Internet Pot Gets All Stirred Up Over Story About 1984 Champion Family Shoplifting Ring, The Name "Willie Wesley" Comes Floating Up To New Prominence...

Image by John Hoff of material on internet, used under 
First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism

In reference to my recent story about the "Champion Family" shoplifting ring from 1984, I want to emphasize I have NOT YET CONFIRMED the "Bobby Joe Champion" in the story is one and the same with State Legislator Bobby Joe Champion. 

People tell me things behind the scenes but without some ability to cite a a source--instead of leaning upon "keep me out of it, but here's the deal" remarks in an email--I can't nail down the information. 

For all I know, there's another "Bobby Joe Champion" and the guy from 1984 is a namesake, a coincidence, a DOPPELGANGER, even!!!!!!! (Yes, that last part of the sentence was delivered in a Snagglepuss cartoon voice, for those of you old enough to remember Snagglepuss) 

Anyway, DESPITE an inability to nail down information to something more than "here's one hell of a coincidence" level, the internet pot seems all stirred up over this blogger's story about a court case from the 1980s involving a "Champion Family" shoplifting ring. 

I am told the story was...

A Story From 1984 About Somebody Named "Bobby Joe Champion," And A Shoplifting Ring At Target In Ridgedale...

Stanley corporate logo, this image in public domain according to 
Wikipedia, blog post by John Hoff

A reader sent me an interesting story about somebody named "Bobby Joe Champion" (relationship to anybody else named "Champion" or "Bobby Joe Champion" unknown) which I am not publishing in its entirety...

Old, Dusty Criminal Record For Edward Odell Champion, Who May Have Been A Member Of North Minneapolis Champion Crime Family...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Edward Odell Champion's last conviction in Minnesota was in 1990, when he pled guilty to a crack cocaine possession charge and was sentenced to a year in prison. Minnesota's online court records system, MNCIS, doesn't show any convictions after that, though Edward Odell had a good number BEFORE.

I'm trying to connect the pieces on the issue of Minneapolis crime families. I'm told by a high placed, credible source one of the families is named "Champion," the same family which produced State Senator (and criminal defense attorney) Bobby Joe Champion. But I don't know if Edward Odell Champion is a relative.

I do know Edward is no longer alive...

William Earl Champion Has Extensive Criminal Record, May Be Member Of North Minneapolis Champion Crime Family...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

It was back in 2010 when I wrote about William Earl Champion and his arrest. It was actually because of William Earl Champion that I first became aware of the online Hennepin County jail roster, which has become a key component in my blogging. This was all because of William Early Champion...and, well, whoever it was who put me on the scent.

But years later I still don't have proof in my hands that William Earl Champion is related to anybody else in North Minneapolis named "Champion," or the alleged-to-exist "North Minneapolis Champion Crime Family."

But this much I know...

Clarence Felton Champion, Believed To Be Part of Champion Crime Family, Doing A Stretch Of Time For Weapons Possession...

MN DOC mug shot, therefore public domain, blog post
by John Hoff

It is unknown to this blogger if Clarence Felton Champion is related to any other person named "Champion" from North Minneapolis, including criminal defense attorney and state senator Bobby Joe Champion.

But Clarence is definitely a criminal, and his last name is definitely "Champion," so that's a good place to start with my first blog posting about the Champion Crime Family, one of a half dozen or so families named by a high ranking source as "Crime Families" in Minneapolis...