Blackthorne News

 Information from Cassandra Yorgey, journalist

Catskills Halloween Market - Government Corruption and Conspiracy 

(copy/paste from original post)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Catskills Halloween Market at Blackthorne Resort by Jeff Mach - Proven Government Corruption & Conspiracy to Commit Fraud

“You can’t touch Mach’s Catskills event” is just one of the many rumors that circulate about the Blackthorne Resort that plays home-base to Mach’s criminal enterprise. Well, I can, and I did, and I’m going to tell you all exactly why a sexual predator and con artist thinks he’s untouchable in Durham, NY (where the Blackthorne Resort is located). It’s long, and it’s complicated, and it ends with government corruption.

Blackthorne Resort is in Durham, NY, which is part of Greene County. Blackthorne is owned by Roy Handel and Dale Handel. Roy’s wife is Patricia (Patty) Handel, and she is the District 9 Legislator for Greene County. That is, ultimately, why all the complaints about Mach have been covered up in Durham, and in Greene County. Let’s take a look at the complaint process that disappears information about Mach’s criminal activities.

I am a journalist, so I reached out to the Durham Town Supervisor Shawn Marriott on May 18 as a routine request while covering the Odditorium Carnival. The Durham Police Department also referred me right back to Shawn Marriott on May 29, and said my press request would be forwarded to the department Sergeant. On June 2 I contacted the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and forwarded them information regarding Mach’s crimes. That same day my press request to Greene County Administration was forwarded to Patty Handel. I had initially asked to be directed to Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden. Patty Handel returned my call on June 9, and claimed she did not know why I was forwarded to her and that she was not the correct contact. My two calls to the Town of Catskill Supervisor Patrick McCulloch were not returned. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Shawn Marriott is also the Commissioner of the Durham Police Department and is employed by the County as a Sergeant. This whole town sent me, a journalist, in circles by obfuscating roles and titles, bouncing me back and forth between themselves.

On May 29 I contacted Troop F of the NY State Police, and on June 3 I spoke with Jennifer Alvarez who referred me to the State Attorney General’s office to file a complaint. Additional communications with her indicated it’s also appropriate to escalate this matter to the FBI because it involves victims of fraud in multiple states.

On June 1 I contacted the Greene County District Attorney Joseph Stanzione, and on June 9 I forwarded evidence of government corruption in Durham, NY.

There is significant evidence linking NY District 9 (Durham) Legislator Patricia Handel to a criminal conspiracy to commit fraud via Mach. Current evidence indicates Mach’s threat to have me illegally arrested as a journalist traces back to Handel and Shawn Marriott (Town Supervisor, Commissioner of Durham Police Department, and Greene County Sheriff Road Sergeant).

Hot on the trail of government corruption, I went poking around to see what else I could find — and it turns out this is not the first time the Town of Durham has been accused of corruption! There is a recent lawsuit that went through legal purgatory accusing Handel and Marriott of “blatant favoritism” towards Blackthorne Resort resulting in illegal actions taken by the Town of Durham. Interestingly, the NY State Department of Health (NYS DOH) is also listed on this lawsuit that names Handel and Marriott. Mach himself also alleged a connection to the DOH in his leaked group chat, along with the Town of Durham administration and police department. (https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=eCB6GgaabiIxuVQnt2sy/Q==&system=prod)

While investigating the corruption allegations, I received two separate and unrelated warnings that I should fear retaliation for providing journalistic coverage of this news story. I take these warnings seriously, and as such I would like to do what is known in the crudest of colloquial terminology as “DROP A BIG F*CKING D*CK ON THIS ROOM”.

How do we do that? Every single person and vendor from The Odditorium Carnival needs to file a report with their local police department and the Village of Ballston Spa Police Department regarding the fraud; and the NYS Attorney General’s office to report the allegation of government corruption in Greene County covering up the criminal fraud.

Vendors from Wonderplace Alpha in Lake George or The Catskills Halloween Market at Blackthorne Resort who would like to report fraud should follow the same procedures, but may be routed to different authorities than Odditorium vendors.

Those who would like to file complaints of fraud or other illegal activity from the Catskills Halloween Market at Blackthorne Resort events should also contact me immediately. Because there is evidence of a coverup and retaliation, turning over evidence to me as an independent reporter allows me to give an additional layer of protection to my sources.

As a journalist, I have access to sources and submitted evidence that is not public knowledge. I thoroughly vet and verify my resources, however, in an ongoing investigation it is not appropriate for all information to be publicly released. I take protecting my sources very seriously. The evidence I need to pursue a journalistic investigation has a lower bar than what is needed for a criminal investigation by law enforcement authorities.

While Mach is putting on a ridiculous public rodeo of personal drama that is captivating to watch, I caution his victims to keep their focus on actionable crimes that need to be investigated by authorities and not just a journalist. My power as a member of the Fourth Estate is bringing truth to light, but it is held up by the individuals who take action to make sure my posts are spread to the public and to get the evidence to the people in positions of authority who can act on it.

In addition to the lawsuit, a complaint was filed with the Greene County Board of Ethics against Patricia Handel and Shawn Marriott in 2023. This complaint filing outlines a repeated and systemic pattern of retaliation, using the police force as Blackthorne’s personal thugs — consistent with what Mach himself has claimed publicly and privately. I have submitted a request for copies of the report findings connected to the complaint, however, I have not yet received a response.

This is a still-developing news story, and continued updates will provided as they become available.