Opinion ID: 489490
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trap is Sprung

Text: 5 On September 4, Ricard informed Cook that her contact was working on it. She could not say how much the information would cost, other than that the contact couldn't talk about it because he is not allowed to accept money legally.... You know, for doing this. So just by the way he talked though, I know it's not going to be an exorbitant amount of money. That same day the fictitious Kramer record was queried on request of U.S. Customs Patrol Officer William Nichols. 6 On September 7, Cook called Ricard to see whether she had the information yet. She was out, but her husband, Ray Ricard, gave Cook the information from a note Lea Ricard had left. Ray told Cook the car had been impounded and that the cost would be a hundred dollars for this guy. He told Cook that the rest of the note said that the guy is ultra-paranoid, extremely concerned he does not get involved, please make that clear. 7 Cook spoke to Lea Ricard on September 10, when she confirmed that the car was seized and told him that the place to get more information was the U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo, New York. She explained that the information was so cryptic because her contact is not really supposed to be giving out this information and he tries to talk in circles and hope you pick up on everything he is saying. She continued, You know he is very, very paranoid about this. And I don't blame him. You know it's his job and he doesn't want to lose his job just checking out something for somebody he doesn't even know. Ricard then sent Cook a bill that included a $100 charge for confidential information. Cook paid the bill with a check, which Ricard deposited on October 19. On November 1 Lea Ricard wrote a Galaxie Agency check for $50 to Laurie Nichols, William Nichols' wife, and gave it to William Nichols in return for the Kramer information. Mrs. Nichols signed and cashed the check the following week.