Fraud

Article based on an application application to collect evidence fro a criminal investigation into alleged smuggling and customs fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Latvia - that was granted by the U. S. District Court for the District of Delaware on April 12, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Carrion Ventures LLC, Torgovo promishlennaya kompaniya AKAMAC Ltd., Tyazpromelektroproekt St. Petersburg, Okima Enterprises Ltd., S.P.O., N. Nekrasov, L. Baltiyskaya, V. Ignatev, G. Kovalyuk, Dimitar Assenov Sabev, Miroslav Valeriev Todorov, Alexander Filippov, and Arvis Romanovskis.

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged car smuggling - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Turkey - that was granted by the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on March 29, 2004. Individuals mentioned in the request for assistance include Bilgehan Aslan and Selahattin Soganci.

Article based on an application to collect evidence - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Belarus - that was filed at the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on April 7, 2004. Individuals mentioned in the request for assistance include Oleg Eduardovich Gabrinevsky and Alexander Vladimirovich Minov.

Fund administrator Citco Fund Services is still "the most significant stumbling block" in the winding-up of the Lancer Group, it has been claimed.Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers is also not being helpful, according to a report dated April 23, 2004 by SEC-appointed Receiver Marty Steinberg that was submitted to the federal court in Miami, Florida.

A now-defunct offshore bank and two of its former principals have lost key court rulings in a fight for control of more than $5 million with the Receiver of a Ponzi scheme group known as Cash 4 Titles.

Accounting firm KPMG is facing two multi-million dollar lawsuits over its involvement in a failed offshore investment group.The actions concern KPMG's provision of auditing and other services for the now-defunct, Turks & Caicos Islands-based Atlas Financial Group. 

Complaint in ABN AMRO, Inc. v. Capital International Limited and Eirles Four Limited at the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into AN Lyashenko, AT Stroganov, Serguei Podiouk, Pavel Smirnov, Maksim Varatsilin and Pavlo Gorbenko for alleged participation in a credit card fraud scheme.

Former Canadian Space Agency engineer Serdar Kalaycioglu has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in an offshore banking fraud. The sentence was delivered on April 26, 2004 by Judge Daniel Hurley at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in West Palm Beach and is one of the longest ever handed down for an offshore-related scam.

2004 Annual Report for First Financial Caribbean USA, Inc., filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in the Slovak Republic into Vladimir Fruni, Chairman of Horizont Slovakia JSC and an associate of B.M.G. Investment, LLC; Frantisek Matiik, Marian Sebescak and others for alleged fraud.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in the Czech Republic into Martin Valka for alleged tax fraud.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into allegations that a business called Industrias Metalicas Asociadas SA was a victim of fraud.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Spain into Fernando Lopez and others for alleged bank fraud.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Belgium into Didier Meimoun for alleged fraud.

A company secretly controlled by British fraudsters Lincoln Fraser and Jared Brook has gone into liquidation with an estimated net deficiency of £94,614 (approximately US$170,000). Matrix International (Management) Ltd., d.b.a. Matrix Investigations, went into creditors' voluntary liquidation by way of an extraordinary resolution passed by its shareholders on April 6, 2004 - nearly 19 months after being formed on September 17, 2002.

Terry Neal has become the latest United States-based offshore provider to turn in his clients to criminal prosecutors in return for a lenient sentence.Two months after shell bank promoter Jerome Schneider pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U. S. government, Neal pleaded guilty to a similar charge yesterday at federal court in Oregon. Neal, who was based in Portland, Oregon and St. Kitts & Nevis, faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced on July 12, 2004.

The United States authorities have been asked to temporarily release four white-collar criminals from federal prisons so they can travel to the Cayman Islands to testify at a money laundering trial.They are Charles Richard Homa, 57; Michael Gause, 47; William Henry Black, 47; and James Albert Franklin, 36, who were all convicted of offenses involving a Ponzi scheme known as Cash 4 Titles.

Summary of Contents of Final Notice by U. K. Financial Services Authority of Refusal of Application Submitted by Target Asset Management Limited.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Belarus into suspected customs fraud, tax evasion and money laundering by Oleg Eduardovich Gabrinevsky and Alexander Vladimirovich Minov, as directors of Ryabushka LLC, and officials with the companies Euroopt, Eurotorg and Minsk Wine Plant.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in the Cayman Islands into alleged money laundering by Lewis Rowe and Patrick Tibbetts regarding the Cash 4 Titles Ponzi scheme.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Austria into Oliver Philipp Pracherstorfer, Elke Reiter, Russel La Rue, Jens Wutzke, Peter Kuss, OPCM Ltd. and others for alleged investment fraud based around day-trading.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into Genadiy Dmitrievich Khort for allegedly misappropriating funds belonging to Northern River Shipping Company.

Promotional Material Entitled 'Puritan Launch Low Risk - High Return Fund' for Puritan International Ltd.

Yet another operator of a Grenada licensed offshore bank has been indicted in the United States.Richard Henry Hinkle, 39, was indicted on 19 counts of fraud and 40 counts of money laundering at the U. S. District Court for the

A company formed by British investment fraudsters Lincoln Fraser and Jared Brook to disrupt the administration liquidation of their failed Imperial Consolidated Group, including perpetrating an asset recovery fraud against Imperial's investors, is about to go the way of most,

The liquidators of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company have disclosed that they received $50 million as settlement of one of the most high profile lawsuits in the island's history.However, $24 million of that went to cover fees and costs

An Internet Service Provider has been ordered to turn over records about a client who allegedly tried to manipulate a stock by posing as an officer of a Cayman Islands registered hedge fund.In a ruling delivered by the U. S.

In the latest fall out from the fraudulent practices of Bermuda based broker AlphaStar Stirling Cooke, a U. S. insurer is being sued for unpaid claims that may eventually total $60 million.John Hancock Financial Services Inc., of Boston, Massachusetts, is

A hedge fund group registered in the United States and the British Virgin Islands has been accused of defrauding investors of millions of dollars.The allegations against the "Dobbins Group" were made in a lawsuit filed by the SEC at the

Just 20 days after being criticized by a federal judge for being too lenient on criminals, a U. S. Attorney has entered into a plea agreement that calls for a white collar criminal to serve his 'prison' sentence at home

Arthur Andersen (Bermuda) is being sued for damages over its work for a Bermuda registered telecommunications group which filed for bankruptcy in 2002.The Andersen group earned "millions of dollars in fees" from FLAG Telecom, including $1.35 million in 2000 alone,

Several offshore reinsurers have been implicated in an alleged $45 million health insurance scam in the United States. The reinsurers, formed in Aruba, Belgium, the Cook Islands, Cyprus, and Ireland, have allegedly failed to pay claims to small businesses and

A financial services group with close ties to fraudulently-operated Imperial Consolidated and offering similar products has formed a new public limited company in the United Kingdom.Wishsprite Plc was incorporated on September 2, 2003 - 25 days after the formation of affiliates Wishsprite Financial Services Ltd., Wishsprite Investment Services Ltd., Wishsprite Legal Services Ltd., Wishsprite Marketing Ltd., and Wishsprite UK Ltd.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged investment fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from the UK - that was filed under seal at federal court in the USA on December 16, 2003 and unealed on February 2, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Kevin Dooley, Dooley & Co., Trevor Prider, Richard Green, Kenneth Nelson Wiseman II, Wiseman Hedge Fund, Thomas George Whitbread, Sally Johnson, Laura Fletcher, Donald Melton Sweatman, Contrast Finance Ltd., Margaret Elizabeth Silver, David Netka, Neil Roe, Grosvenor Trust, Michael Shenker, Wexford Investments Ltd., Citco Banking Corporation, Taipan Asset Management Ltd., Golconda Partners Ltd., Jamie Bond, Crompton Holdings Ltd., Clive Lincoln, Delverton Investment Ltd., Cadogan Asset Management Ltd., Julian Horwood, CFC Finance Ltd., Woodborough Corporation Ltd., Trade Direct Corp., Barony Holdings Inc., Southern Star (Suisse) FX LLC, Durazno Securities Ltd., Northridge Capital Corp., Swepstone Walsh, Wells Fargo Bank, City National Bank, Washington Mutual Bank, Fiserv Correspondent Services, Bank One, AEA Bank, Citibank, Barclays Bank, and JP Morgan Chase Bank.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged tax evasion - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from the UK - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 17, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Jack Baars, Ann Claire Baars, and Jack Baars Wholesale.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged investment fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from the UK - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 17, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Anthony David Rich, Michael Thomas Rich, Victor Le Chenal, Nigel Sandor Allan, Michael Clark, Alan Butt, E&I International Ltd., First National Bank of Florida, Captain Steven Gunning, Seth Braiman, Global 2 You, Nick Sturghill, Sturghill Films Productions, Lloyds of London, Onno Petersen, TPP,  Quarterhorse Films Inc., and Triple A Finance.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from the Ukraine - that was filed at federal court in the USA on February 23, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include VV Petrenko, MV Holubenko, Anatoliy Volodymyrovych Holubenko, Yuriy Yevhenovych Murav'ya, Serhiy Hryhorovych Yermak, Vyacheslay Zahoruiko, Green Tour Ltd., Oktava, Revola Trading, Ltd., and Recent Ray Revival.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged tax fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from the Ukraine - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 11, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Selmi JSC, Sales Management Group, K&S Services, Inc., Bankers Bank Services, Jonathan Green, Ivan Semenovich Lyalko, Stuward Gilliani, Betty Adams, VM Orekhov, VI Luschik, Oleksiy Ivanovich Apanasenko, LI Yamschik, Ken Kirchner, and Yujin Lauri.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Spain - that was filed at federal court in the USA on February 27, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Enrique Manuel Vecino Acosta, Ivan Recio Perez, Maximiliano Vecino Adami, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, NamesDirect.com Inc., Kenneth Milton, Yahoo!, Jeffrey Lainer, Swissbanknet.com, About Inc., Gilbert Moore, Dufoniks Venture Inc., and FR-PROXAD-200304003.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged embezzlement - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Russia - that was filed at federal court in the USA on January 5, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Vladimir Nikolayevich Makhlai, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Smykov, and Togliattiazot JSC.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged credit card fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Romania - that was filed at federal court in the USA on January 30, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include SC Soare DS SRL, Ilie Dumitru, John Paul Pender, SC Cassandra G SRL, Mark Walters, Elliot Limited, Inc., Banca Agricola SA, Raiffeisen Bank, National Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto Dominion Bank, and Bank of America.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged illegal banking activities - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Portugal - that was filed at federal court in the USA on February 27, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Marcelo Reginaldo, Fernando Tadeu Reginaldo, Sandro Jose Reginaldo, Manuel Francisco Reginaldo Filho, Juares Machado dos Santos, Heleno Leopoldo Loh, Fabricio Silveria Dias, SkyBiz.com, Daniel Toselli, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Ariel Fernandez, Monnell Chemical Senses Center, Yanina Pepino, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Wanda Schraedley, Fleischer Claire, Maria Reca, TIAA-CREF, Banco Comercial Portugues, Montepio Geral, Caixa Central de Credito Agricola Mutuo, Citibank, Bank One, Wachovia Bank, PNC Bank, Zions First National Bank, CoreState Bank of Wilmington, Central Bank, Fleet Bank, Bank of America, Monnell Chemical Senses Center, Silvana Petruccelli, Nestor Primavera, Deutsche Bundesbank, Elena Kowalzik, Kartin Szimon, Mariano Sokal, Carlos Newland, Maria Pereda, Films for the Humanities and Sciences, Juan Carlos Victorica, Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, and Santiago Gabriel Garcia Gonzalez.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Lithuania - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 26, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include James Scheel, Thomas Schneider, Eugene Sticco, and Mazeikiu Nafta.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Canada - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 9, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Wayne William Fincham, WW Fincham Transport, SunTrust Bank, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged bank fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Belgium - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 15, 2004. Individuals and bsinesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Patrick Delcour, a.k.a. Patric Delcour; Belsag AG, Salzburger Kredit-Und Wechselbank AG, Christian Sailer, Richard Peters, Kredietbank, Moonstone Trading, Ltd., and M. Helmut Konig.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Belgium - that was filed at the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on December 29, 2003. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Antoine Mekri, OXET Corporation Ltd., Cilag International, FJ Tytherleigh, STC Trading Company, Finel Express Truckline, and Container Care International Inc.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Austria - that was filed at federal court in the USA on March 2, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Ed Westermayer, Markus Kementner, Satine Vural, eBay, and Western Union.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into alleged customs fraud by Franz Josef Sedelmayer.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Lithuania into alleged fraud involving a transaction between Lithuanian company Mazeikiu Nafta, represented by James E. Scheel and Thomas A. Schneider, and Eugene Sticco.