In a recent sworn affidavit Leslie Dillon admits to heading the Mansfield faction of the Army of the 12 Monkeys. He states that as Monkey number 9 he knows that his co-accused Sean Swain and James “Blackjack” Dzelajilija are not members of A12M. He states that he is the only member of the Army of the 12 Monkeys at ManCI, and that he did not recruit or attempt to recruit any members. He also explains the circumstantial evidence the Rules Infraction Board used against Swain and Blackjack and describes an attempt to coerce testimony from him against Swain.
Dillon states that Swain’s 12 Monkeys tattoo pre-dated the emergence of the Army of the 12 Monkeys and is simply a reference to the 90s movie starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. The “propaganda” found in Dzelajilija’s cell was actually rap lyrics he wrote based on 2Pac Shakur’s song “Everyone Rise”. Dillon aquired a copy of these lyrics and remembered the 2Pac song, so he typed the lyrics and signed it Monkey #12.
Dillon states that he has attempted to explain these circumstances to ManCI staff repeatedly with no response. He goes on to describe an interaction with unrecognized staff member at ManCI on December 3rd, 2012. This staff member offered Dillon a deal where ManCI investigator Angela Hunsinger would overturn his RIB conviction if he would testify that Swain was the leader of the Army of the 12 Monkeys. Dillon refused and that evening his cell was searched and his property destroyed. The next day ODRC Director Gary Mohr affirmed Dillon’s RIB sanction.
Dillon did not come out as the leader of ManCI faction of the Army of the 12 Monkeys because shortly after his transfer, the Ohio State Highway Patrol interviewed him about alleged bomb threats he knew nothing about. He was afraid that if he admitted participation in the Army of the 12 Monkeys, he would be blamed for these bomb threats. Later, when he discovered that the threats were not real or serious, and that other prisoners were being scapegoated for his 12 Monkeys activities, he decided to go public and made his sworn statement.
In his statement Dillon implies that The Army of the 12 Monkeys is active elsewhere in Ohio. This possibility is supported by rumors and activities of prison staff. On January 31st there was a large disturbance at Lake Erie Correctional, which the Army of the 12 Monkeys are rumored to have instigated. ODRC transferred 40 prisoners from Lake Erie to segregation at ManCI, possibly to contain 12 Monkeys activity at the one prison. Guards at Marion Correctional have also searched footlockers looking for nail clippers that may have been used to cut phone lines, a sabotage technique described by in the Army of the 12 Monkeys guerrilla manual. Outside of prison walls, someone has anonymously distributed copies of this guerrilla manual on the internet with instructions on how to mail it in to prisons everywhere.
Letters of solidarity and support can be sent to Leslie Dillon at:
Leslie Dillon
ManCI 416-607
PO BOX 788
Mansfield OH 44901