Vincent Russello, attempting a scam

[JungleHabitats]

Vince

Here is my thoughts on what has transpired to date with your emails ...

Instead of waiting till next fall why not suggest in a email to these teachers that they themselves take these animals into their personal homes for the summer , this would let them learn what they need to know before they hit the classroom next fall this way they would know the geckos alot better then just going in to the room in the fall with them and being bombarded by kids with questions . I think that if you suggest this they would really think that you have all intentions of making sure your animals have the best in mind vs subjecting them into a large classroom enviroment all of the sudden

 

[Vince]

That is something we will talk about, if you check the dates the just replayed this morning, I gave them the option to take them next year so they would not feel like they had to care for the lizards over the summer just to have them in the class room next year. All aspects will be discussed with the interested teachers. and I will come back and post again when everything is completed.

 

[Rob @ RK Reptiles]

whoaaaa easy big fella. i was going to wait untill everything was done to post, but my popularity seems to exceed some peoples patients. brb with updates on the donations, all i have to do is figure out how to attach emails

Vince, It is good that you are truly working on it as you said you would. Personally I think you would have been better off keeping tabs and letting everyone know as things progressed instead of waiting until the end. With your past and actions it seemed as if you were avoiding the issue in hopes that it would go away. I honestly hope you will continue to follow through with this and make the donation to the school as it will be good for the kids as well as for yourself. Also you also might want to see about paying a visit to the classroom that will accept the donation and giving the class a little hands on educational/informative presentation to the class on the animals care, history, etc. Also I commend you on your e-mails to the teachers as they show a side of you that you have not shown on here. You should always try and present yourself in a professional manner with proper spelling, Grammar, and information no matter if it is just on a forum, chat board, or what. You never know who is watching and paying attention to you and what you say. On this forum there are many educated, intelligent, knowledgeable people and you should want to present yourself to them and the general public in the best light that you can just as you should with anyone in your life. I am hoping that this entire situation will be a learning experience for you in both the way you handle yourself in the Reptile industry but also the way you handle yourself in other aspects of your life. Please continue to keep us updated as this progresses.

 

[SERPENTS DEN]

Sasheena

Vince,

I think you should donate them to Sasheena since she showed interest and is already involved in reptiles probably more so than the other teachers you contacted.

Just my thought...

 

[Gromph Baenre]

Vince,
I commend you for sticking to your word. I would also encourage you to donate to your local school system. In my estimation, that keeps things within ones community, and you would be able to come back and see the progress of the gecko.

Best regards,

Carson Grindstaff

 

[Vince]

Subject: RE: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 9:47:03 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]

The last day for the kids is May 27 and the last day for teachers is May 28. Also, thank you for the link.

Would you be giving the geckos before the end of the school year, because if you are I would like to share the website with my students so that we could all share in the gathering information about the new class pet


Subject: Re: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 11:59:51 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Vince3325
Reply To:
To: [email protected]


that sounds great, Hey if you get back to me before the end of the day I can actualy drop it off on my way to work. I have a couple books and I will have a few bucks so that you can buy mealworms or some crickets at a petstore. let me know what you think. I can give you one as soon as you would like, will you be able to take care of it over the summer?

 

[Vince]

Subject: donation to school
Date: 4/16/2004 4:23:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Vince3325
Reply To:
To: [email protected]

I would like to donate a leopard gecko and all needed equipment and food to the science department at cape elementary, including books and care information, to help educate the kids on keeping reptiles as pets, I believe caring for and learning about this species of lizard will help build responsibility in students, and spark there interests in animal science. I also have a few books on this species that you can include in your library for student to check out. I know the school year is winding down so if we cant do anything this year maybe we can work something out for the next school year.
____________________________________________________

hey sorry that date is wrong, I e-maild PineIsland elementary on 4/16, and pelican and cape elementary on 4/22 with the same message to all three. sorry about the mix up, i had all the emails opend at one time. a lot of your posts kept me on top of things , and I will probly be donating the first gecko over the weekend.

 

[Larry67]

Date: 4/16/2004 4:23:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Vince3325

"if you check the dates the just replayed this morning"

Date: 4/23/2004 8:14:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]

Date: 4/23/2004 7:06:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]

Odd they BOTH replied after you allegedly sent them an email offer on 4/16?
Maybe when you cut and pasted you changed the date on your e-mail so it wouldnt look like you did this AFTER you were asked for a status?

Mybe the real date of your e-mail is 4/22?

They reply all current e-mails timely? Just seems odd to be honest.

 

[Vince]

just so there is no further confusion the email to cape elemantry went out yesterday, and i have been talking back and forth to two teachers there since this morning, I did not recive any response from the other two yet.

 

[Vince]

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 12:19 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Leopard Gecko



that sounds great, Hey if you get back to me before the end of the day I can actualy drop it off on my way to work. I have a couple books and I will have a few bucks so that you can buy mealworms or some crickets at a petstore. let me know what you think.

----Reply----

Subject: RE: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 3:40:16 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]

I would first need to get an aquarium and warming bulb. I will try to get it this weekend and I will email you once I have it.


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 3:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Leopard Gecko



hey i have all that stuff for you. no prob.



----reply---
Subject: RE: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 3:51:20 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]


Oh great. I will be here at the school until 4:30 today. If you want to stop by just go into the after school office, it’s a small office on the left when you enter through the front and they will call me down to get it. If it’s already too late for you today then maybe we can set something up for Monday.


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 3:54 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Leopard Gecko



Yeah I would hate to rush there to make it in a half hour, what time do you go to school monday , i can swing by and drop it off before the start of the day.


--reply--

Subject: RE: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 3:55:58 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:

I am here by 7:00 am.



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 4:01 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Leopard Gecko



Ok I will have it there for you around 7 am, before the morning bell rings. I will have everything you will need to take care of your gecko, including food and all the extra supplies.

Subject: RE: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 4:05:12 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:

That sounds great. Thank you very much and I look forward to meeting you on Monday.



Cary

___________________________________________________

there where a few more emails back and forth , but they where pretty much just me asking questions on what exactly to do on monday when i come in with the gecko.
__________________________________________________

I wish there where an easier way to do all that, but the copy and past thing doesn't work on the Email headers for me. I had to hand type them. But so far this is rolling along nicely, I am glad critterfarms came up with this idea, Both the teacher and myself are very excited about this, I wish we had a leopard gecko in my 4th grade class!! I cant wait, I gotta go dig out my old leopard gecko books and print out some care sheets to give along with the gecko on Monday. And most likely next year in august i will donating to another teachers 5th grade class.

 

[DAND]

Date: 4/16/2004 4:23:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Vince3325

"if you check the dates the just replayed this morning"

Date: 4/23/2004 8:14:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]

Date: 4/23/2004 7:06:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]

Odd they BOTH replied after you allegedly sent them an email offer on 4/16?
Maybe when you cut and pasted you changed the date on your e-mail so it wouldnt look like you did this AFTER you were asked for a status?

Mybe the real date of your e-mail is 4/22?

They reply all current e-mails timely? Just seems odd to be honest.

And since Vince has decided to ignore this post it is safe to guess he is still playing games, but what else would expect from Vince anyhow? It's just odd that Vince has to conveniently type the day and date himself.

 

[odatria]

Hey folks, dont forget this quote by Vince!

The leopard gecko that i will be donating is the one that was on the auction.

We need to follow up on that after the donation to be sure that Vince kept his word.

Also, how did you like his offer...

I would like to donate a leopard gecko and all needed equipment and food to the science department at cape elementary, including books and care information, to help educate the kids on keeping reptiles as pets, I believe caring for and learning about this species of lizard will help build responsibility in students, and spark there interests in animal science. I also have a few books on this species that you can include in your library for student to check out. I know the school year is winding down so if we cant do anything this year maybe we can work something out for the next school year.

Does anyone else think this email stinks? He is making himself out to be some caring individual who wants to do something for thie kids. We ALL know that is crap.

Shouldnt it read:

I have agreed to donate a leopard gecko and all needed equipment and food to the science department at cape elementary, including books and care information, to help educate the kids on keeping reptiles as pets because I got caught in a scam and this was a last resort to make this whole thing go away. I believe caring for and learning about this species of lizard will help build responsibility in students, and spark there interests in animal science in hopes that it will help them grow up to be honest and trustworthy citizens who do not try to scam people with doctored pictures. I also have a few books on this species that you can include in your library for student to check out. I know the school year is winding down so if we cant do anything this year maybe we can work something out for the next school year which would actually work better for me as I would LOVE to breed this animal until then.

 

[Glenn Bartley]

I don't like what I think Vince did, or how he reacted after he got caught, I think that is obvious from my prior posts in this thread.
I do, however, believe that the way he worded the email to the schools was not a bad way to go. Sure he could have added something about doing so because he is doing this to right a wrong he did, wherein he was dishonest, and he could have further explained that in the letter, but if that is to be done at all, then I think it would be better done by Vince to the students in person.

My guess would be that Vince will wind up in one or more of the calss rooms to which he has donated gecko(s). He will tell the students about the geckos and how to care for them, and he may tell why he gave them to the class. Hypothetically speaking he could say in very general terms that he had been dishonest in something he did related to an ad, he was caught in the dishonesty, and he wanted to make up for that. So, by giving the animals, equipment and his time to the class, he was paying the price now. That would probably make everyone feel a lot better, including Vince, and would impart a good lesson to the students whereas the email would simply be informing the teacher what had happened. But that is Vince's choice; he is already doing a lot to amend by apologizing to us and then making the donation(s), and he already probably has suffered in his business, don't you think.

Best regards,
Glenn B

 

[Vince]

And since Vince has decided to ignore this post it is safe to guess he is still playing games, but what else would expect from Vince anyhow? It's just odd that Vince has to conveniently type the day and date himself.

this post is pretty ignorant on your part, as I explained the date was a typo before someone even questioned it. (see the post right above the one you quoted and note the time it was posted about a half hour before the one you are quoteing)


-------------------------------
I don't feel like this is a punishment for anything, its just a good way to repent for how immature I have acted on here. I don't think it would be necessary to stand in front of a room of 4th grade children and tell them I am donating a gecko because a few people think I was running a scam. becuse that is just not the case, The idea of giving out some geckos was a great one and I am more then happy to follow threw with all of it. No one can ever make everyone happy, that's life. I am not doing this to make anyone on the BOI happy , im doing this becuse its a pretty cool thing to expose younger kids to herps and im sure everyone will agree that this is a good thing. I dont not wish to turn this into a back and forth thing again. I just wanted to adress some stuff relitive to the thread. Also if anyone knows of a kid friendly care sheet, please send me a link so i can print out a few copys.

 

[DAND]

Keep playing your games Vince. You were trying to run a scam and anyone with the IQ over 15 knows that. You got caught and still deny it.

 

[herpetological]

Vince, check my site........Any care sheets or pics can be used free of charge for educational purposes. www.herpbreedingresearch.com

 

[Wilomn]

Come on Vince, don't go flip flopping again.

You admitted you were scamming with that picture. Don't go changing your story AGAIN.

You did some VERY stupid things. You got caught EVERYTIME.

Just own up to it and do the right thing from now on.

Don't go saying it's JUST because you want to expose kids to reptiles that you are making these donations. If that were the case then I don't think the timing of you saying so here would have been so coinsidental to your being BUSTED with that picture.

It's a great thing to make the donation. It's a great thing to expose kids to a positve experiance with reptiles. It's a crappy thing to pretend it's ALL out of the goodness of your heart when it PLAINLY isn't. I am SURE it is partly out of that goodness because I STILL believe that you are basically a good guy who does stupid things. I am hopeful that this is a learing lack and not an integrity lack.

While I don't think you need to necessarily get up on a soap box and tell your tale of doctored pictures and the lies to cover them up, I don't think you should shut it away either. If someone, student or teacher asks WHY you are doing this tell them the truth. Partly you made some stupid decisions and are making up for it and partly you're someone who ACTUALLY cares about his reptiles and wants to share them.

Honesty Vince. You really need to embrace it fully or stop pretending. You can't have it both ways. You tried to scam and got caught or you are the worst photographer in history.

Everyone here already knows the photography thing isn't going to hold water.

Make the right decision. You know what it is.

Wes Pollock

 

[Sasheena]

I don't feel like this is a punishment for anything, its just a good way to repent for how immature I have acted on here.

Vince.... you were immature.... you were also unethical, and your actions on reptibid were illegal in nature. You admitted to choosing a photograph that was NOT the best representation of an animal and using it to try to sell it. This is immature, yes, but illegal and immoral also.

I don't think it would be necessary to stand in front of a room of 4th grade children and tell them I am donating a gecko because a few people think I was running a scam.

As has been mentioned, it is not perhaps completely necessary to do the "confessions of a bad guy" thing to a room full of kids. BUT it is also not because people think you were running a scam. You intentionally misled the public, then bid on your own auction, then started it again with a reserve.

becuse that is just not the case, The idea of giving out some geckos was a great one and I am more then happy to follow threw with all of it. No one can ever make everyone happy, that's life. I am not doing this to make anyone on the BOI happy , im doing this becuse its a pretty cool thing to expose younger kids to herps and im sure everyone will agree that this is a good thing.

It IS the case that you were wrong. A man would admit his being wrong, wouldn't try to once again weasel out of responsibility for his actions by insulting the intelligence of everyone on this site. YES it's cool to expose a reptile to young people. I do it all the time as a school teacher. It's a GREAT thing! But when you negate the entire reasoning behind this you are basically saying that your penance is not that, it was just a good idea so you're doing it. The only way those whom you wronged will feel any satisfaction is if they feel you are legitamately sorry for what you did. Your post here basically is saying "I wasn't wrong. Some people thought I was. So whatever."

I dont not wish to turn this into a back and forth thing again. I just wanted to adress some stuff relitive to the thread.

I really hope you will understand what I'm saying. Don't throw dirt in my face, and that of those who bid on your auction, to whom you APPEARED to have remorse by saying "I'm only doing it because some THOUGHT I was in the wrong" (implied additional comment: "even though I'm not and never WAS in the wrong.")

Vince I sure hope that those parts of your character that HAVE character will overcome those parts of you that don't demonstrate any character worth knowing or dealing with. Until I see the sort of character demonstrated in your emails to the teachers on a consistent and unbroken basis, I would continue to recommend that people do not do business with you.

Please let everyone know who is getting the "red" gecko. I will email them from my school address, teacher to teacher. Sounds like a fun pen-pal for a teacher. If their school is anything like mine, someone there has a very nice decent digital camera, and can take some good photos in the classroom. I smile inside at the thought of the pleasure on those young faces.

 

[geckosunlimited]

----

You sure were apologetic when you thought that you were going to have to pay the consequences for your illegal activity on Reptibid. Have you actually learned a lesson? You, and other dishonest folks like you, are the reason that so many people have become disenchanted with this hobby/passion/industry. I don't think that you will get off so easily next time. The herp community will be watching you like a hawk.

 

[Glenn Bartley]

Vince,

Here I was thinking that you were doing the right thing for the right reasons and, that you truly were apologetic and remorseful for having tried to scam potential buyers of your so- called "red" gecko.

Now here I am, sitting in the same room of the same house, sitting in the same chair, at the same desk, typing on the same PC, but I am a different guy. Now I am the asshole who believed that you were trying to turn a new leaf. It is obvious, at least to me in my opinion, that you have not learned a thing from this whole mess. To say the following seems to me to be a mockery of everything discussed by you and others in this thread:

I don't feel like this is a punishment for anything, its just a good way to repent for how immature I have acted on here. I don't think it would be necessary to stand in front of a room of 4th grade children and tell them I am donating a gecko because a few people think I was running a scam.

Note I did not just say a mockery of what others have said, but also of what you have said. I also believe you have done an injustice to the whole herp community in general; and I believe that by your continuing in the herp business you will continue to do us all a injustice. I also believe that, in the absence of acceptance of responsibility or guilt by you, and in the absence of any true remorse on your part, you donating anything to a school because of what happened on this forum would only be a furtherance of the scam that I believe you started with the gecko sale and the Reptibid auction. In my lay opinion, I think you need help. If you are an adult: Why not seek out psychological counseling?/ If you are a minor: Why not talk to your parents about this whole thing?

Sincerely,
Glenn B