How Scammers Prey on the Elderly

Alaskan Seniors Under Siege

A confidence game, also known as a con, scam, grift, or flim-flam, is an attempt to win the trust and confidence of a victim, known as the “mark,” to defraud them. Although general expectation is that con artists are untrustworthy, their particular ability is to be able to gain the trust of their victims.

[1] Confidence Game, New World Encyclopedia

As an Alaska I have seen con artists come and go over decades and intellectually understand their game. After all, Jefferson Randolph “Soapy Smith” was a world-renowned scam artist who plied his crimes against Goldrush Argonauts in Skagway, AK. But Soapy was small-time compared to the Borden Plantation Scam in 2018, orchestrated by Bill, Brenda and Waneta Borden, dba High Caliber Realty, Inc. (sic). Based in Atlanta, GA. Bordens entangled this long-time professional truth-teller in a complicated scheme with the goal of breaking me emotionally, financially and stealing my home.

Jefferson “Soapy” Smith got his nickname from his infamous soap swindle, where he would sell bars of soap from a suitcase on the sidewalk. He would make a show of wrapping an occasional bar of soap with a bill, ranging in size from $1 to $100. He would then mix the wrapped bars together, and sell them for between $1 and $5. Naturally, the “winners” of the currency-wrapped soap were always associates of Soapy. From 1887 to 1895, Soapy was king of Denver’s underworld, making money through a variety scams, and becoming more of a gangster than a confidence man. Despite his reputation as a bad man, Soapy was also generous to charitable causes, and was often sought out by men like Parson Uzzell of the People’s church for assistance. Smith was killed in 1898, during a gunfight.

[2] Ibid, Famous Con Artists

I’m not proud to say Bordens Succeeded

Waneta had been maintained in squalor by her son at Smiths Grove, KY and Willow, AK since 2006. Liston’s home was the nicest place she has lived in 40 years. She was active in Valley politics and knew a variety of local elected officials including Michael Dunleavy.

This is a composite of photos of the Community eyesore on Willow First Avenue which Waneta owned outright. I joined her to pay taxes on this property at the ***MatSu Borough*** on several occasions. In court she and Bill testified through attorney **Jimmy White-Shark** that this property was foreclosed on for lack of payment on a mortgage and she no longer owned it.

Liston invested and made tremendous progress doing most of the skilled labor to improve this cabin over the time Bordens entangled him in their scam, including a porcelain tile floor over the entire original cabin. Bordens, through attorney White-Shark would argue that Waneta could not live here upon leaving residence in Liston’s Eagle river home where he provided Elder Care some 30 months for 86-year old Waneta.

Waneta contacted Liston online first and he felt sorry for her. She arrived in Alaska from Kentucky the first week of November 2018 to “make me Thanksgiving Dinner.”

Once Bill became involved the confidence scam would involve a number of AK Court Lawfare Judges. The goal of scammers is always to entangle and wear down a mark until they give up. Liston has fought this battle alone, with supportive friends who have observed his on-going struggles, and witnessed the truth.

How Outside Scammers Violate Vulnerable Alaskans

Liston believes his public notoriety and some unfortunate life circumstances made him a target of professional scammers who have been rewarded for criminally violating him by Alaska Court Lawfare. In fact, what has happened to him is a perfect example of why Alaskans deserve an Independent Grand Jury to investigate and report likely wrongdoing by judges to the People of Alaska when the system itself is the problem, in the absence of an independent elected Attorney General.

[3] The Naked Truth About Alaska Courts, Jessica Pleasant, May 12, 2024

This photo was False and Misleading Evidence distributed by Scammer Bordens to multiple parties and multiple courts to defame LISTON for Domestic Violence he would NEVER commit. The court of Judge **Josie Garton** awarded this duplicity $66,000 to Bordens from sale of Liston’s Eagle River home.

Revenge for Catching a Real Estate Fraud

Liston sought justice in AK Small Claims Court against Bill Borden for documented damage to his business, DONN LISTON COMPANY and HIS home. Bill’s response was incredible—he sent to the court Revenge Porn he had stolen upon breaking into Liston’s home, stealing multiple items outright, and hacking his computer. These stolen photos of naked consenting adults including Liston were prima facia evidence Bill had committed this crime! There is no other way Bordens could have gotten these private photos except by breaking, unlawfully entering, and theft.

[4] Alaska Statutes RE Criminal Use of a Computer

Shouldn’t ANY JUDGE be able to see this?

Judge Nesbett destroyed evidence when he returned revenge porn to Bill Borden–evidence proving Defendant had maliciously hacked Liston’s computer, stole photos of naked consenting adults, and with Waneta published them to multiple public officials including Sen. Shelley Hughes, in a violation of Liston’s Constitutional right to privacy. They did this to damaged Liston’s business and good name. Further, at trial Plaintiff Liston gave Judge Washington the unopened packet of revenge porn that Borden had sent to him–as required in court distribution–and told Her Honor she could review it for herself to prove the crime Borden committed. The packet had been opened before it was mailed back to Liston.

An Anchorage courthouse is named after Buell Nesbett, David’s father and first AK Supreme Court Chief Justice.

[5] Notice to the parties from Judge Nesbett

Read About the Judge Murphy scam here!

Bordens set Liston up to fraudulently steal his house by breaking him emotionally and financially for leaving their real estate scammer plantation. Borden hired an attorney Neal Ainsworth (Ainsworth.law) to represent him, but this court official didn’t inform of this known violation of state and federal law.

[6] AK Revenge Porn Laws

AK Courts don’t Care About Obvious elder abuse

[7] Complaint with detailed overview of exactly how Borden scammers had violated Liston.

Submission of stolen photographs TO THE COURT in response to a charge of breaking and entering and hacking Liston’s computer system was a prima facie declaration of guilt. How could this be beyond the common sense and legal acumen of 2019 Gov. Dunleavy appointee, Judge David Nesbett?

[8] Appeal to recognize seriousness of Revenge Porn Offense, March 5, 2024.

Nesbett Didn’t Hear the Case

After a 2-1/2 hour hearing July 28, 2022 Alaska 3^rd District Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Judge Pamela Washington in her finding February 13, 2023 didn’t require Borden to pay damages for proven violations of Liston, but she did order that Bordens had 10 days to return some $15,000-$20,000 of cash, valuables and specific items stolen in an admitted burglary of his home (including RING Security System.). This Order was a joke–never enforced in a court system that rewards Outside parasites who use lawfare to scam vulnerable Alaskans. [3AN-22-00086].

Alaskans need to know more about the judges they re-elect every five years.

[9] Alaska District Judge Washington, appointed in 2020 by Gov. Sean Parnell.

The Hearing was Enlightening

Selections from Court transcripts of Hearing [3AC-22-00086SC] held July 28, 2022.

Judge Washington: Introduction–I flipped through (the file) and there are just all these different issues that were raised. I don’t know, when I look just at the complaint, it seems to me that the issue is that the plaintiff is suing for damages resulting from defendants maybe interference with his business ventures, you know, disabling email accounts, disabling different social media accounts? And then there was this motion about return of stolen property, it looks like judge Nesbitt denied it indicating it would be resolved in this matter. So, is there an issue about stolen property still remaining between the parties? Because it wasn’t initially part of the complaint. It just was a motion, the court just denied it. And he says he’s denied it based on the opposition. The only thing the opposition said was, “Hey, we’re fighting about that in the trial.” So what’s the status of stolen property? I’ll ask you first, Mr. Liston.