Making Peace

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The Trevino vs. Alfieri case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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This is a continuation of my previous post The Ripple Effect. I dedicate this post to CV -- a kind-hearted man who will no longer have the opportunity to give his side of the story.  My original intention in writing this post was to act as CV's voice and clear his name as this chapter of his life closed. Out of respect to him and his family, I waited enough time to write anything about this and have kept his name and details of the events confidential.

I firmly believe that Alfieri falsely accused CV of physical assault. How do I know the accusation was false? Did I witness this incident? No, I was not there and was not a witness. So how can I claim that Alfieri made a false accusation?

Well, let's not forget that Alfieri shamelessly accused me of theft and slander while he was the one who defrauded and defamed me.  It does not surprise me that he would make stories about others. Just a month or two after he sued me in September 2011, he filed a harassment order against the former co-director/editor of "Looking for Clarissa" claiming she tried to push his Porsche off the road while driving at high speed on Santa Monica Blvd (Century City/Beverly Hills area). First of all, when can anyone drive fast on Santa Monica Blvd in that area of town? Second, he was the one who was driving the Porsche, wasn't he? And the most recent legal claim made by Alfieri that I am aware of was against his own Homeowners Association. I was told that Alfieri lost that lawsuit.

It is clear to me that Alfieri feels that he can use the "law" to try to intimidate or get money from the opposing party.  The problem here is that Alfieri uses outrageous untrue allegations to build "his case." These stories built on ridiculous lies eventually collapse.

It is true that I am still dealing with Alfieri and his unwillingness to take responsibility for what he has done. But my case is only a civil matter. What CV had to face were criminal charges that could have potentially meant time in jail. Although CV was clearly innocent, it is undeniable that he was scared and stressed as he awaited his trial.

I really do not want to get into specifics about what happened between CV and Alfieri. It does not really matter any more.  All I need to say is that CV was not aggressive or confrontational. On the contrary, he would always offer a smile to everyone with whom he interacted. CV was someone who saw the good in people and believed in generosity and forgiveness.  He did not assault Alfieri, nor did he want to continue having any conflict with him.

There was an opportunity to settle the case without going to trial. CV happily accepted the opportunity while Alfieri had the audacity to add even more fabricated lies to his previous version of the facts.

All CV wanted was to make peace, as he said to me, he just wanted to shake Victor's hand, be cordial to each other... and live in harmony.



It is unfortunate that the unfair stress to which he was subjected was what eventually took a toll on his health. He developed an ulcer that led him to the Emergency Room. The next morning, he passed away.

Our words, actions... even our thoughts and intentions touch everyone around us -- EVERYONE --  especially those who are targeted as recipients of such words, actions or thoughts.

Let's live with awareness and treat others with respect, compassion and kindness. We are mirrors of one another. What we give, we receive.  Let's choose peace over war and conflict... And let's first make peace with ourselves so we can extend it to everyone else.

May CV's soul rest in peace. His memory and spirit will remain with us forever.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues (Trevino vs. Alfieri) have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues (Trevino vs. Alfieri) related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

The Ripple Effect

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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Around mid-September 2014, I received a phone call at home. I rarely answer my home phone because most of the calls are from telemarketers. This time I checked the caller id display and realized the call was from a local Los Angeles number. I decided to pick up, "Hello?" "Could I speak with Adriana Trevino?" asked the voice on the other end of the phone. "This is she," I replied. "I read your webpage," he said. "You mean, my blog?" I clarified.

He said he had read some of my posts and felt really bad for what Victor Alfieri had done to me. I told him that I was okay and he should not feel bad for me. He also told me that his attorney had found some of my YouTube videos and my blog on line. Attorney? I asked him if I had mentioned him on any of my posts and offered to remove his name. He then told me that Victor Alfieri had accused him of hitting him with a brush and that there was a trial scheduled.

He told me his name. For now, I will only use his initials, CV. At this point I knew who he was and what he was talking about. In January 2014, TMZ published " 'Bold & Beautiful' Star - I Was Attacked With a Hairbrush," and " Bold & Beautiful Star GETS BRUSH OFF FROM JUDGE." Victor claimed that CV had beat him in the face, had relentlessly harassed him and had threatened to put him in the hospital.  The judge granted Victor a restraining order that would keep CV at least 3 yards away from Victor - not farther, as they lived in the same building.  That is why, just as a way to poke fun at the ridiculous allegations made by Alfieri I served him court papers with a hairbrush so he could "protect" himself from future attacks. Please read The Service to learn how Victor got served and to watch the video "A Brush With the LAW."

CV told me that things did not happen the way Victor had said they did.  I was not surprised when I heard that. I know how Victor can twist the truth and use the court system to his advantage while making sure that his delusional claims get as much publicity as possible. Now that I look at Victor's allegations against CV, it is clear that Victor follows a pattern.

According to Victor Alfieri...

         CV                                                            Me
Attacked him with a brush                     Attacked him with slander
Relentlessly harassed him                      Relentlessly SEXUALLY harassed him
Threatened to put him in hospital          Threatened to call the FBI and put him in jail forever

Then, what did Victor do (or continues to do) against CV and me?

          CV's case                                                 My case
Gave false statements to authorities       Made false allegations in court papers
Got police and courts involved              Got courts and attorneys involved
Leaked the news to the media                Leaked the news to the media
Refuses to tell the truth                          Refuses to tell the truth

It is a fact that Victor Alfieri made up crazy stories about me. His slanderous allegations, which were published all over the internet, damaged my reputation and have cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars in business.  CV asked me if I would be willing to testify in his trial. My testimony would be solely as to Victor Alfieri's character, not to what actually took place during the "alleged" incident. I would simply testify about Victor's manipulative and dishonest behavior. I would testify how Victor has used the justice system and the media to attack me and try to ruin my reputation. He clearly wanted to intimidate me and "persuade" me into walking away from my investment.

So... would I be willing to testify?  Of course I would. I agreed to become a witness even before CV told me his side of the story. I told CV that I knew of another person who would certainly make a great witness. Victor's crazy fabricated stories about this person made it all the way to the court docket as well.  As I stated before, Victor has a pattern -- he claims to be victimized by somebody who has "attacked" or harassed him because that person is probably "obsessed" with him. Then he uses law enforcement and/or court resources to threaten and intimidate this "alleged" attacker, not without getting enough media coverage in the process.

CV and I met in person and talked on the phone several times. As we shared our stories, we could not help but notice so many similarities. He was born and raised in Minnesota. I lived in Minnesota for the last 20 years. We even had friends in common! We developed a friendship quickly.

CV had a scheduled pretrial hearing on Monday March 30th. I told him I would go to court with him. But I did not go to court with CV. Why? Because that hearing did not take place.  It was not because Victor Alfieri decided to tell the truth and get the charges dropped but because CV did not make it to that hearing. He passed away on February 19, 2015. Please read my post Making Peace to learn more about what really happened and how his passing is directly connected to all these events.

Most of us are familiar with the term "Ripple Effect."  Merriam-Webster defines it as a situation in which one event causes a series of other events to happen. And what about "The Butterfly Effect"? -- the scientific theory that one single occurrence, no matter how small, can forever change the course of the universe.

If even the smallest occurrence can have an impact somewhere on the other side of the world, then we can logically conclude that more significant events would for sure change the course of the universe.  What Victor Alfieri has done to me and others is no small thing. His actions have undoubtedly affected our lives -- and the universe, for that matter.

It is possible that Victor finds his creative "tales" very clever and even amusing. However, all actions carry consequences. You cannot go around making false accusations and defaming others and expect no consequences. You will either encounter someone who will fight back or someone who will be unfairly punished. I am fortunately someone who decided not to be a victim. I fought back and continue fighting for justice.  This does not mean that I am in this battle for the simple reason of  fighting. I have always been open to letting this go if Victor were to come clean and tell the truth. It is that simple.

CV, on the other hand, was someone who was unfairly punished and suffered the consequences of Victor's malicious and irresponsible actions.  Please read Making Peace. What is shocking to me is that there are still so many people around Victor that see what he does and opt to say or do nothing about it. It is like watching an injured person lying in the middle of the road while riding in the car with a reckless crazy driver who deliberately speeds up to run this injured person over. It is true you are not the driver. But you are right there. You know this fatality is about to happen and choose to stay quiet and do nothing. Does that make you an accomplice?.... You tell me.

Even the smallest occurrence will create an endless ripple.  Everything we do impacts the whole world. Our actions, thoughts and intentions will touch every single human being on this planet. Before we move forward, let's choose to walk on a path built on honesty and integrity. Before we open our mouth, let's choose our words wisely and compassionately. And let's not forget that everything starts with thoughts, with intention. If what we put out in the universe is generosity, gratitude, kindness and love, then that is the ripple that we are sending out to the rest of the world -- and that is also what will eventually come back to us.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

First Amendment

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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By reading the title of this post, it could be inferred that I will be discussing the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which deals with freedom of speech, press and religion. Although that is not the case, it might seem appropriate as I write another post for this blog.

Because I filed a new lawsuit against Victor Alfieri, I am being very selective when disclosing information on developments on the case. The truth is that I have written about five different posts that are not published yet. I want to make sure it is the right time to share certain information publicly.

On November 7, 2014, I filed a First Amended Complaint. I shortened my complaint from 42 pages to 15. I removed Daniela Carloni and Black Knight Entertainment from the complaint. Why did I do so? Because Black Knight Entertainment is Alfieri himself doing business as such company, it is not appropriate to include Black Knight as an independent entity.

Daniela Carloni, Alfieri's mother, is no longer a defendant in this case not because I believe she is not responsible for what I contend in my original complaint, but because it would become costly for me to continue including her in the legal action. Plus, proving that there is jurisdiction to have her as a defendant when she resides in Italy and having papers served to her would add to the work I have to do.

For First Amended Complaint, please read below.

Guardian Angels

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

Do You Believe in Angels?

I do. Because I grew up catholic, my belief in angels was something that developed in a very natural, organic way.  When I was about 6 years old, I was having terrible nightmares that were keeping me up at night. After telling my mom about this, she suggested I prayed before going to bed. She told me that we all had a guardian angel who protected us at all times.  My mom also bought me this beautiful porcelain angel that she placed right above my bed. My nightmares immediately ceased.

What are angels?

After reading many definitions for "angel" from different sources, I chose the simple definition google offers.

an•gel   /ˈānjəl/

noun
1. a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe.
2. a person of exemplary conduct or virtue.
3. a person who supports a business financially, typically one who invests private capital in a small or newly established enterprise.

I have encountered many "human"angels in my life - from my childhood best friend to two total strangers who came to my rescue when my car got stuck in the snow on a bitter cold Minnesota winter day.

We also have probably been "angels" to at least one other person in our life.  Just think about how your actions and your simple presence affect your surroundings and every single person who interacts with you. These people that are touched and affected by your actions and energy also have the same effect on others. It is like a domino effect. Well, I would describe it more like a source or "core" that branches out in every direction and multiplies exponentially.

According to the definition provided by google, there is an "angel" who financially supports newly established enterprises. We could say then that I was an "angel" to the production of "Looking for Clarissa" - at least an "angel INVESTOR." Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had chosen to not invest in this film. I start thinking of all that money I spent on the production of the film and on attorneys I hired to litigate this case... the money I lost in business due to Alfieri's slanderous allegations. I would have close to $500,000 in the bank!... Or would I? Does it really matter?

What matters to me is that when I decided to put money in this project, I did it believing it was a good investment into a future I wanted - film production. I was also helping a loved one achieve his dream of becoming a film director.

I have been so fortunate to encounter so many angels in my life path. Some have come to help me learn valuable lessons. Others have come to simply keep a door toward new ideas and opportunities open so I can walk through it.

Because we are angels to one another, we always have the opportunity to be generous and kind with our actions.  A selfless act of kindness is certainly angel-like behavior.

Thank you  - Mom, dad, Teresa, Karla, Marcela, Norma, Fernando, Sandra, Flor, Eloisa, Lourdes, Ken, Jason, Diana, Marjorie, Angie, David, Vivian, Gina, Arthur, Brian, April, Natalie, Alessia, Erik, Raul, Jorj, Tieg, Carlos, Jaime, Mike, Natalia, Hugh, Noel, Ian, Martha, Ka, Andrea, Erica, Jenna, Zee, Marco, Mary, Ricardo, Laura, Matt, John, Can, Christine, Roxane, Eva, Miguel, Marianne, Frances, Debra, Hass, David, Brad, Patricia, Dan, Becky, Sharon, Angelica, Alan, Bobby and Kevin.

And a special "thank you" to all those angels who have been supportive during this Trevino-Alfieri saga. I don't need to give specific names. You know who you are.

Some of these angels are still an important part of my life while others have left in not the best of terms. It really does not matter. What I know is that they have all touched my life in a meaningful way - they have helped me become who I am in the world today.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

The "Soul" of the Judicial System

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential

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-If you google "soul" and "justice" together, you will find countless links to books, quotes, articles, movements and humane organizations. There is very little mentioned when it relates to the courts system.  Why is that? Is it because the Judicial System, our system of justice has no soul?

Let's define some of these terms.  According to Merriam-Webster.com, "soul" and " justice" can be defined as:

Soul 
-immaterial essence;
-a person's total self;
-the moral and emotional nature of human beings;
-spiritual or moral force.

Justice
-the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishment.
-judge;
-the quality of being just, impartial or fair;
-conformity to truth, fact, or reason.

As to "Judicial System" also know as "Judiciary," I got this definition from
legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

Judiciary - The branch of government that is endowed the authority to interpret and apply the law, adjudicate legal disputes, and otherwise administer justice.

As to my lawsuit against Alfieri ... About a month ago, I went to the Los Angeles Superior Court because Alfieri's attorney was filing an emergency ex-parte request to stay discovery. I did some research and consulted with two attorneys on what to do. Both attorneys told me to appear in court and that I would be able to speak to the judge and voice my opposition to such order.

When I arrived I was told that the judge assigned to my case was the only judge, or one of the few that did not take the bench for ex-parte hearings, that she only accepted written documents. Seriously? I am notified of this hearing the day before and Alfieri's attorney does not give me any documents specifying the legal basis for his petition? How am I supposed to respond in my opposition letter?

I asked if I  could handwrite it. The clerk told me that I could not do so. She was clearly losing her patience with me. She told me to go to the first floor and get some forms or to at least get pleading paper to write it down. She added, "I don't know if the judge will accept a handwritten document, plus it has to have the proper formatting."   I also asked if Alfieri's attorney had turned in any papers and the clerk said no.  "I still have time," I thought.

I went to the first floor, bought the paper and drafted the document with the correct formatting. When I went back to the courtroom, I handed the paper to the clerk. She then said, "I don't think the judge will accept this. It's too late." I could not believe my ears. Why would this clerk first tell me that the reason the judge would not accept my letter was because it was handwritten and later tell me that the reason  was because I was too late submitting it?

The clerk did not want to accept the piece of paper I was offering. I asked her to please talk to the judge and see if she would accept it.  My letter simply stated that I did not agree with that order - something that in other courtrooms is done in front of the judge. She went into the judge's chambers and less than a minute later she came right out. "No, she will not accept it. But she said that you had very nice handwriting."

I asked the clerk again, "when did it become too late to submit this?" She responded, at 8:30 when I opened the courtroom. So why make me go through all that????  I said, "the other attorney was not even here at 8:30 am." To my surprise Alfieri's attorney was sitting in the back of the courtroom. He claimed that he had been there the whole time. The clerk said, "yes, he has been here since 8:30."

The truth is that I did not see him at 8:35 when I stepped into the courtroom for the first time. I even asked the clerk about my case and she told me he had not submitted anything.  Why would she give contradictory statements?

I immediately went toward Jason L. Fisher, Alfieri's attorney, to greet him. He did not seem very happy to see me. I would like to share my impression of him, but I will reserve my opinion for now.... at least while this case is still pending.  The only thing I will say is this - Victor has found an attorney who will faithfully represent his interests, values and ethics. Victor made an excellent choice when hiring this specific attorney. I believe that Jason L. Fisher is the perfect attorney for him.

It is sad to realize that the last thing we can expect when dealing with the judicial system is to be treated with consideration and integrity.  It is really about "playing the game" and not about bringing justice.

I will seek more legal advice before proceeding. I need to be prepared for the "legal battle."

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Part II - The Trailer

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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Many people cannot believe that I have made the decision to sue Victor Alfieri again. Why would I do that? Am I a masochist? It is like starting the whole nightmare again.... or is it really?  I see it more like the Trevino-Alfieri Part II.

This time around is very different.  I am detached from what happened three years ago - even what just happened several months ago when I last communicated with Alfieri (through his PA).  I am not bitter, not at all.  I am not even upset or resentful of Alfieri for what he has done and continues doing. His actions are a different story. Such actions should not be tolerated by anyone... And that is why this lawsuit feels like the RIGHT thing to do.

I have learned to separate the person from the action. This is something that I started learning when I attended USM (the University of Santa Monica) but did not completely comprehend or truly experienced it until recently.  I remember talking to Ron (my professor) when I was still a first-year student, I said to him, "By the time I graduate I will be able to forgive my ex-husband." Ron quickly responded, "why wait? You can forgive him right now!"

People cannot be defined by others or by mere circumstances. They are not defined by their past mistakes or actions.  By separating people from their behavior and actions, I have learned to forgive them while forgiving myself.  What happened in the past, is in the past.

Although there is nothing anyone can do to change the past, there are certainly things that can be done to make amends. We are responsible for our own choices. We can choose to forgive... while still choosing to fight for justice.

So this is how this Part II of the story begins - by standing for the truth.

The video below is a celebration of a new beginning - a celebration of a NEW story!

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Standing Up for the Truth

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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About one month ago, when I wrote my last post "Social Media," I was also writing something else... No, it was not my book. It was something that required lots of research and guidance from experts in the field.  It needed to follow a clear narrative with accurate facts and precise details. I spent about a week doing research and three days drafting this document. When I was done writing it, I could not believe it. I looked at my "masterpiece." I was proud of it. It was like one of those school projects - an essay, midterm or.... final paper that we need to complete in order to move forward to the "next level."

I still remember the day I finished it. It was a Thursday. It was March 20th. I had talked to a friend earlier that day. We were planning on going to a screening. I was almost done getting ready. I did my hair, my make-up, put on a nice dress and shoes... I was so happy to be done with my "writing project" and also excited to go out and celebrate that big accomplishment. As I was about to take a step back to check how I looked in the mirror, my body lost its balance. I felt as my right knee was giving in. It dislocated and twisted as I fell to the ground. The injury was major, considering that I was just standing and not making any drastic movements. It was so bad that I will be having surgery in a couple of days.

I probably overestimated what my physical body could endure. Sitting in front of the computer for hours with very little breaks cannot be good for anyone. I had also been working long hours on other projects related to my company. I had pushed myself to the limit - literally to the limit of what my physical body could take.

I was moving too fast, in such a big rush to get things done that I forgot to maintain my balance... my emotional and spiritual balance. This was reflected in my loss of physical equilibrium. A friend of mine said to me, "maybe it is the Universe telling you to slow down." It makes sense now. My "rushing" -  my impatience to speed things up reduced my awareness and prevented me from staying in the moment... in the NOW.

When this incident occurred, I thought that the injury I sustained would be a challenging obstacle that would inevitably delay any plans or projects I had at that time.  I was very upset and frustrated. I felt helpless. However, something amazing happened. Because this incident forced me to slow down, I came to truly appreciate my physical body. Our bodies are certainly a "gift" that we should never take for granted. I also had the time to review my "written project" and to make a firm decision as what I would do with it.

I have talked and written a lot about what my experience was like during this whole Trevino-Alfieri Saga. I have always stressed the importance of "Speaking Up" while doing it with integrity and honesty.  So I decided to speak up... this time, not only through the lines I write on this blog, but in a more formal and "official" way.

The written project I mentioned above is the official complaint for my new lawsuit against Victor Alfieri. In the early morning of April 15, 2014, I went to the Los Angeles Superior Court and filed my complaint against Victor Alfieri, Daniela Carloni (Victor's mother), Bondolini Productions and Black Knight Entertainment. The causes of action are: 1) Fraud in the Inducement; 2) Breach of Contract; 3) Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; 4) Breach of Fiduciary Duty; 5) Constructive Fraud; 6) Conversion; and 7) Accounting.  Case BC542748

Although I will be consulting with legal counsel on how to proceed, what papers to file and to give me general guidance, this time I am going "pro se," without an attorney. Why am I representing myself? For the simple reason that I do not have the funds to hire counsel. Even if I had the funds - the legal fees to litigate this case would exceed any judgment I might receive.

So just because I do not have the funds to hire an attorney, does that mean that I have no legal recourse?  No!  I do have the right to have my case heard by a judge and/or jury. Because the statute of limitations is applicable to any cause of action, I had to make a firm decision to move forward in a timely manner. I am happy with my decision. I am aware of the implications of this legal path I have chosen. I am ready to move forward and stand for MY TRUTH.

Life has taught me that we are not alone in this world and that it is OK to reach out. I can invite others to take an active part in my personal dream - "my story."  Their participation in my story, however, will be limited. I am the only one who has ultimate control of my life. It is not fair to expect others to make major decisions for me and then get upset or blame them when things don't go as I expected. By taking full responsibility for how I have dealt with what has happened to me in the past, I am able to stand up in the present with full conviction that I am in charge of my life.

And as don Miguel Ruiz tells us, "if we don't like our story, we are the authors; we can change it." I have made a big decision with complete awareness of the path I have decided to take. I am sitting in the driver's seat, behind the wheel... I have just made a sharp turn... What an exciting journey life is!

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Social Media

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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Today, while doing some research for my book, I decided to go and check Victor Alfieri's twitter account to see if I could find something that would help tell the story. I realized that he had not posted anything since last year. That hairbrush incident in December must have really affected his ability to write.

I remember visiting his twitter account back in the summer of 2012 because he and his attorney were ignoring all our communication when we were trying to set up the depositions. I heard from a friend of mine that he was in Italy. Then through his twitter account I learned that he was back in LA when on August 1, 2012, he posted "Back in LA."

He apparently went back to Italy to go collect receipts for expenditures that he had not provided me. He also went to Italy to get affidavits from cast and crew stating that they had not been abused or harassed and that there had been no conflict on set during the filming of "Looking for Clarissa."

Ok, I am looking at all his tweets right now. Let's have some fun and read some of what he posted during this Trevino-Alfieri Saga.

• September 27, 2011, right after the scandal had hit TMZ he tweeted, "All Good in the Hood..."
• October 3, 2011, "Thanks for all your love and support. V" Aww poor Victor.
• December 14, 2011, "If you're kind & honest, people may accuse you of ulterior motives, just to destroy what you built. Still, we must be good, kind and honest!" This is a great tweet. Honest? Kind? He surely showed his honesty and kindness when he took my money and used it to hire an attorney to sue me making false scandalous allegations about me. 
• July 11, 2012, "Who really knows me..matter..who doesn t know me..don t matter."
• July 23, 2012, "Moving on...without looking back."
• August 1, 2012, "Back in LA." 
• August 2, 2012, "Thanks to my friends in La for their support and love. :-) " Poor Victor, he was getting ready to be deposed. He had suffered so much... but at least he had someone to pay for all the legal fees... ME!
• August 5, 2011, "No matter how hard I get hit... i m still standing.. I m here.. Bring it on."
• August 11, 2012, "Anyone can walk into my life and say they love me. It takes someone special to stay there and prove it" He wrote this only a couple of days before my deposition. Interesting... and let's read the next one from the same day.
• August 11, 2012, "True love is a promise made in the heart...silent unbreakable by distance and unchangeable by time..." I told him many times that I loved him, and that it was true love... I wonder if he was unconsciously sending this message to me so I would break down during my deposition.
• August 14, 2012, During my deposition, Victor Alfieri was sitting at the table where I was being questioned and he was tweeting away... He declared this day the happiest day of his life because he probably thought I would be afraid of him and would not dare to tell the truth.

• August 22, 2012, "Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down." Just 2 days after we had mediation. Our mediation went surprisingly well. He made promises that, of course, he eventually did not keep.
• September 7, 2012, "Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway." Clearly Alfieri's philosophy, after claiming we were very CLOSE friends during his deposition, he can still not explain why he did what he did to me.
• September 10, 2012, "When things are difficult I excel..."  I would probably reword it to, "When it comes to outwitting, skillfully taking other people's money and telling brilliant and creative stories, I excel..."

And now come the tweets after I started this blog.

• January 18, 2013, "After filming....Victor Alfieri, Joel Moody, Clark James Gable...In Italy [attached video]. Why did he wait almost two years to post the video?
• January 22, 2013. Victor actually wrote very nice quotes. It is too bad that he acts the opposite way. Victor was probably trying to use these quotes to show that he was not the person I was writing about on my blog. I do admit that these quotes hold profound truth and integrity.

Our life experience on this planet is just like attending school. We come here to learn and grow personally and spiritually. Before our birth, we willingly enroll in "earth" school. We come to this world with a personal curriculum that we are to fulfill. People we encounter in our lives become our teachers, our classmates and our students. 

The challenges and obstacles we encounter are tests. Those people that we perceive as enemies are our boot camp trainers who offer us the greatest opportunity to strengthen our core values and push us to the limit... to fight for what we believe in. Although we are all here on our own personal individual journey, what one single person does affects the whole humanity. Let's help one another fulfill our curriculum so we can graduate from this wonderful school called LIFE.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

To Potential Buyers and Distributors

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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Update - On April 15, 2014, I filed a lawsuit against Victor Alfieri, Bondolini Productions, Black Knight Entertainment and Daniela Carloni.  Please read "Standing Up for the Truth"

Any potential buyer or distributor interested in "Looking for Clarissa" should be aware of the following facts:

1. Victor Alfieri and Bondolini Productions do NOT have the necessary materials for a complete chain-of-title to sell or license and distribute the film. I have such materials.
2. Victor Alfieri and Bondolini Productions do not have all the contracts and releases for most of the actors who performed in "Looking for Clarissa". I have most of the contracts.
3. The amounts paid to actors stated in their signed contracts are different (substantially lower) than what Bondolini Productions and Alfieri are claiming they paid. I have the actual amounts paid to each actor.
4. There are "false" receipts for expenses that did not exist.
5. The documents that I am retaining contain clear and convincing evidence that fraud was possibly committed.
6. Victor Alfieri took $17,500 of my money that was not part of the financing agreement, concealed it and soon after used it to hire attorney Roger Muse to sue me. That is conversion (theft) and breach of contract.
7. Alfieri refuses to sign an amendment to our original agreement that will guarantee fairness and financial transparency during the sale and distribution of "Looking for Clarissa".  Please read "my requests" below.
8. It is my personal belief that Alfieri has no intention to reimburse any of my investment or any of the money that he illegally took from me to hire an attorney to sue me.
9. I still have at least one year to bring a lawsuit against Victor Alfieri, Bondolini Productions and Black Knight Entertainment for breach of contract and for conversion.
10. Any lawsuit against Bondolini Productions in reference to the film "Looking for Clarissa"will affect any possible sale or distribution of the film.

Some of the readers must be wondering why I am disclosing all this information. The reason is that by making it public it becomes more difficult for Alfieri to hide his questionable actions and his refusal to act in an honorable and respectful manner.

When attorney Manuel Saint Martin emailed me a Demand Letter, I thought that would be my opportunity to negotiate the points I wanted to include in the amendment to my original financing agreement. It would only make sense due to all these lawsuits and Alfieri's lack of integrity and honesty.

This is what I wrote to Mr. Saint Martin:

Mr. Saint Martin,

Please see email below. These are my requests. The only difference is that communication can be done through you, if you are willing to do so.

Let me remind you that Victor Alfieri breached the contract repeatedly. He took MY money and used it to hire attorney Roger Muse to sue me. I believe that is CONVERSION and clearly BREACH OF CONTRACT.  

Alfieri, has not provided proof of all expenditures. My simple requests listed below will guarantee fairness for both parties and clear communication.  Of course I do want to recover my investment. However, Alfieri has not proven to be a reliable, nor a trustworthy person.

I am willing to discuss this with you.

Adriana Trevino

1. Stipulate that my investment is $150,000. That is what I will recover as my total investment. 
2. Nobody recovers any money until I recoup my 150K. 
3. Executed investment agreements and proof of investment of 2 new investors should be provided before signing this document. 
4. After I recover my 150K, the other two investors will recover their investment accordingly - before "second position" and deferred payments are made.
5. The points received by each of us will remain as stated in my original investment agreement. 
6. A separate account will be set up to deposit all earnings from the movie (sale, distribution, etc). Not me nor Victor will have direct access to it. 
7. An independent third party, as Josh has suggested, will handle the account. 
8. I will be included in all correspondence, meetings, negotiations for sale and distribution. If I cannot be present, I will be cc'ed and informed. 
9. No decision about distribution or sale will go ahead without mutual approval -  my signature as well as Victor's signature. 
10. Communications regarding the movie will be done through Josh. 
11. This document/agreement will be signed by Victor and me. 
12. I want the document notarized and would like to be present when Victor signs as well. 

I do want the three of us (you, Victor and I) to have a meeting when we sign this document. I do want to distribute this movie and would love to get my investment back. I don't want to be Victor's enemy. We cannot be enemies. We are working towards the same goal now - to recover what we invested, right?

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I again forwarded the same email to Mr. Saint Martin because I had not gotten any response. After emaling him for the second time and not receiving an answer, I decided to call him.  Read "Advocating for Justice"  to learn how this attorney handled the situation.

If Alfieri is not willing to sign an amended or new agreement with my simple requests, he must not be planning on ever reimbursing me any portion of my investment.  And now, I have a few questions for you, the reader.

If you were in my same situation. You had invested $150,000 in a film and spent an extra $50,000 on attorneys and legal fees. You had also lost about $50,000 in business in 2011, about $100,000 in 2012, $90,000 in 2013.  Adding all of this - $440,000.....

• Would you just "write this loss off" and "move on"?
• Would you try to negotiate something fair so you could recover your investment?
• Would you share the story and details publicly to recover some of your business and reputation?
• Would you sue Victor Alfieri and Bondolini Productions again for breach of contract and for conversion "theft"?

I have written off the $440,000 this nightmare has cost me. There is no point suffering and complaining about something that happened and cannot be changed now. However it is difficult to ignore Alfieri's unethical behavior and refusal to be fair and reasonable.  I really do not want to allow him to keep all the earnings and hide them from me just because I chose to do nothing about it.  I have really tried to negotiate but Alfieri is stubborn and apparently not very smart.

I have chosen to share my story and the details. Some people judge me for exposing myself and others understand. As a result, I have slowly been recovering some of my business. Some of my work associates and friends follow my blog and have expressed how much they respect me for writing my story.

We always have control over our lives even when it feels that external forces are pushing us and making us take an undesirable path. Events happen that are certainly out of our control. We cannot control the weather or some unexpected catastrophes. Situations change. Some people are "seemingly" lucky to achieve their goals while some of us lose money, loved ones... and even hope. Does that mean that we have no control over our own lives?

It is true that we have no control over what other people do, think or want. What we can control is our own choices - the choices we make in life. We get to choose how to feel and what to do with the experience we gain. I have chosen to do my best to be heard when I speak up. I choose to speak with honesty and integrity. I choose to seek justice, balance and peace.  It has become evident to me that my inner peace and balance will be reached when I have utilized my personal resources to seek that justice that I believe will prevail while maintaining the awareness that we are all here to fulfill our personal spiritual curriculum in this school of life.

As to Justice - I am seriously considering filing a new lawsuit against Victor Alfieri and Bondolini Productions. There is only so much time a person has to file a lawsuit. When too much time has passed... it is literally too late to make any legal claims.  Time is running out. I am the only person who truly cares about this situation and who can do something about it. I will be making my decision in a week or two. I will be posting updates.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Indictment - U.S. Department of Justice

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case (Trevino Vs Alfieri) has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.


UPDATE - January 16, 2015 Please read new post with updated information - Conviction

Last week I received an email from the U.S. Department of Justice Victim Notification System. I was hesitant to reply to it, as I did not recognize the name of the defendant. I thought it could be a "fake" email trying to get personal information from me.  It did have specific information and phone numbers to contact the Assistant US Attorney handling the case.

I was about to do some inquiring into this case today when I receive another email notifying me of another person getting indicted. I am also listed as a victim on that case. I started to think and remembered these two men who called me on the phone telling me there was someone interested in buying my timeshare. They had very detailed information about when I bought my timeshare, my annual fees, etc, etc. They also gave me a very convincing sales pitch to hire them to close the deal. I clearly remember that this happened around the time I invested the money to produce "Looking for Clarissa." I did not have much left in the bank. I believed that if I could get what these men promised from the sale of my time-share, I would be financially comfortable for a few months as I recovered from the huge investment in the independent film.

They called me constantly. They claimed that they had to collect "their fees" before closing, as I would get the total amount of the sale of my timeshare in my name. They sent me papers that seemed legitimate. I remember telling them that I could not invest that money. They assured me that the sale would close in one month.  It all seemed very fishy to me.  I got a big knot in my stomach, I remember. I should have listened to my intuition and common sense... Too bad I did not.

They called me every week to give me updates. They kept pushing the sale "closing" date constantly. This all happened in 2011 - while I was going through the filming of "Looking for Clarissa," the break up with Victor, his taking my money, his bogus lawsuit and damaging claims against me... while I tried to defend myself using the little money I had left.

By late 2011, when I was not able to contact these two men to get an update on the alleged "sale," I decided to close that chapter and not to invest more energy into it. I had clearly been scammed. What could I do? It made me upset but nothing compared to the legal battle with Victor Alfieri.

It makes me happy that justice DOES prevail, at least in some cases.  This is what I found on line about one of the con artists that defrauded me and over 3,000 other people.

United States Of America Vs. Michael Patrick Sullivan 

United States District Court For The Southern District Of Illinois

Criminal No.: 13-CR-30103-GPM

UPCOMING EVENTS: On October 17, 2013, Sullivan plead guilty to this charge. Sentencing has been set for March 6, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in East St. Louis Illinois Federal Courthouse before District Judge Michael J. Reagan.

On May 22, 2013, Michael Patrick Sullivan, Jr., 37, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was named in a one-count indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. If convicted, Sullivan is subject to a term of imprisonment of up to 25 years, a fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release. 

The charge arose out of a telemarketing scam which operated in Las Vegas, Nevada, which the indictment alleged bilked over 3,000 victims of approximately 10 million dollars. Consumers were victimized in all fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, all ten Canadian provinces and the Northwest Territory of Canada, as well as Australia, Israel and the United Kingdom. There were at least twelve (12) victims in nine (9) of the thirty-eight (38) counties comprising the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment alleges that the scheme operated from December 5, 2006 until January 24, 2012.

The indictment alleges that Sullivan owned a telemarketing company, Vacation Max, which operated a timeshare resale scam. The company purported to be a Georgia corporation located in Delaware, but actually operated in Las Vegas, Nevada. The indictment alleges that the company falsely represented that they had found corporate buyers interested in acquiring blocks of timeshare units including the consumer's timeshare unit for purported business and tax purposes. The company solicited fees of up to several thousand dollars from each timeshare owner in purported pre-paid closing costs and related expenses. The indictment alleges that the purported sales did not occur and that Vacation Max did not successfully sell any consumer’s timeshare interest except a relatively small number at firesale prices.

This case is one of several cases recently prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois relating to timeshare resale fraud.  

The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce E. Reppert and Nathan D. Stump.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant.  Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

Here's a link to the press release and indictment US Department of Justice.

There is another person who has been named in a separate indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. His name is John C. Nicosia. Criminal No 14-30009-MJR. He has been charged and there is a warrant for his arrest. I don't know if he has been apprehended yet.

Michael P. Sullivan Jr has already pled guilty to the charge. I hope he spends a long time in prison. I also hope that we, as victims, are given an opportunity to address the judge before his sentencing. Wouldn't it be great to get statements from over 3,000 people sharing how this scam affected us?

As to what Victor Alfieri did and continues to do to me, I do hope there will be some justice in the end. I am aware that I am not the only person who has been "victimized" by his deceiving and manipulative actions. I wish there were others willing to speak up and tell the truth. When we ignore and tolerate this type of behavior, we become enablers by helping perpetuate these unjust situations and unhealthy conduct.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues (Trevino vs. Alfieri) have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft (Trevino vs. Alfieri). The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Is Any Publicity GOOD Publicity?

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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TMZ Reported...

"Bold and the Beautiful" star Victor Alfieri is safe from future attack ... because the man he accused of assaulting him with a hair brush has been ordered to stay out of his hair ... TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ...  Alfieri had a close shave last month ... claiming his neighbor, xxx,  hit him in the face with a hairbrush. The soap star claims xxx has been hair-rassing him for more than a year.

Alfieri says he can't escape the guy ... because they live in the same building.

The judge just ordered xxx to stay 100 yards clear of Alfieri... except when they're in their building at the same time.

WHO WANTS THIS TYPE OF PUBLICITY?

None of the comments posted in response to this TMZ Article is kind to Victor.  I genuinely feel bad for him. I am not sure he intended to have this become so public. Why would anyone want this all over the internet?

I will not make any comment about this TMZ piece. Let's just hope Victor keeps safe and away from xxx. Or should I say? I hope his neighbor keeps safe and stays away from Victor.



Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story

Karma

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

kar·ma [kahr-muh] 

1. Hinduism & Buddhism - The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny.

2. Fate; destiny.

3. Informal - A distinctive aura, atmosphere, or feeling: There's bad karma around the house today.

 --- The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

Karma, as cause and effect is something we see it in everyday life. If we take a step forward, we start to move. If we have an object in our hands and let go of it or drop it, it will eventually hit the ground. If we work out regularly, we become physically stronger.

It is like in cost accounting - a balance sheet. There are assets and liabilities. The sum of the assets will always have its equivalent in the sum of liabilities. It is easy if we picture an old-fashioned scale. A cost on one side has a valuable asset on the other side keeping the scale "even."

We could then believe that if we work hard, we reap financial rewards. If we respect, honor and help others, our positive actions will result in stronger personal and professional relationships. If we give love, we receive love in return. This would make sense, wouldn't it? It is fair and a way the "karmic" universe would be certainly balanced.

We all know that this is not how things always go. We can work hard and barely see any financial rewards. We can respect, honor and help others and find ourselves manipulated, cheated on and betrayed. Why is that? Is this fair? Why does this happen to "good" people?

So why did these things happen to me? Why did the man I loved and trusted betray me in such a way? I do not know his reasons. All I know is that I played a part and continue to play a part in this Trevino-Alfieri Story. I had the relationship I had with Alfieri because I allowed it. I am aware that I somehow "enabled" the good and the "bad" things that were happening. It takes two to tango, isn't that right?

Although at first I failed to acknowledge the "red flags" and signs that were alerting me, I finally took a firm step and decided to voice my concerns and disagreements to him. It was then that he did what he did to me - he took my money, claimed sexual harassment, sued me and slandered me in the process.

I make no claims that I am the "good" person and Victor is the "bad" guy in this story. Just as I have done what I believe to be the best for me, he probably also has done the best he can. Many would wonder why I say he did his best when he lied and betrayed me. Let's not forget that he DID finish the movie. He put more time and additional funds to complete it. I certainly give him credit for that.

Last week, I met with someone who has been part of this film project. He told me that Victor is not doing very well and that this experience has affected him tremendously. "He could simply tell the truth and apologize," I said.  The reality is that I will probably never receive an apology from him. And it really does not matter. I have forgiven him. I know he has been blinded by his own limited perception of reality and has done the best he can.

I do not regret having met him or having ventured into independent filmmaking with him. It is true that I put a lot of money into the project and there is no guarantee I will ever see a penny back.  What I can truly say is that I have gotten a lot from this experience. Karma does exist.  A good friend from my USM class once said to me, "you did this film project out of love. You put love into this relationship...  Love is what will inevitably come back to you. You will see that something good will come out of this."

Does every action have a "karmic" consequence? I personally believe so. Every person's single action, thought or emotion affects every one else's reality one way or the other. Therefore, the overall "Universe" experiences an impact. If the whole Universe is affected by these thoughts, actions and emotions, then we can assert that the person who caused them is affected as well. It is also my belief that there is a constant equilibrium in the Universe. The fact that some of us are thrown off balance at specific moments in our lives, does not mean that the total universal equilibrium has been lost. And it is the Universal Love we feel for one another that helps maintain that equilibrium.

"How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours."    -- Wayne Dyer

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

IMDb

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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IMDb - "the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content."

I remember what a big deal Victor would make about being listed and having credits on IMDb. He would quickly check anybody's name there. He would say that if it was not listed on IMDb, then it was not legitimate film or tv work. When I would come to his apartment to visit him, I would often see him checking his profile on IMDb. I also remember that he would regularly post his personal IMDb link on his facebook wall to have people click on it and increase his popularity rank.

The movie "Looking for Clarissa" is finally listed on IMDb. Here's the link imdb - looking for clarissa. And here's my own IMDb page IMDb - Adriana Trevino.  It is strange that I was not notified of this. Alfieri's personal assistant must be too busy to keep me informed of such developments.

At least I now know that Alfieri has the intention to distribute the movie. He is probably very proud of himself and believes he is finally a filmmaker. I have my own opinion. I will reserve it for now... What I can say is that my opinion of Alfieri as a filmmaker is directly related to his behavior and actions. An egocentric person who believes he does not need anybody's input, will act in a similar way when working as a filmmaker. A person who deceives, lies, manipulates on a personal level will do the same in any business endeavor of which he becomes part.

Making a film requires the work, input and collaboration of many. It is truly a group effort. Everyone's role is essential, as every organ and cell in our body is necessary to keep us healthy, complete... and alive.

I have learned that we are not meant to travel in this life on our own. We are meant to share our journey with others. Our actions, even if apparently insignificant, affect the whole universe, as we are all connected.  It is a fact that if we want to create something, we need to reach out. An experience, a goal, a dream can only become real if it is shared with others.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.