now how much actually made it into the Tower's coffers.

This is more than a criminal act, it's a betrayal. We're all going to feel differently and strongly about it - as displayed here in the past ten pages of comments (and more to come I'm sure.) It is amazing that an internet community hasn't been reduced to ashes from tons of flaming after something like this occurs.

I can not, however, wish anything but for justice in this situation. I have never been a high dollar donation giver here at the Tower - but as someone who has had a limited income at times... what I have given is a lot for me. I generally don't make monetary donations to groups or charities because I spend my money on my family and our needs. And I'm sure I'm not alone in that. There are probably MANY of us here at Tar Valon who feel that money given to the Tower, instead of being spent on our own needs, was taken directly from us and those we might have spent it on instead.

It's a bitter feeling to have a friend steal from you, but it is even more harsh when that money could have been spent on my own child. To hear that he purchased things like cars, when I walk to work every day rain or shine... iphone, when I JUST got my first cheap-walmart-special cell phone this year ... and trips to Disney, when I have not been able to afford to take my own kid even to a nearby city for a vacation -- well, it pisses me off. And that's to say NOTHING of how it makes me feel to think he stole EVEN MORE from all of you who have been so kind to me and supportive of my family over the years.

Justice can't come swift enough. I hope that someone is sending Riley all these messages so he can know just what we all think of what he's done. He should have to face the reality of this... he didn't just take money from some fanclub or website/organization. He stole from good people with families of their own. Real people who cared about him -- many of whom would have helped him, if he'd only asked.

Keep us posted Hammar. I think we're all looking forward to the day when we can close this horrible chapter of the Tower's history.
 
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I hope that someone is sending Riley all these messages so he can know just what we all think of what he's done.

I operate under the assumption that Riley either reads this thread or is aware of its contents on an ongoing basis. This means that I treat each of my posts as a direct communication to Riley, and potentially any jurors to whom my posts are read as evidence.

You may find that this changes your perception of my existing posts.
 
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Kitan Tataru

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I have never been a high dollar donation giver here at the Tower - but as someone who has had a limited income at times... what I have given is a lot for me. I generally don't make monetary donations to groups or charities because I spend my money on my family and our needs.
Same here. I donate blood because I want to help my community, and because it doesn't cost me money - because I don't have much money to donate. When I do donate money, it's to the Tower (and occasionally to charities the Tower sponsors - I've also donated household items to charities the Tower sponsors when possible). Donating money is a big deal for me. To think that I may have helped Riley buy a car, an iPhone, a trip to Disney and who knows what else...:mad

It's fair to say that there are a lot of folks here on the site with family, who are struggling, who would NEVER do what Riley did. To look people in the eyes, hug them at live events, and then literally pocket their money. Some of my sisters and I were recently discussing how much money we gave in cash to Riley at live events to do pranks... I have to wonder now how much actually made it into the Tower's coffers.
This.

At 11th anni, the Whites did a couple of really good pranks (in my opinion; I am obviously biased). We asked the admins - including Riley - for permission for the pranks, and asked how much each prank would cost. Members of administration, including Riley, approved the pranks and gave us prices. We gathered the cash. I got caught up in the excitement and, really, put more in than I should have so we could meet the cost of the pranks. And then I sought out Riley, because he was CFO, and I put the cash straight into his hand with a smile because I trusted him implicitly.

And then when news of his embezzlement first came out, one of the thoughts I had the day I found out was "How much of that cash I handed straight to Riley went to the Tower instead of into his pocket?"

:mad

One more thing. For those who don't know Ismene, I cannot express how much of an understatement it is to say she is an amazing, wise, intelligent, classy woman. If Riley could fool her, he can fool anyone.
 
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At 11th anni, the Whites did a couple of really good pranks (in my opinion; I am obviously biased). We asked the admins - including Riley - for permission for the pranks, and asked how much each prank would cost. Members of administration, including Riley, approved the pranks and gave us prices. We gathered the cash. I got caught up in the excitement and, really, put more in than I should have so we could meet the cost of the pranks. And then I sought out Riley, because he was CFO, and I put the cash straight into his hand with a smile because I trusted him implicitly.

And then when news of his embezzlement first came out, one of the thoughts I had the day I found out was "How much of that cash I handed straight to Riley went to the Tower instead of into his pocket?"

This is a perfect example of the phenomenon described in my OP. We know he took at least $X, but there are all kinds of situations like this that likely never touched the books, and only he knows or could know the aggregate total.
 

Zashara Sho'am

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Ismene Gillandred said:
As he and I continued to communicate through phone and e-mail, what struck me most was his utter lack of affect. He was not sorry. He was only sorry that he was caught.

I know it's nothing that will hold up in court.

I disagree with that last bit.

So, if this kind of stuff could hold up in court, then would you say that people who have information on this should contact you, or the Board, or whoever to give any relevant details, or is that not necessary in this step of the process?
 

Toral Delvar

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In my public comments about this whole controversy I have been very clear that I would not discuss the what the Board would find acceptable in terms of any potential negotiated arrangement between the Board and Riley.

However, I will cautiously tiptoe over that line for this statement: not once in the time since this was discovered has the Board contemplated the secret deal suggested here, at least not in my virtual or actual presence. You need not worry about this.
Thanks. It was never a major worry (for me, I wouldn't speak for anyone else), but as you say, for legal reasons, you were very limited in how much could be revealed and I at least was concerned that this wouldn't be going down the legal avenues you have revealed (and as I have no knowledge of the legal requirements, I had no basis on which to judge what if any options were available. You may have had several choices available, or may have had none. To me, that doesn't matter).
 

Ariadne Davion

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I am avoiding posting, anything really, but from a Technical standpoint Riley would have to do some fantastic technical IP Jumping to get back in without -someone- noticing. Chances are he would be banned among other things within a week. Our Technical Staff and Security is significantly better then that. That and the legal recourse of him trying would be rather fascinating to see explode in his face.


#notanofficialstatement!!!
 

Ismene Gillandred

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I also find that side by side with my anger is a tempering concern about Riley's family. They didn't steal this money. They didn't lie to us or betray us. And yet, they're victims too. They may not have felt an especially negative effect just yet (or maybe they have), but they certainly will if he goes to jail and/or they lose their home, car, etc. So while I absolutely feel Riley owes us and needs to not only make restitution but suffer additional consequences, I don't want to see those consequences so severe that his family is permanently scarred and messed up because of it, especially his kids. Perhaps that's an unavoidable consequence, but I find myself in favour of showing at least some mercy to Riley in our demands for justice, if for no other reason than his family's sake.

Again, I think your feelings speak well of you, Eniara, but I must respectfully disagree. Although I haven't been in contact with his family for some time, at one point I was close with all of them. Riley's wife did not work, or only worked minimally for low-wage, part-time jobs. I do know that she pressured him into buying things the family couldn't afford, such as an expensive pet horse, and vacations. I see no reason why she couldn't jobhunt for something to support herself and her family better. This is just conjecture on my part, but I doubt she will do that. She'll probably lean on extended family for financial support. Riley's children are in their teens, or in college. While it sucks to have a family member go to jail, it's not as if Riley would be leaving behind a young wife and wee bairns helpless. His family will manage.

I don't think being a parent should get you an eternal "get-out-of-jail-free" card.
 

Miya Kiyoshi

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Riley's wife did not work, or only worked minimally for low-wage, part-time jobs. I do know that she pressured him into buying things the family couldn't afford, such as an expensive pet horse, and vacations. I see no reason why she couldn't jobhunt for something to support herself and her family better.

I may have just thrown up in my mouth a little. :x

I don't think being a parent should get you an eternal "get-out-of-jail-free" card.

+1
 

Khisanth al'Danya

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[I have been fighting that for so long and finally failed my saving throw]


Hammar - Of all of the awesomeness you have displayed, this takes the cake for me. :fistbump :D
 

Kitan Tataru

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Can we make Hammar a Hero of the Horn? :look:
 

Dagnidrea al'Karyl

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Yes, I think that is an excellent idea! :D

Thank you, Hammar, for your hard work, and thank you to the Board for continuing to be so upfront about this sad situation.
 

Alyria Ess

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Thanks, Ismene - my conflicted feelings have resolved themselves with this information.
 
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