| Evermarine, S.A |
| Evermarine, S.A. Louis Sola - CEO-owner Bad boats, bad manteinance, zero representation, laim service, SCAM Panama, Internet |
| 19th of May, 2011 by User244200 |
| This company if can be called like that, is a joke, they sell bad boats, and the owner or manager is a fraud because he fools his customers, uses the boats, gives them lousy maintenance to the products he sells and expects clients not to notice...This is literally the same as stealing from your clients, this is why this man and his company is a fraud, they charge a lot money for their boats but dont give anything in return to its customers once they have the money .. The representation this "company" gives is so bad, is almost a SCAM, so why would you want to buy something so dreamed yet so expensive from people like Mr. Sola that wont give you what you expect and wont treat you like you deserve when buying a luxury item... Boats should be giants toys for men, but I guess that from companies and men like Louis Sola comes the saying: the two happiest days of your life are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Please dont buy anything from this company or this man, dont let him fool you too. |
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This post was made by a Mr. Michael Andre Perdomo Valero and his trusty side kick Carlos Restrepo and their group of companies. Basically, Mr. Michael Perdomo and Carlos Respecto started hustling money for a bio plant in Colombia from South Florida residents in 2007. The main company was Alcoholes de Colombia, but also operated a octupus of companies in the USA and Panama as well. Florida based companies: Map USA Corp, Mp 1505, LLC, Mp 608, LLC, Mp Breeze, LLC, Mp Flex, LLC, Mp Fuel, LLC, Mp Holdings, LLC, Mp Kynetic, LLC, Sotana, LLC, ALCOL TECH COMPANY, INC., --- and Panama based companies ALCOL TECH COMPANY, INC., MP PANAMAP FLEX, CORP, BIO-FUEL COMPANY, S.A.
None of which are operational today and many people lost money, to include Evermarine, S.A.
After acquiring many millions of dollars in investments, Michael Perdomo purchased a yacht from Evermarine, S.A. However, he was only able to make the downpayment. The company scrambled to find him a bank that would give him a loan, but all said "No Thanks" to Mr. Perdomo and his shell companies. Evermarine was forced to provide him with financing in the amount of $145, 000 to finalize the transaction. This loan was dully executed in Panama. However, after securing the loan, Mr. Perdomo took the boat from Panama to Colombia and failed to make another payment. He claimed that the boat was damaged, however, did not allow any Evermarine personel to inspect or repair any said damage. He also hide the boat and will only return upon return of his deposit of $100, 000. Obviously his business never was able to process any Bio Fuel and the new investments dried up as they do in most Ponzi Schemes. Of all his 16 companies, none are still active, however, Evermarine continues to provide clients with boats and provide good service. Futile attempts like this do nothing but shed light on the cockroach that Mr. Michael Perdomo and his partner Carlos Restrepo are. Evermarine does not seek investments like Mr. Perdomo and our track record speaks for itself. I think we are the only company that still shows face on this and willing to discuss with anyone who wishes to inquire about these individuals. |
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see link
http://www.ripoffreport.com/investment-brokers/alcoholes-de-colombi/alcoholes-de-colombia-s-a-mic-cc9f8.htm |
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stafador - Caso Penal - Michael Perdomo Valero
FORMALIZACIÓN DE
QUERELLA PENAL
QUERELLA PENAL EN CONTRA DE MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO Y DEMAS PERSONAS RESPONSABLES POR EL DELITO DE APROPIACION INDEBIDA AGRAVADA, EN PERJUICIO DE BROKERS INC.
HONORABLE SEÑOR FISCAL AUXILIAR DE LA REPÚBLICA, E.S.D:
El Suscrito Licenciado CARLOS ALBERTO DE LEÓN ORTEGA, varón, mayor de edad, con cédula de identidad personal No. 8-421-380, abogado en ejercicio con oficinas profesionales ubicadas en Edificio Aventura, Mezanine, Local 8, Ciudad de Panamá, actuando en mi condición de apoderado judicial de ZULAY DEL CARMEN, representante legal de la sociedad BROKERS INC., de generales descritas en el poder a mi conferido, por este medio acudo ante usted a fin de promover QUERELLA PENAL en contra de MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO, varón, de nacionalidad Colombiana, de demás generales desconocidas, con domicilio desconocido en la República de Panamá y domicilio en la República de Colombia en Calle 63, Ciudad de Bogotá, y demás personas quienes resulten responsables por el delito APROPIACION INDEBIDA AGRAVADA y demás delitos en que se haya incurrido en perjuicio de la sociedad BROKERS INC.
HECHOS QUE FUNDAMENTAN LA QUERELLA:
PRIMERO: Que la sociedad BROKERS INC., cuyo representante legal es ZULAY DEL CARMEN, es la propietaria de la motonave Monterrey 350 sport Yacht denominada “GUACHE”.
SEGUNDO: Que la empresa EVERMARINE S.A., debidamente autorizada por BROKERS INC., en el mes de agosto de 2008, efectúa trámites para la venta de la motonave en mención al señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO.
TERCERO: El acuerdo consistía en que el señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO, a través de la sociedad BREEZE TECH CORP., compraría la motonave “GUACHE” por la suma de DOSCIENTOS CUARENTA Y CINCO MIL DÓLARES AMERICANOS ($.245, 000.00) los cuales cancelaría de la siguiente manera: Un abono por la suma de US$ 100, 000.00 dólares americanos y los US$ 145, 000.00 dólares restantes se lo financiaría la LEASING GROUP INC. (Constituída en la República de Belice), los cuales serían pagaderos a tres años calendarios, abonando mensualmente la suma de US$ 4, 415.00 dólares americanos, a partir del 31 de agosto de 2008.
CUARTO: En efecto el abono de los US$ 100, 000.00 dólares fue efectuado por parte del señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO mediante transferencias bancarias, razón por la cual se le entregó la motonave Monterrey 350 sport Yacht denominada “GUACHE”, para que este tuviera disfrute de la misma, toda vez que iba a ser el futuro propietario de la nave, no obstante el traspaso de dicho bien se efectuaría al momento que este cancelara el saldo restante, por lo cual se le otorgo una escasa participación en las acciones de la BROKERS INC.
QUINTO: Posteriormente el querellado efectúa varios pagos mensuales hasta la suma de US$ 34, 000.00 dólares americanos aproximadamente, y luego deja realizar los pagos mensuales acordados aduciendo que la nave (la cual permanecía en Colombia desde hace meses) tenía desperfectos en la propela, cuando en realidad estando en posesión del querellado la nave sufrió un accidente. Los señores JUAN CARLOS REGILLO, pueden corroborar el buen estado en que fue entregada la nave al señor PERDOMO. Aún más, la señora GINA YAEL HERRERA, quien ejercía la representación legal de la sociedad EVER BROKERS INC., en aquel momento, otorgó PODER AMPLIO y SUFICIENTE al señor ARTURO IVAN ROJAS (a solicitud del querellado), para que este trasladara la nave al puerto de Cartagena y demás zonas costeras de la República de Colombia, por lo cual se observa a simple vista la falacia aducida por el querellando, porque resulta irreal pensar que una nave que estaba supuestamente en malas condiciones y que presentaba problemas en la propela haya podido trasladarse tan lejos sin ningún problema.
SEXTO: En reiteradas ocasiones se le solicitó al señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO, que cancelara el saldo atrasado, sin embargo el prenombrado no lo hizo, razón por la cual el día 19 de junio de 2009 se dio por terminado el acuerdo comercial relacionado a la compraventa de la motonave Monterrey 350 sport Yacht denominada “GUACHE”, y se le solicitó al señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO la devolución de la nave debido a su incumplimiento del acuerdo en donde se establecía claramente que de haber incumplimiento por parte de comprador, el vendedor retendría los pagos efectuados en concepto de daños y perjuicios.
SEPTIMO: Pese a la insistencia de mi poderdante, para que el señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO devuelva la nave, que es propiedad de la sociedadBROKERS INC., este ha manifestado en reiteradas ocasiones que no devolverá la nave, a menos que se le devuelva la suma abonada situación que no puede ser debido a que se dio un claro incumplimiento por parte del querellado en relación a la compraventa del bien.
OCTAVO: Como hemos indicado se aprecia una CONTINUIDAD en la comisión del ilícito, debido a que cada vez que se le solicita al querellado la devolución de la nave que no es de su propiedad, este no accede y debemos señalar que la última ocasión que se solicitó la devolución del bien de marras fue escasamente en el pasado mes de noviembre del año en curso. Además nos hemos enterado por otras fuentes que la nave ha sido sacada del agua en la República de Colombia y ocultada en un lugar desconocido, lo que evidencia aún más la actuación dolosa del señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO y sus cómplices.
NOVENO: En atención a que no observamos ningún interés por parte del querellado de devolver la motonave Monterrey 350 sport Yacht denominada “GUACHE”, la cual por derecho le pertenece a la sociedad BROKERS INC., a la cual representamos, es por lo que acudimos ante su Despacho a interponer formal querella penal, puesto que de los elementos antes citados observamos que nos encontramos claramente ante la comisión de un delito de APROPIACIÓN INDEBIDA AGRAVADA, toda vez que el señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO se ha apropiado de la motonave Monterrey 350 sport Yacht denominada “GUACHE”, cuyo valor comercial asciende a US$ 245.000.00 dólares americanos.
NORMA PENAL INFRINGIDA:
Como hemos indicado anteriormente la norma penal infringida se encuentra tipificada en el Titulo VI, Capítulo IV, artículo 221 del Código Penal Vigente, el cual establece lo siguiente:
Artículo 221. Quien se apropie, en provecho suyo o de un tercero, de cosa mueble ajena o del producto de esta, si la cosa le ha sido confiada o entregada por título no traslaticio de dominio, será sancionado con prisión de uno a tres años o su equivalente en días-multa o arresto de fines de semana.
Si el valor de lo apropiado es de más de cien mil balboas (B/.100, 000.00), la pena será de cuatro a ocho años de prisión. (El subrayado y la negrita es nuestro)
SOLICITUDES ESPECIALES:
Por todo lo antes expuesto, le solicitamos al señor Fiscal, SE ADMITA la presente querella, SE INVESTIGUEN los delitos cometidos, se nos tenga COMO PARTE dentro del proceso, a fin de que SE IMPONGAN las sanciones penales respectivas y SE ORDENE la reparación civil de los daños ocasionados a la sociedad BROKERS INC., y sus accionistas, por la conducta desplegada por el señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO y demás personas que resulten responsables del ilícito.
SOLICITUD DE PRUEBAS TESTIMONIALES.
Solicitamos se llame a declarar bajo la gravedad del juramento a los señores JUAN CARLOS REGILLO, a fin de que corroboren los acontecimientos que han dado fundamento a la presente querella penal. Los señores antes mencionados pueden ser ubicados en Ancón, Amador, Marina Flamenco, Casa Club PB-L1, Ciudad de Panamá.
SOLICITUD DE SECUESTRO PENAL:
Dada la importancia, el valor y la vulnerabilidad del bien apropiado indebidamente, lo cual ha acarreado un gravísimo perjuicio a la sociedad BROKERS INC., y sus accionistas, es por lo cual solicitamos al señor Fiscal, se sirva de ORDENAR EL SECUESTRO PENAL de todas las cuentas bancarias y de cualquier otro bien que posea el señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO, tanto en la República de Panamá, como en la República de Colombia. A fin de darle cumplimiento a nuestra anterior petición solicitamos se oficie a todas las entidades bancarias y demás instituciones del estado donde se registren bienes de personas naturales y jurídicas, a fin de que informen si el querellado mantiene algún tipo de activo, e igualmente se solicite ASISTENCIA JUDICIAL INTERNACIONAL a la República de Colombia con el mismo fin.
SOLICITUD DE INDAGATORIA Y MEDIDA CAUTELAR:
Igualmente señor Fiscal, debido a la facilidad y disponibilidad para viajar y sustraerse del proceso, la naturaleza del hecho y que la sanción que se estima podría ser impuesta, supera los 4 años de prisión, es por lo cual solicitamos se IMPONGA INMEDIATAMENTE UNA MEDIDA CAUTELAR CONSISTENTE EN LA PROHIBICION DE ABANDONAR EL TERRITORIO DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ, y que una vez sea sometido a los rigores de la indagatoria el señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO VALERO y demás participes del delito querellado, se le imponga la medida cautelar de DETENCION PREVENTIVA.
PRUEBAS APORTADAS:
1. Copia Notariada de Certificación del Registro Público de Panamá de la sociedad BROKERS INC.
2. Copia Notariada de la Adenda de compraventa de la motonave Monterrey 350 sport Yacht denominada “GUACHE”.
3. Copia de la Nota calendada 20 de mayo de 2009, dirigida al señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO y firmada.
4. Copia de la Nota calendada 29 de mayo de 2009, dirigida al señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO y firmada .
5. Copia de la Nota calendada 19 de junio de 2009, dirigida al señor MICHAEL ANDRE PERDOMO y firmada.
6. Copia de nota firmada por la señora YAEL HERRERA, donde se autoriza al señor ARTURO IVAN ROJAS, a trasladar la motonave GUACHE a Colombia.
7. Copia Notariada del Registro de Patente de Navegación de la motonave “GUACHE” que demuestra la propiedad de la nave.
8. Copia Notariada de la licencia reglamentaria de estación de radio de la motonave “GUACHE” que demuestra la propiedad de la nave.
9. Copia Notariada de certificación de inscripción de patente de navegación expedido por la Autoridad Marítima de Panamá de la motonave “GUACHE” que demuestra la propiedad de la nave.
Publicado por Paco Alvarez en 20:25
2 comentarios:
carlos restrepo dijo...
http://michael-perdomo-valero.blogspot.com/
19 de enero de 2011 16:29
Lou Sola dijo...
This guy buys a new boat with 60 hours for 245, 000 and pays 100, 000 downpayment. Then he can't come up with the balance and signs a loan documentation directly with the company.
He then takes the vessel out of the country under the name of someone else to Colombia where he overloads and wrecks the vessel in an extreme party. Then he stops making any payments, says the boat was faulty when purchased, regardless of the delivery inspection and multiple hours of trial, and refuses to pay or return the boat.
Ok, now he demands return of the 100, 000 deposit to return the damaged boat. The company wants the loan paid so he steals the boat that is not in his name.
Is this correct?
Would you do business with this kind of person?
Mike Perdomo, Michael Andre Perdomo and Carlos Restrepo |
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Todos estos comentarios son falsos, si usted desea saber porque son publicados visite el link http://michael-perdomo-valero.blogspot.com/ ( EVERMARINE S.A., LOUIS SOLA, NO CUMPLEN) y allí podrán enterarse del porque son generados
This comments are false, if you would know why are publish this comments please visit http://michael-perdomo-valero.blogspot.com/ (EVERMARINE S.A., LOUIS SOLA, NO CUMPLEN ) and here you can know why the comments were generated |
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| Michael Perdomo and Carlos Carlos Restrepo of Miami, Florida and Colombia are bullshit artist! |
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Deputy Assistant Secretary of Sate for Visa Services
Please review of certain individuals that should have their non immigrant visa application and status reviewed.
They comprise of a law firm in the Republic of Colombia named:
main partners are all Colombian Nationals:
1. Carlos Restrepo
2. Michael André Perdomo Valero
This is a criminal firm with specialties in representing narco traffickers, money launders, government officials for corruption, and judicial extortion against US citizens. Although we can not make any assertations for the defense with their client data base, this firm is littered with numerous judicial tampering cases that makes them an unwanted element in the United States and cause for review of them having a Visa per INA 221(I). With some basic research int`o this firm there will be sufficient derogatory information to support an ineligibility. Nevertheless, based upon the prudential grounds per UNCLAS STATE 245040 paragraph 17 and IN 9 FAM 41.122. Furthermore, some basic information on these individuals will be presented below that can easily be sourced and found with a simple web search. I must request that after review the Department of State process a revocation per the discretionary authority.
American Businessmen and Officials are often the target of these unscrupulous tactics due to the length of resolving anything in the local system. There has never been a cruise ship stopover without bogus charges against the tourists who are forced to pay a bribe or have them exit of the country restricted by a slow and manipulated system.
Specific Cases of Ineligible:
Per Section 8 U.S.C. 1182, INA 212
(2) Criminal and related grounds
(C) Controlled Substance traffickers - obtained financial or other benefit from illicit activity and knew or reasonably should have known that the financial or other benefit was the product of such illicit activity.
(3) Security and related grounds
(A) Any alien who a consular officer or the Attorney General knows, or has reasonable bround to believe, seeks to enter the United States to engage solely, principally, or incidentally in (ii) any other unlawful activity (iii) any activity a purpose of which is the opposition to, or the control or overthrow of, the Government of the USA.
(C) Any alien whose entry or proposed activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States - they have cases against the US as a defend ate already.
Sec. 221. [8 U.S.C. 1201]
(i) After the issuance of a visa or other documentation to any alien, the consular officer or the Secretary of State may at any time, in his discretion, revoke such visa or other documentation. Notice of such revocation shall be communicated to the Attorney General, and such revocation shall invalidate the visa or other documentation from the date of issuance: Provided, That carriers or transportation companies, and masters, commanding officers, agents, owners, charterers, or consignees, shall not be penalized under section 273(b) for action taken in reliance on such visas or other documentation, unless they received due notice of such revocation prior to the alien's embarkation. 3/ There shall be no means of judicial review (including review pursuant to section 2241 of title 28, United States Code, or any other habeas corpus provision, and sections 1361 and 1651 of such title) of a revocation under this subsection, except in the context of a removal proceeding if such revocation provides the sole ground for removal under section 237(a)(1)(B) . |
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Examples of Money Laundering Investigations - Fiscal Year 2011
The following examples of money laundering investigations are written from public record documents on file in the court records in the judicial district in which the cases were prosecuted.
Man Sentenced on Watermark Ponzi Scheme
On September 14, 2011, in Buffalo, N.Y., Guy W. Gane, Jr., of Williamsville, N.Y., was sentenced to 156 months in prison and ordered to pay $6, 000, 000 in restitution to the victims of his scheme. Gane was convicted on mail fraud and money laundering charges. According to court documents, Gane was President of Watermark M One Financial Services, which was shut down in May 2008 as a result of action by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The scheme began in early 2006 when Gane and his employees began selling "debentures" to trusting clients, claiming to be using the money to invest in waterfront real estate. The defendant promised a 10 percent return after a year to his investors. However, no investments were ever made. Gane used new investor funds to pay off the earlier investors. Ninety-four victims lost over $6, 000, 000.
California Man Sentenced on Drug and Money Laundering Charges
On September 7, 2011, in Sacramento, Calif., Miguel Vasquez, formerly of Cameron Park, was sentenced to 174 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and for money laundering. According to court documents, Vasquez was a major source of supply of methamphetamine in the Sacramento area and to persons shipping and selling significant quantities of methamphetamine to the Midwest and Hawaii. On April 24, 2008, agents searched a car registered to Vasquez and found 3½ pounds of crystal methamphetamine. In a search of Vasquez's house, agents found $118, 000 in a metal safe and three firearms (including an assault rifle). In total, Vasquez forfeited a total of more than $700, 000, mostly in the form of seized bank accounts, two parcels of land, and two vehicles. Vasquez is the latest defendant sentenced in this case. Sixteen defendants have already been sentenced between October 2008 and December 2009 to terms of between 144 months and 36 months in prison.
Former Minnesota Department of Revenue Employee Sentenced For Stealing $1.9 Million in State Funds
On September 7, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn., Pamela Marie Dellis, of Lindstrom, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering. Dellis was charged along with two co-defendants on January 7, 2011, and pleaded guilty on March 7, 2011. On August 9, 2011, Dellis’s niece, Laurie R. Sondrall, of Minneapolis, was sentenced to 27 months on one count of conspiracy. Dellis’s sister, Nancy T. Sondrall, of Brooklyn Center, awaits sentencing. All three defendants will be required to pay back more than $1.9 million in restitution. In their plea agreements, the defendants admitted that from January 12, 2005, through September 17, 2010, they conspired to defraud the State of Minnesota by embezzling funds by creating false tax refund checks. According to court documents, as an auditor with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Dellis’s job, in part, was to process tax overpayments. In numerous instances, however, she falsified records to create the impression that a taxpayer was owed a refund due to an overpayment when, in fact, that was not the case. Then, she drafted a refund check or a “transfer of funds, ” made payable to her sister or niece, for the false refund amount. Dellis admitted using variations of her co-conspirators’ names on the checks and transfers to make it more difficult to detect that the refunds were not legitimate. To cash the checks, Dellis and her co-conspirators sometimes sought the services of a check-cashing business and then divided the check proceeds. On other occasions, the checks were deposited into an account, in an effort to conceal the source of the funds, and then withdrawn and shared by the co-conspirators. In all, Dellis was responsible for more than 200 fraudulent tax refund payments, totaling approximately $1.9 million.
California Source of Supply in “Operation Budapest” Sentenced
On September 6, 2011, in Fargo, N.D., Victor Espinoza, of Piru, California, was sentenced to 222 months in prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy that was the subject of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation titled “Operation Budapest.” During the course of the conspiracy, the targeted drug trafficking organization transported over 50 pounds of methamphetamine from California to North Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska. Cocaine and marijuana were also distributed as part of the conspiracy. According to court documents, Espinoza was indicted in September 2010 and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges in March 2011. To date, 26 defendants that have been sentenced in Operation Budapest on various offenses, including drug conspiracy, firearms charges, and money laundering. Assets seized during the investigation included a residence in Avoca, Minnesota, a residence in Worthington, a 2001 Mercedes Benz, a 2000 Cadillac STS and approximately $22, 000 in cash.
Iowa Business and Businessman Sentenced For Structuring Cash
On August 24, 2011, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Terry Neal, of Ely, Iowa, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release and fined $25, 000 after pleading guilty in March to structuring monetary transactions and willfully failing to file a currency transaction reporting form. Neal’s company, Neal Enterprises of Marion, Iowa, also pleaded guilty in March to one count of structuring monetary transactions. According to information disclosed in court, on October 9, 2008, an undercover officer purchased a vehicle from Neal for $10, 400 cash. Neal thought the undercover officer was a drug distributor so he did not report the cash sale of over $10, 000 on a currency transaction reporting form. Neal then wrote up the sale for less than $10, 000 in cash and structured the cash into his business bank account. Neal structured up to $200, 000 in 11 months. Neal Enterprises was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $100, 000. The company was also ordered to forfeit $312, 000.
Texas Man Sentenced For Drug Crimes
On August 31, 2011, in Tyler, Texas, Hector Nieto, of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, was sentenced to 135 months in prison and ordered to forfeit ownership of commercial property in Mt. Pleasant valued at $93, 000, a 2005 GMC pickup truck and $21, 473 in US currency. Nieto pleaded guilty on November 2, 2010, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering. According to information presented in court, in July 2009, Nieto knowingly delivered approximately three kilograms of cocaine to others with instructions to transport the cocaine to Chicago, Illinois, for sale and distribution. He further acknowledged using $49, 000 in cash that was part of the proceeds of the drug conspiracy to pay for the construction of a swimming pool at his residence.
Maryland Woman Sentenced for Laundering Over $400, 000 in Drug Proceeds
On August 26, 2011 in Baltimore, Md., Joy Edison, of Elkton, Maryland, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release for conspiring to launder over $400, 000 in drug proceeds. Edison was also ordered to forfeit her interest in eight properties purchased with drug proceeds, her interest in JJM Realty and J. Edison Properties (front companies formed by Edison and her co-conspirators through which many of the properties were purchased) and any other property purchased with the drug trafficking proceeds. According to Edison’s plea agreement, from December 2003 to August 2010, Edison and her co-conspirators conducted financial transactions to conceal over $400, 000 generated from the sale of heroin in Baltimore City. Edison and her co-conspirators used the cash proceeds of drug sales to: gamble at Las Vegas casinos, for which the “cash-outs” exceeded $184, 000; purchase “winning” Maryland lottery tickets in amounts exceeding $138, 000 in order to disguise drug proceeds as legitimate lottery winnings; deposit over $79, 000 in cash into Edison’s bank accounts during 2007 and 2008; give hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to individuals operating a used car businesses; and buy a residence for Edison in Elkton and at least seven properties in Baltimore. In addition, according to court documents, while Edison was maintaining a lavish lifestyle using drug proceeds, she submitted fraudulent applications to the Maryland Department of Human Services for community medical assistance, food stamps and the child care subsidy program. After misrepresenting her address and financial condition, Edison was granted the requested public assistance.
Texas Fraudster Sentenced to Federal Prison
On August 26, 2011, in Dallas, Texas, James A. Testa, of Carrollton, Texas, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution to the victims of his crime. Testa pleaded guilty in April 2009 to one count of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. According to information presented to the court, Testa and convicted co-conspirator, Michael R. Rouse, were co-founders and trustees of the Golden Gate Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). During 2003 and 2004, Testa and Rouse, acting personally and through brokers, raised more than $2 million from investors by claiming that the REIT was a safe investment in real estate and real estate related assets. In fact, virtually none of the money was ever invested in anything connected with real estate. The only investments Testa and Rouse ever made were in foreign currency trading, and those investments failed completely. The investors lost most or all of their money, while Testa and Rouse paid themselves handsome salaries and spent the investors’ funds on business and personal expenses, including Mercedes Benz automobiles that cost more than $125, 000 each. Rouse, formerly of Wellington, Florida, was sentenced last month, in absentia, to 210 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution. He is a fugitive.
Minnesota Man Sentenced In Connection to $2 Million Fraudulent Loan Scheme
On August 25, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn., Richard A. Sand, of White Bear Township was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a $2 million fraudulent loan scheme. Sand, an attorney, pleaded guilty on March 28, 2011, to wire fraud and money laundering charges. He and two co-defendants were charged in a superseding indictment on July 13, 2011. On August 9, 2011, one of those co-defendants, Brenda Epperly, of Oak Grove, was sentenced to six months in prison on one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud. The third defendant, Donald W. Krause, of Plymouth, awaits sentencing. In their respective plea agreements, the defendants admitted using property transactions to defraud a lending institution. Specifically, on February 21, 2008, a purchase agreement was executed for the $1.6 million sale of an Orono residence to a corporation, RSN Companies, at which Krause was a general partner. The next day Krause sold that residence to Sand’s 86-year old mother for $2.6 million, $1 million more than RSN paid for the property the previous day. Under the terms of that transaction, Sand’s mother was to pay approximately $600, 000 in cash, and the balance of the purchase price was to be financed through a bank loan. A false loan application was submitted to Bank of America, which approved a $2 million loan. On March 20, 2008, Bank of America wired the loan proceeds to Epperly, a closing agent at a title company, for distribution at the time of closing. However, the following day, Epperly dispersed $900, 000 of the loan funds to RSN Companies. Then, on March 22, 2008, the defendants used some of that money to purchase a cashier’s check for $602, 018 which was subsequently submitted as the cash payment Sand’s mother was to make as her equity contribution to the property purchase. Epperly then falsified the HUD-1 Settlement Statement provided to the lending institution, indicating that Sand’s mother had provided over $600, 000 in cash. As a result, the bank mistakenly believed Sand’s mother had a financial stake in the purchase. On March 22, 2008, Krause purchased another cashier’s check with the loan proceeds. This $224, 371 check was made payable to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department and was used by Krause and Sand to redeem a foreclosed property Sand owned in St. Paul. In addition, Sand used an additional $170, 000 in loan proceeds for his own benefit. At their plea hearings, Krause admitted receiving approximately $50, 000 because of this fraud.
Co-Defendants in Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Sentenced
On August 24, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn., Glenesha Bowling-Moye was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1, 245, 002 in restitution ($1, 166, 696 of the restitution is due jointly and severally with her co-defendant). Tabitha Jones was sentenced to 12 months and a day, followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1, 166, 696 in restitution (owed jointly and severally with Moye). According to court documents, Moye and Jones were joint owners and operators of EBC Healthcare (EBC), a company that operated in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere. EBC was both a Medicare Provider and TennCare Participating Provider engaged primarily in the business of submitting claims to Medicare and TennCare for services purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries and TennCare beneficiaries. Through EBC, Moye and Jones regularly caused claims to be submitted to, and received payments from, Medicare and TennCare. Moye and Jones, through EBC, caused fraudulent claims, totaling approximately $1, 144, 025, to be submitted to Medicare and TennCare for psychotherapy and other services that were either never provided or provided by personnel not licensed by the State of Tennessee to perform the services. Moye also owned GEMM Senior Services (GEMM) and executed the health care fraud scheme through that company as well causing fraudulent claims totaling approximately $78, 306.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to Prison
On August 19, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn., James Christopher Rowland was sentenced to 28 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. On February 28, 2011, Rowland pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the plea agreement, Rowland purchased a house on Teresa Lane in Rutherford County, Tennessee. The house was purchased by means of a mortgage and public documents reflected that the house was owned by Rowland. In the spring of 2004, Rowland conspired with a drug dealer to purchase the home. The drug dealer paid Rowland $10, 000 and later $25, 000 as down payments for the purchase of the house – all in cash. In 2004 and before, the drug dealer was engaged in the illegal distribution of controlled substances, primarily cocaine. Since the drug sales were always in cash, over the years the dealer amassed a large sum of currency. The drug dealer did not use banks to deposit the currency or buy property in his own name for fear of alerting law enforcement officials to his illegal activities. Rowland continued to accept cash from the drug dealer to make the mortgage payments on the house, however, all public records still showed that the house was owned by Rowland. Rowland knew that all of the mortgage payments on the house were from the proceeds of the illegal distribution of controlled substances. Rowland was ordered to forfeit real estate in Tennessee and a Rock River Arms machine gun. Rowland previously forfeited $22, 050 in a related civil case.
Defendant in Texas Drug Conspiracy is Sentenced to Prison
On August 17, 2011, in Waco, Texas, Blas Stephen Marquez was sentenced to 168 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $2000 fine. Marquez pleaded guilty in March 2011 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the Factual Basis, from at least January 2005, Blas Stephen Marquez and others, including his father, Jose Marquez, engaged in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. The money that was collected from this illegal distribution of drugs was laundered to make it appear to be from legitimate sources. Blas Stephen Marquez and others knew that the bulk currency that was being generated and collected was used to further the on-going illegal activity by acquiring more controlled substances for distribution. The currency was also used to purchase assets, some of which were used to further the on-going illegal activity. Some assets were placed in nominee names and businesses in order conceal their true ownership and control.
Leader of Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
On August 17, 2011, in Covington, Ky., Jay A. Shephard, of Ohio, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering. Shephard, who owned residences in Dayton, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, led a drug conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of at least 40, 000 prescription pills in parts of Eastern Kentucky. In addition to the prison sentence, Shephard was ordered to forfeit five pieces of real estate located in Dayton, pay a money judgment of $225, 000, and forfeit approximately $83, 000 in cash that represented proceeds from the conspiracy. According to evidence at his trial, from May of 2006 until May of 2009, Shephard directed others to distribute thousands of Oxycodone 80 mg tablets. Shephard was the last of 21 individuals involved in a large drug ring to be convicted. He and the others all conspired to distribute prescription pills in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.
International Narcotics Trafficker and Money Launderer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
On August 12, 2011, in Manhattan, N.Y., Hector Dominguez-Gabriel, an international narcotics trafficker and money launderer based in Mexico, was sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by five years supervised release and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment as a result of his conviction in December 2010 on narcotics importation and money laundering charges. Forfeiture, to be paid to the United States, will be determined at a later date. According to court documents, evidence presented at trial, and statements made at the sentencing, from 2006 to June 2009, Dominguez-Gabriel orchestrated an extensive narcotics-trafficking and money laundering organization that imported and distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the United States and then laundered millions of dollars of narcotics proceeds back into Mexico where his company was based. Working from Mexico, Dominguez-Gabriel sent at least 300 kilograms of cocaine into the United States using a variety of means, including secreting it aboard cruise ships and in hidden compartments of vehicles, as well as hiding it within flower shipments. Additionally, Dominguez-Gabriel directed his associates to pick up millions of dollars of narcotics proceeds in locations throughout the United States, including Atlanta, Georgia, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and New York City, and then make small, structured deposits into U.S. bank accounts. This was done to evade the Internal Revenue Service’s reporting requirements and thereby launder the drug proceeds back to Mexico. In February 2007, Dominguez-Gabriel even attempted to bribe a federal agent after an associate, who picked up $1.5 million in cash, was arrested in New York City.
Jamaican Citizen Sentenced on Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
On August 11, 2011, in Orlando, Fla., David A. Smith, a Jamaican citizen, who was living in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering offenses. As part of his sentence, the court entered a money judgment of $128 million. According to court documents, for more than three years, Smith executed a scheme to defraud more than six thousand investors located in Florida and elsewhere out of more than $220 million. Smith led investors to believe that he was investing their money in foreign currency trading and earning, on average, 10 percent per month, when in fact he was not trading their funds. Smith also conspired with others to launder approximately $128 million of proceeds that were obtained from the wire fraud scheme.
Man Sentenced for Structuring Currency Transactions
On August 3, 2011, in Chicago, Ill., Thomas Spellman was sentenced to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty in March 2011 to structuring currency deposits. The court also entered a forfeiture judgment against Spellman of $50, 000. Spellman was indicted in July 2009. According to the indictment, Spellman conspired with Mathieu Reyna and others to evade currency reporting requirements by structuring and helping to structure bank deposits in amounts under $10, 000. Beginning no later than 2002 and continuing through about November 2004 in Illinois and Virginia, Spellman directed Reyna and others to deposit cash into bank accounts, controlled individually and jointly by Spellman and Reyna, in amounts under $10, 000 at different bank branches and different times of day to avoid Currency Transaction Reporting requirements. Together, Spellman and Reyna structured over $1.3 million.
Iowa Couple Sentenced To Prison On Federal Immigration, Tax and Fraud Charges
On August 3, 2011, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Chan Duong and Phung Ca “Polly” Long, both from Vinton, Iowa, were sentenced to prison for harboring illegal aliens and other tax and fraud charges. Duong was sentenced to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in December 2010 to harboring illegal aliens and filing a false 2007 federal income tax return. Long was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $22, 695 in restitution to Iowa Medicaid after pleading guilty in November 2010 to harboring illegal aliens and health care fraud. In their plea and sentencing agreements, Long and Duong admitted they engaged in criminal activity that included wire fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud, filing false federal income tax returns, hiring illegal aliens, money laundering, and harboring and transporting illegal aliens. Chan Duong filed false federal income tax returns resulting in a tax loss of over $400, 000 over four years. The pair operated the Peony Chinese Restaurants in Vinton and Tama, Iowa and routinely hid their personal income and business earnings from state and federal authorities, paid their employees in cash to avoid taxes, purchased property to house the illegal aliens that worked for them, and hired, harbored and transported illegal aliens as a principle means of operating their restaurant. Following their guilty pleas, the couple continued their previous criminal activity. A second set of search warrants, issued in May 2011 for their home and businesses, found evidence of money laundering, mail fraud and state sales tax evasion. In related forfeiture actions, Long and Duong have forfeited or agreed to forfeit cash, vehicles and real property worth more than $1.5 million.
Nebraska Woman Sentenced to Prison
On July 28, 2011, in Omaha, Neb., Deshawn Hernandez, of Omaha, was sentenced to 170 months in prison and five years of supervised release for her involvement in marijuana trafficking and money laundering activities that extended from Omaha to Arizona. Hernandez also waived any interest she had in nine pieces of real property and over $100, 000 in cash seized by law enforcement. Hernandez was one of 11 people indicted with Shannon Williams in December 2009. Hernandez was a girlfriend of Williams and recruited drivers for his marijuana business while he was incarcerated in the Douglas County jail. She also stored marijuana for him and used the proceeds from the drug trafficking to purchase real estate and other items of value. The case involved the distribution of over 15, 000 pounds of marijuana valued at $1, 500, 000 to $3, 000, 000. A jury convicted Hernandez, Sara Jarrett and Shannon Williams on April 28, 2011. Jarrett was previously sentenced to 120 months in prison and Williams awaits sentencing.
New Mexico Man Sentenced for Defrauding Insurance Company
On July 28, 2011, in Las Cruces, N.M., Joseph Reyes Montes was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $149, 779 in restitution to Farmer’s Insurance Company. Montes, a claims supervisor for Farmer's Insurance Company, pleaded guilty in October 2010 to conspiracy to launder money obtained by making fraudulent insurance claims. According to court documents, between March 2007 and August 2009, Montes conspired with his co-defendant, Deniece Sanchez, to submit $150, 000 in fraudulent insurance claims to Farmer’s Insurance Agency on approximately 30 separate occasions. Montes laundered the stolen money through Sanchez’ business bank account to give the funds the appearance of legitimate business income. Sanchez also pleaded guilty in October 2010 to conspiracy to launder money and is awaiting sentencing.
Federal Judge Sentences Fugitive Fraudster to Prison
On July 22, 2011, in Dallas, Texas, Michael R. Rouse, formerly of Wellington, Florida, was sentenced in absentia to 210 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution to the 62 identified victims of his crime. Rouse was convicted in April 2011 on all nine counts of a superseding indictment charging various felony offenses, including money laundering, related to his operation of the Golden Gate Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Rouse is a fugitive. The government presented evidence at trial that, during 2003 and 2004, Rouse and convicted co-conspirator James A. Testa, of Carrollton, Texas, were founders and trustees of the Golden Gate REIT. During that period, Rouse and Testa, acting personally and through brokers, raised more than $2 million from investors by claiming that the REIT was a safe investment in real estate and real estate related assets. In fact, virtually none of the money was ever invested in anything connected with real estate. The only investments Rouse and Testa ever made were in foreign currency trading, and those investments failed completely. The investors lost most or all of their money, while Testa and Rouse paid themselves handsome salaries and spent the investors’ funds on business and personal expenses, including Mercedes Benz automobiles that cost more than $125, 000 each. Testa, who testified for the government at trial, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in 2009; he is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2011.
Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
On July 22, 2011 in Houston, Texas, Vincent Wallace Aldridge, of Fresno, Texas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $891, 000 in restitution and a special assessment of $1900. Aldridge and his wife, Tori Aldridge, were found guilty at the end of January of 19 counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering charges. Gilbert Isgar, a co-owner of Waterford Homes, was found guilty of 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both Aldridges’ and Isgar were convicted of conspiring during 2004 and 2005 to receive proceeds from real estate transactions based upon materially fraudulent information that was intentionally supplied to at least four lending institutions. According to court documents, Vincent Aldridge was a fee attorney for First Southwestern Title Company and Tori Aldridge was also employed by the same company. They lured borrowers by representing the scheme as an investment opportunity. For the use of their credit to obtain mortgage loans, the borrowers were promised $10, 000 after the closing of their respective properties and that the property would be sold after a year for a profit. Vincent Aldridge and Tori Aldridge - acting as both an escrow officer and as a loan processor – modified the lending packages they submitted to lending institutions to enhance borrowers’ ability to qualify for the requested loans. These enhancements included fraudulently overstating the borrower’s income, misrepresenting the borrower’s principal residence as rental property and misrepresenting the purchase property as the principal residence. The mortgage loans totaled approximately $3, 700, 000. As a part of the scheme, Isgar inflated the sales price of the properties to be purchased by the recruited borrowers. As a part of the agreement between the Aldridges and Isgar, Isgar signed disbursement authorizations for attorney’s fees and additional contractor fees on brand new homes for amounts of $60, 000 to more than $80, 000 that were in addition to the attorney’s fees stated on the HUD settlement statements and did not appear on the settlement statements. Once the loans were funded to the title company, the Aldridges caused several checks to be drawn on the account of the title company, each totaling amounts of $60, 000 to more than $80, 000, to Aldridge & Associates IOLTA bank account. The checks totaled approximately $442, 089 and represented a portion of the illicit proceeds obtained through the mortgage fraud scheme. The total amount of the money laundering was more than $500, 000. On June 29, 2011, Isgar was sentenced to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution. Tori Aldridge will be sentenced later this year.
Members of Texas Drug Ring Sentenced to Prison
On July 19 and 20, 2011, in Waco, Texas, 11 defendants in a drug distribution ring were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to distribute at least 1, 000 kilograms of marijuana and money laundering. According to the factual basis, David Escobar, Juan Reynaldo Escobar-Sanchez, Ruben Jason Rodriguez, Fabian Artemio Montemayor, James Cornelius, Jr., Josie Jessica Jejia, Priscilla Ann Cadena, Cedric Dwayne Stephens, Edward Lee Curtis, and Albert Janes Hoston and others acquired, transported and distributed controlled substances in Western Texas and elsewhere. Currency was collected from the sale of the controlled substances and was then used to further ongoing illegal activity and to purchase assets. The Escobar organization began to obtain marijuana in at least 2002. The members of the organization would wrap the marijuana at various stash houses and take it to a warehouse or semi trucks for transportation. The loads ranged from 200 pounds to 800 pounds at a time. This happened one to four times per month from October of 2002 through at least January of 2005. In 2004, police raided warehouses on Tesoro Lane in Laredo and seized approximately 8, 200 to 8, 400 pounds of marijuana. Some of the marijuana belonged to the Escobar organization. Beginning in at least February 2004, members of the Escobar organization began to acquire large quantities of cocaine from sources in Mexico. The cocaine was imported into the United States and transported to Central and North Texas and elsewhere. Once it was re packaged, it would be shipped to parts of Texas, Missouri, Florida, and Mississippi. The defendants were sentenced as follows:
David Escobar - 121 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Juan Reynaldo Escobar-Sanchez - 46 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Ruben Jason Rodriguez - 121 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Jesus Eduardo Jaramillo - 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release
Fabian Artemio Montemayor - 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release
James Cornelius, Jr. - 151 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Josie Jessica Mejia - 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release
Priscilla Ann Cadena - 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Cedric Dwayne Stephens - 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Edward Lee Curtis - 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Albert James Holston - 262 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Virginia Businessman Sentenced for Role in Investment Scheme Causing Millions in Losses
On July 19, 2011, in Richmond, Va., Julius Everett “Bud” Johnson was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in an investment scheme resulting in millions of dollars in losses. On April 11, 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. A future hearing will be held to determine the amount of restitution, which, according to the plea documents, is currently estimated to be approximately $8.9 million. According to court filings, from prior to July 2009 until at least March 2010, Johnson owned and operated several businesses based in Richmond, including Virginia Group Benefits (VGB); Mid-Atlantic Insurance (MAI); F.I.C. Financial Group Inc.; Benefit Contractors Administrators Inc. (BCA); River City Cleaners LLC; Roberts Awning LLC; Norvell Awning LLC; MHC Linen Services LLC; The Everett Group; and Living Well. Johnson and his co-conspirator offered investments in the different businesses, generally including a promise of returns of up to 10 percent within one to four years. Johnson and his co-conspirator represented to potential investors that their investment funds would be funneled directly into specific companies, which would generate the returns on investment. Instead, a significant portion of the invested funds was used to repay other investors and to cover operating costs for unrelated businesses.
North Carolina Man Sentenced in Rock Hill Mortgage Fraud Case
On July 18, 2011, in Columbia, S.C., Samuel Caleb Cowles, of Kannapolis, North Carolina, was sentenced to fifteen months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. Cowles was a mortgage broker who owned and ran Prosperity Mortgage. He and a co-conspirator took pre-qualification documents from investors and used them to obtain loans for real estate purchases. Cowles falsified multiple loan applications by submitting to lenders that investment properties were going to be primary residences, which reduced the down payments. Cowles affected loan decisions by inflating incomes, omitting liabilities on loan applications, and making payments outside closing. He received mortgage fees as a return on his activities. He was paid by lenders when loans were executed. Cowles falsified approximately twenty loan applications, resulting in fraudulent loans totaling $2, 160, 650. During the sentencing hearing, Cowles stated he made approximately $60, 000 in fees.
Co-Founder of High Tech Company Sentenced for Embezzling Corporate Funds
On July 15, 2011, in Seattle, Wash., Mark E. Phillips was sentenced to 48 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $15, 000 fine. Phillips was convicted by a trial jury in March 2011 of four counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and two counts of money laundering. According to filings in the case and testimony at trial, Phillips is a co-founder of MOD Systems, Inc. and served as a director and Chief Executive Officer of MOD from its founding in 2005, until March 27, 2009. MOD is a start-up technology company engaged in the business of developing music and video downloading technology for retail kiosks. Records indicate that Phillips caused company money to be transferred to a bank account controlled by his then-girlfriend. The money was supposed to be used to pay for services provided by the woman’s company, but she never invoiced the company for any services or kept any of the money transferred into her account. Instead, the money was controlled by Phillips, and he directed her to pay for luxuries for himself. Additionally, Phillips transferred $1.5 million out of the company to his personal account in April 2008, as a down payment for a $2.3 million penthouse.
Co-Founder of High Tech Company Sentenced for Embezzling Corporate Funds
On July 15, 2011, in Seattle, Wash., Mark E. Phillips was sentenced to 48 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $15, 000 fine. Phillips was convicted by a trial jury in March 2011 of four counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and two counts of money laundering. According to filings in the case and testimony at trial, Phillips is a co-founder of MOD Systems, Inc. and served as a director and Chief Executive Officer of MOD from its founding in 2005, until March 27, 2009. MOD is a start-up technology company engaged in the business of developing music and video downloading technology for retail kiosks. Records indicate that Phillips caused company money to be transferred to a bank account controlled by his then-girlfriend. The money was supposed to be used to pay for services provided by the woman’s company, but she never invoiced the company for any services or kept any of the money transferred into her account. Instead, the money was controlled by Phillips, and he directed her to pay for luxuries for himself. Additionally, Phillips transferred $1.5 million out of the company to his personal account in April 2008, as a down payment for a $2.3 million penthouse.
Former Bookkeeper Sentenced To Prison for Embezzlement and Money Laundering
On July 13, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla., Amy Joyce Cameron, of Washington, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $455, 904 in restitution her former employer. Cameron pleaded guilty on February 11, 2011, to mail fraud and money laundering charges. According to court records, Cameron worked as a bookkeeper for Quality Plumbing and Heating, located in Norman, Oklahoma, from 2006 through 2010. Her responsibilities included handling payroll, billing accounts, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. From March 2007 through February 2010, Cameron issued checks payable to herself on company bank accounts and deposited those checks into a personal bank account in Oklahoma City and a personal investment account in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cameron embezzled a total of $455, 904.
Nebraska Woman Sentenced to Prison
On July 12, 2011, in Omaha, Neb., Sara Jarrett, of Omaha, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release for her involvement in marijuana trafficking and money laundering activities that stretched from Omaha to Arizona. Jarrett was one of eleven people indicted with Shannon Williams in December 2009. According to court documents, Jarrett was one of Williams’ drivers who helped him run his marijuana business while he was incarcerated in the Douglas County jail. From June 2008 through January 2009, on at least 19 occasions, Jarrett drove money from Omaha and dropped it off to other drivers in Denver or drove it herself to Mr. Williams in Arizona. The money was proceeds from marijuana trafficking. It is believed throughout the conspiracy Jarrett transported between $1, 900, 000 and $3, 253, 161. Williams and co-defendant Deshawn Hernandez await sentencing.
Florida Bank Executive Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering
On July 6, 2011, in Tampa, Fla., Philip William Coon was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Coon and a co-conspirator were jointly and severally held liable for a money judgment of $1, 528, 616 which represents the amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Coon was the executive vice-president of the mortgage lending department of a bank. He used his position to request a co-conspirator to charge clients a mortgage brokerage fee that was one percent higher than usual. Coon’s co-conspirator agreed and then paid three-quarters of the excess fee to bank accounts in the name of Solutions Processing, Inc. Solutions Processing, Inc. was not engaged in any business activity. Rather, accounts in the name of Solutions were used to receive the excess fees and transmit the proceeds to Coon and other individuals and entities as designated by Coon. Coon was ordered to forfeit personal assets including investment funds, real property, jewelry and a piano. The net proceeds of the sale of the forfeited assets will be credited towards the total money judgment.
Arkansas Couple Sentenced for Role in Prostitution and Money Laundering Conspiracy
On July 6, 2011, in Fayetteville, Ark., Jason M. Fedele and Tiffney R. Fedele were sentenced for their involvement in a local prostitution ring. Jason M. Fedele was sentenced to 66 months in prison, three years of supervised release for using an interstate facility to distribute proceeds from prostitution, conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession of firearms. Tiffney R. Fedele, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to use an interstate facility to distribute proceeds from prostitution and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Five co-defendants, James B. Mitchell, also of Fayetteville, Sherrie Havens-O’Donnell, Sherry Mae Seals, William Marshall and Conrad Dickson have already been sentenced. Mitchell, the Fedeles, and their co-conspirators admitted that the escort service, which Mitchell owned from approximately July 2003 until he was arrested on August 10, 2010, was actually an interstate and intrastate prostitution enterprise which employed escorts to engage in sexual acts with customers for monetary payment. Mitchell and his co-conspirators advertised numerous escort services in the yellow pages of multiple phone books in Arkansas and Missouri. Mitchell hired individuals to answer the service telephone lines and set up appointments for the prostitutes. Prostitutes were paid by customers for sexual services with cash, checks and credit cards. Mitchell hired other individuals to assist with collecting the prostitution proceeds. Mitchell and his co-conspirators used banks and other financial institutions to conduct financial transactions with the prostitution proceeds, both to conceal and disguise the nature, source and ownership of the proceeds and to promote the prostitution enterprise.
Arizona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Heroin Trafficking and Money Laundering
On July 6, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jesus Morales-Medel, from Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to launder drug money. Morales-Medel was indicted along with six other defendants on November 16, 2010. He pleaded guilty on January 10, 2011. According to court records, from June 2008 through September 2010, Morales-Medel and others were responsible for trafficking over 22 kilograms of Mexican black tar heroin into the Oklahoma City area via Phoenix, Arizona. The proceeds from the sale of the heroin were redirected from bank accounts controlled by Morales-Medel to others in multiple locations in the United States and Mexico.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison in Multimillion Dollar Heating Oil Embezzlement and Money Laundering Conspiracy
On June 3 and June 7, 2011, in Central Islip, N.Y., Tonino Solimine and Eston Clare were sentenced for their role in a multimillion dollar heating oil embezzlement and money laundering conspiracy. Solimine was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release and a $550, 000 fine. He will be deported upon release. Clare was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and 3 years supervised release. They were also ordered to pay a joint and several money judgment forfeiture of $7, 000, 000. These are the latest sentencing’s resulting from investigations into the skimming of home heating oil deliveries in the NY metropolitan area.
Williamsville Couple Sentenced On Money Laundering and Tax Fraud Charges
On June 27, 2011, in Buffalo, N.Y., Ralph S. Guastaferro, Jr. was sentenced to 24 months in prison and fined $100, 000 after being convicted of money laundering. Karen Guastaferro, his wife, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months home confinement and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $56, 670 to the IRS following her conviction of failing to collect and pay over taxes. Ralph Guastaferro operated a business called Eclipse Processing, Inc. As part of a money laundering scheme, Guastaferro opened accounts with two payment processing companies in California and Ohio. Those accounts were used by certain unscrupulous telemarketers, many of whom were located in Canada, to process alleged sales of some product or service. Many of the victims whose checking accounts were debited had never purchased any product or service. After the victims accounts were debited, the payment processing companies transferred the funds to bank accounts controlled by the defendant in Buffalo, New York. Guastaferro then wire transferred the funds, less a percentage, to the telemarketers in Canada. This was done in an attempt to conceal the nature and source of the funds. The defendant admitted that the total amount of the funds involved in his criminal conduct was $1.2 million. Karen Guastaferro owned and operated Eclipse Glass Tinting, Inc. From 2004 through 2008, Mrs. Guastaferro employed between five and seven people at the business. Although Guastaferro had a duty to collect and truthfully account for and pay over federal employment taxes for each of her employees, she was convicted of lying to the IRS about how many employees she had and how much she paid them, thus intentionally failing to account for and pay over the required federal employment taxes for those employees. |
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