Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.: Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. Criminal Counter Measure Expert

In 2008, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. told a Florida State Attorney that he was an expert in "criminal counter-measures." He said he could read the criminal mind but that he, himself, could not commit a crime. Gonzalez, Jr. is currently jailed and charged with open counts of murder in the July 9th killings of Byrd "Bud" and Melanie Billings in Beulah, Florida. See update 8-10-09.

Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.

According to a "confidential deposition," given by Gonzalez, Jr., and acquired by CBS News, concerning an unrelated case in Pensacola, Florida, he says that he was paid $150,000.00 "for providing intelligence services from January through April of 2008." Gonzalez, Jr. was "granted blanket immunity for his involvement." In the deposition, Gonzalez claimed the following:

-- I had a colorful background and if you want to call it a misspent youth. I worked as a body guard for several people in the area and I did do some criminal countermeasures work. -- I understand the criminal thought processes. I can help people to decide what’s the best measure they should take to protect themselves and their families and businesses. -- I was interested in starting a company, UDT Institute. It stands for Ultimate Defensive Tactics Institute, which would provide criminal countermeasures training to wealthy individuals. In the deposition, he also described himself as an advocate for victimized children. And interestingly said at one point, "I couldn’t commit a crime."

Left unsaid is: To whom did Gonzalez, Jr. provide "intelligence." Who paid Gonzalez, Jr. the $150,000.00 for intelligence? Why was immunity granted? Update 7-21-09: A suspect in the Byrd and Melanie Billings murders has reportedly told police that Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. was the sole shooter in the killings. It appears from that report that it may have been 19-year-old Frederick Thornton who gave the police the information, but it is not entirely clear that the report came from Thornton. Thornton told police that after the murders all the suspects met up at the Magnolia Antique Mall, owned by "Pam" (Pamela Wiggins). Thornton said the safe taken from the Billings home was driven in the get-away van to Wiggins' red minivan. Wayne Coldiron, also under arrest for the murders named "Pam" as the driver of a maroon minivan. Frederick Thornton and Gary Sumner, also under arrest, then got into Sumner's blue SUV and drove to Wiggins' antique mall for the meeting. Update 8-10-09: Latest reports are that Gonzalez, Jr. is suspected of planning a contract hit on the Billings while the others arrested on charges of murder may have believed it was only a home invasion robbery. Another arrest has been with possible links to the Billings' murders. Henry Cab Tice owned Byrd Billings $10,000 and Billings had filed a complaint against Tice in May 2008 for grand theft. See Henry Cab Tice is Byrd Billings Arrested Debtor: Tice Billings Mexican Mafia? Background and related: Henry Cab Tice is Byrd Billings Arrested Debtor: Tice Billings Mexican Mafia? Byrd and Melanie Billings Murders Contract Hit? Billings Murders Tails of Trial Runs Rakeem Florence is Teenager charged in Billings Murders Byrd Billings Human Trafficking? Patrick Poff is Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr.: Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. Profile Pamela Wiggins Bigamy Arrest: Pamela Long Wiggins Food Stamp Fraud? Kathryn Colbert is Billings Murder Tipster: Colbert Denied Reward Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. is Byrd, Melanie Billings Murder Organizer Pamela Long Wiggins Bail, Billings Murders: Pamela Wiggins Multiple Marriages? Pamela Laverne Long is Person of Interest in Byrd, Melanie Billings Murders Byrd Billings, Melanie Billings Murder Arrests: Three Arrests in Billings Murders (video)