Steven A Berkowitz

Steven A Berkowitz Invester's Beware-Hold onto your MONEY-This man is a Fraud!!- Cape Coral, Florida

17th of Nov, 2010 by User865180

Steve Berkowitz, owner of Martial Arts Institute, of Cape Coral, Florida is a liar a thief and in very nature feminine. I liken him to a female because he relies on men to make his way. This is my experience with himHe was supposed to have invested money that I and my family sent him instead he used it on personal expenses. This is flat out shameless. As a women feels entitlement when you are with her, so also Steve shamelessly takes what he has NOT earned. Yes, he has through me received over 20K. Then turned around and spit in my face. I gave him 4K to move from Wa to Fl a few months later, I sent him $2,500.00 to lock up some lease options, one of which he is currently living in. Finally we were going to purchase real estate, using funds from my brother and his good name (his credit). Long story short Steve received 15K, was supposed to use to put deal together, earnest money etc. As soon as this supposed deal fell through, Steve agreed to return the funds in order to pursue at a later date. This was back in April 2010; to this day such funds have NOT surfaced in their proper place.

You may say all this is my fault, how can I believe or trust someone's word? Truth is this fool is the first person whom I have been so wrong about. I have dealt with true men over 5 previous times. The last was with a friend of mine, Dr. J. Christman, in a deal involving land. This was a deal costing 40K, which we split. At the end of this deal the land was sold for 100K, a check was cut to me and we each went on. Fact is this whole deal went through my friend's paper (corp.) and only his name was on all paper. Funny there are men with integrity. In our lifetime I and my brother's have exchanged over 250K through us, and never pledged but our word. Such allegations are just that if they can't be substantiated. Everything I have written can be collaborated through correspondence between Steve and us, plus wire transfer receipts. This is all being used in a criminal investigation, that he is the subject of.

Why am I writing this you might ask? Well this individual will die mooching. He is constantly soliciting investors for everything from real estate to his money pit dojo. I hope to save someone who is considering throwing your money away. This individual has NO honor, NO morals, NO shame and absolutely NO integrity. I also read a response that he wrote on this website to some other unhappy victim. His response was amazing to me because he wrote he has never asked anyone for a dime. Below is a correspondence that I have copied and pasted from an e-mail he sent to me, you can read where he is begging me for money.

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Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:27:56 -0500
From: [email protected]
To:

+ can I borrow 4k at 7% for 12 months? I am desperate here, we'll be in the street before Dec 5th if I can't figure a way out of this.

One thing I know that Steve has to say about me is, I'll say it for him because I'm dying to see if he can come up with something new or truthful. I was forced to go through bankruptcy due to a year out of work, in which not only did I lose my job but I lost renters and there for lost my investments properties. So Steve tries to portray that I was going bankrupt and all the while investing on the other hand. Ignoring the fact that this other venture I was attempting was through my brother, due to the fact that he has not been shaken through all of these financially turbulent times.

There is nothing wrong with climbing into a lifeboat when your ship is going down. I knew that I was broke but hoped that I could start my road to recovery via my alliance with a solvent partner, and one that would facilitate acquisitions in a prime location. Little did I know that the later was a snake that would only facilitate money into his pocket. He has made every excuse (lie) in the book; he claims he lost the deposit. In another email he claims he put in a CD, waiting for it to mature. I believe what he told his wife is the truth; he spent it citing that because he had a heart attack, he used the money to live on. Truth is his heart attack was months earlier, fact is he only was down 3 to 4 days. He also told his wife not to worry; he couldn't be indicted since there was no contractFOOL! There is such a thing as an electronic signature, which is on emails, wire transfers and things of that nature.

He recently got wind of the fact that he is currently under criminal investigation. Though this process is slow at fruition it will be worth it to have this scum where he belongs. I recently spoke with one of the individuals involved in our process; I was concerned with the length of time involved. His response was it is the best evidence in these cases because the length of time passing shows the best proof of the intent. Of course I already knew his intent since April. I was also advised that in such cases there are several agencies that want their piecebureau of realty etc. I was also told in many instances they just want to look. I was also pointed in a direction that I hadn't thought of, since I received some of these documents through the mail. I have to send a sworn statement to the Federal Postal Inspector. Anytime someone uses the USPS, for the purpose of defrauding someone I guess they want a piece.so more waiting.

Meantime Steve since has gotten wind of the local inquisition in process, he pretends his intensions in sending a few bucksas he put it. Well there was a lot more than a few bucks his way. So absolutely my family wants nothing less than a full refund. Fact is my brother says if he doesn't send at least 11K which is what was appropriated for the real estate/Steve pocket venture. He won't take a dime. We were advised that if we accept any amount, they are forced to close proceedings because we are entering into negotiations. Steve knows this; he is a con to the max! He made an attempt and was later angered by my brother who refused to accept pennies. Steve in turn stated that if he paid all he would not be able to cloth and keep his kids in a house with electric.

Here's an idea Steve, do what I dowork, earn your own money to clothe your kids!! Don't steal it. We don't lay with your wife, although we have provided better for her and your kids than you have. Maybe someday he'll learn to provide. Up to now he scams cops & soldiersthat is what my brother is. Steve pretends to advocate for them. I have copied and pasted his many excuses for not returning the money he pocketed. We know getting the money back is a loss cause, that is not our intentwe only wish to warn others about him, praying also that justice will be done to stop him. Please contact us if you have more to add.

Employers he lists: Lee Char Affordable Housing Initiative Corp.-Martial Arts Training Institute, INC.-Ysharim International/USA-Zenkoku Yudansha Sekai-Bugeikan Martial Arts

Be Blessed..J

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--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 08:32:45 -0400
From: [email protected]
To:

Subject: Houses

David:

I have two realtor friends burning through the listings for likely low-down candidates. best and quickest way to get the flash-cash into my hands to roll deals is direct deposit there to WAMU

3250***** routing

acct name Ysharim International (the overall business entity we own and operate with

email me when you have done so so I can get whatever I need to onto a contract or two and shoot you the listing info sheets.

I am drafting a partnering agreement for you, will send out today if possible, or by end of day Fri(Yom Kippur is tonite and tomorrow and I have much to do yet for that)

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:02:20 -0400
From: [email protected]
CC:
Subject: we have potential buyers to sell to, just need to be able to lock up some properties now David:

If we are going to do this, I need to know if you are in. I need flashcash right now, this week, to lock down 5 houses. I can rehab them if you can't get away , and I have end buyers, and end-leasers.

I sent the account # at WAMU for the account up there. Did you get that? Plus photos of some houses I was working on, still am. But in order to convince the owners to sign a sales agreement, they need cash "incentive".

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--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 09:32:38 -0400
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: checks/houses/ads David:

Got mail/checks. Thanks! Placed 1400 in Buy Acct., $1000 in Ad acct. Here's what's next, PLUS following on the 10 houses I was chasing two wks ago. Will reread your letter and lay out a function list so we both know what happens when and how.

Blessings

SAB

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Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:27:56 -0500
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Looks like we got a property!

I need right away(Fri or Monday) the 10k down money, to put down early next week and sign the contract once the corporations are done, plus about $350 to incorporate the two entities(I am absolutely broke right now):

LeeChar Affordable Housing Initiative Corp(LAHIC) this will be the non-profit

Franco-Berkowitz Development Corp (FBC) this will be the for-profit

adresses for both will be the P.O.Box 152107, Cape Coral, Fl., 33915 the

box for all the non-profits and for profits we are working with

Franco-Berkowitz Development: President- Stephanie Franco

VP- Elisheva Berkowitz

Secretary- Steven A. Berkowitz

Treasurer- David Franco

LeeChar President/Secretary- Steven A. Berkowitz

VP/Treasurer- David Franco

Director- Stephanie Franco

Director- Elisheva Berkowitz

$10,000 for DP

350 for incorp

10,350.00

Quickest is a wire transfer. If you bank at Wamu, they do it for free. Most banks do thatfor accountholders.

Wire to Fifth Third Bank 239-772-5296 1801 NE Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, Fl 33909

067091719 7432408784

Ysharim International

From:

To:

Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:55 PM

Subject: SE 46th La

Still some interest by my Seattle partner in the property- $50k buy, $10k down, 9% 3 yr balloon, 25 or 20 year amortization.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr.Klaus" <[email protected]>
To: "Steve Berkowitz" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:44:43 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: SE 46th La That sounds good,

do you want to get a contract ???

If YES, please email Name and adress of buyer.

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:08:43 -0500
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Re: 708 SE 46th La. Duplex

The contract will read Buyer: LeeChar Affordable Housing Initiative Corp., Attn.: Steven Berkowitz, address is P.O.Box 152107, Cape Coral, Fl 33915

Terms $50,000 sale price $10,000 down payment, 3 year balloon seller held $40,000, amortized at 25 yr. rate, at 9%

If seller does not accept terms, down payment will be returned within 5 calendar days of rejected offer. Sale must close before Dec. 10, 2009, without exception, and property must pass inspection and appraisal for sale value.

From:

To:

Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 2:42 PM

I'd parked the $ in an interest-bearing acct, have asked for it to come out. They will call me when I can get it.

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To: "Steve Berkowitz"

To:

Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 8:05:53 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: your question

Steve I have not asked you for more than the truth. Tell me what it is, in your response to my right acct.# you said "yes it was. I will send out." That states that you knew it was wrong, therefore alluding that you had attempted to send. Then you say that it's in a CD or like and may take time. Also you say you will finish the deal if it comes to be. Then you say you called them today and they we're out of the deal.

Ultimately I've asked you to speak to me on the phone and you won't answer my calls. As far as all the other stuff I've written you, you keep overlooking the fact that I never said I wanted out. As far as you saying that I have alliances that come first, that's you're view, not mine. I've tried to explain to you that by paying him in a timely fashion it would open the doors for continuous money for us. But, you took it, for some reason as a personal attack and a desire for me to bail. I keep reiterating that is the furthest from my intentions. The reason for wanting to talk to you on the phone is because it would be easier for me to tell you a little history of how I view personal loans.

I don't understand the pain you've felt over this because we plan to close here so we would have to go to the closing table with a cashier's check in hand. So why has it given you so much heartache? When can I expect you to wire me and be honest with me?

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Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:18:16 -0400
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Re: your question

David:

Odd...you don't get that my bank has it and has been asked to wire. That they can do and tried. I thn was told it failed. So, now I have request for refund.

Simple.

I was going to drive through the deal no matter wht but have decided better to not do it that way, shut it down, since I won't be able to remodel it.

simple, concise.

Truth- tired of spinning wheels on it an costing me time and rubber and having no surety it ends up with any of it my name.

SAB

please stop calling my wife's phone and the house phone. Give me a few days chill time rather than constant calling early am and while I am in a business day. i DO have other obligations, people in meetings, and places I am at. I don't sit around an office waiting for the phone to ring. will notify you when to look for it in acct.

From: DS F

To:

Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 10:58 AM

Subject: WHY???

I don't owe you this, as you don't feel you owe me the least explanation of why you can't send the money you were supposedly holding and had supposedly attempted to send. This is just out of honor, again something you don't comprehend. I am drafting a letter to the Florida attorney general, also Washington State attorney general. Also am going to contact any interested party including but limited to news agencies etc.

----- Original Message -----

From:

To: DS F

Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 2:28 PM

Subject: Re: WHY???

David:

do whatever you want to. just remember, all news goes out to the bankruptcy court, foreclosure court and also IRS...
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----- Original Message -----

From: DS F

To:

Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 2:54 PM

Subject: Re: WHY???

I got nothing to hide, you on the other hand are living a double life...

On the one hand you live as a Rabbi on the flip side you steal from friends...

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, May 11, 2010 7:04 pm
Subject: Re:

What to respond...I'm baffled. What we discussed on Thursday and what you're saying now doesn't add up.

Thursday, when I asked you to return the $15,000 I wired YOU in Novemeber, you explained that you did not have my account number. I replied that I was under the impression that David had already provided it, then offered to email it to you immediately. You then stated that you didn't have access to a computer because you were home, but that you would be at your office the following day. After some additional discussion, I stated that I simply wanted my money returned. You stated, "okay, I'll talk to my bank tomorrow".

Based on this conversation, shouldn't I have fully expected you to send the money as soon as you received my account info, which I immediately sent?

Now you basically state that you don't owe the money since it was a deal with David, not me???

The evidence will show that you solely took posession of all funds. David vouched for you saying you were a great friend and that you were going to invest together.

Ultimately, you agreed to return these funds until the next day when you were flustered by something David said. Now you add that a deal has been made, despite an email sent to David stating that you were absolving him of any further participation. A clear expression of your true position on this would be appreciated.

Speaking with my lawyer today, I realize this case will be even more extensive/exhaustive than I initially thought, including investigating and interviewing present and past contacts of yours.

Speaking with David today about this subject, David mentioned that you were/are a religious figure. Again....baffled. How can these actions be one of a religious person?

I should not have to tell you right from wrong. You know what is right. Why not just do it.

----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 5:37:32 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re:

When I did not receive the money as you agreed when we spoke on the phone, I thought further about your email.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but your explanation in the second sentence is your reason for why you have not yet returned MY money. If this is the case, you must re-think this logic. I wired $15,000 to Ysharim International, an account with YOUR name. If the proposed real estate deal did not happen, then the money, which should have remained in this account, should be returned immediately. This has nothing to do with David.

Unfortunately, if you recall, I asked that this money be returned by Monday. My intent was one last attempt rectify this situation in the easiest, best way possible.

Now, as I stated, I am forced to pursue this money through legal means.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Berkowitz < >
To:
Sent: Fri, May 7, 2010 8:04 am
Subject: Re:

I do understand. I spoke with you last night, did not consider your tone angry or untactful at all.

This morning my email box is fileld again with long diatribe from DF. THIS is the reason I do not even bothr reading or answering his never-ending prattle.

THIS is the reason(and he ahs been told) I move it further back, further back, further back as an issue of concern. he's buying my time $1 per word

Be blessed

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The following is a message sent on facebookjust more lies and damage control.

I offered over a week ago to begin paying back the money David and I were to have done business with that he put into our acct. Sorry Yvonne Edwards disappeared with a deposit and can't be found, and that Klaus dumped our offer on property #2. That's all I can say other than happy to send payments back to david, and offered to even before last Saturday when I first heard about the "detective". No crime, just bad business deals. Sorry. My business was with David, not his brother. David has directed me to pay David back, and yet Fil steps up demanding repayment of $10k in full. (Can't happen and keep my kids in clothes and a hosue with electric. of course, maybe they'd be better off in an institution with their manic-depressive mother?)

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Comments

4893 days ago by Steven

David doesn't give all the details at all, just the ones that cover his butt. I had no idea the money was his brother's. Dave told me HE had money he wanted to invest. That he would back the buys, I would manage them, and we'd both be on title. When he got here, we went and looked at properties; he found some he wanted me to put offers on with deposits. I did so. He told me that the $15k (4 was for me and my family, the rest investment and set up the business, buy the houses.

Took me three weeks to get deposit returned on one that the seller, after shaking hands on the asking price/selling price agreed, spent 3 weeks avoiding me and then told me the property was 40k more!

Did get the $ back, went after the other two. Sadly, lots of realtors and sellers here in SW Fl taking deposits, disappearing to places like Minot, SD. I did get burned on two $5k deposits- my fault for lack of staying on the deals and the sellers, so yes. I owe David the 10k.

Dave's lament about losing 3 houses in wash. is true. 2 of them had illegal aliens running a meth lab going on. I told him to get rid of them before he lost the houses. He wouldn't listen, his tenants disappeared, and Dave went Ch. 7 BEFORE he came here. Once the deposits were on house(duplexes actually) Dave informed me that the properties needed to close in his brother's name. In spite of the obvious screwing I was set to take, I continued trying to get the two properties to close, until the sellers simply closed up shop, disconnected their phones and are MIA.

It was very late in the process when David revealed that the $ was $ he was trying to hide from the bankruptcy court. He said he was going to have his brother transfer it to me so the court couldn't see his acct doing it. Later the story changed to his brother's money. After all was said and done and I told him the deals went south with the money, he told me it was his brother's $. Two months later I get a phone call from the brother, angry at me, though it was Dave he's loaned the $ to.

I regret the situation, wish I had a way to make it right. No larceny intended. Bad investment deals on RE. Happens a lot down here, even now.

Dave interrogating my wife is sad...and trying to solicit her help...without going into all her childhood hsitory and med issues, may I simply say that some people will revictimize a woman for revenge...should Mr. Franco or his wife attempt another run at confusing mine and baiting her, I will have them incarcerated under violation of ADA rules and abuse statutes. She is covered by both Federal and state protections...be warned.

4012 days ago by Steven

Geez, I had no idea there was more than one disbarred lawyer running a scam like this, where some idiot posts a complaint, trash is built up into a heap, and the site owner, disbarred lawyer, contacts you and offers that, for a couple thousand bucks to 'restore your good name". Sounds an awful lot like blackmail.

And, that doesn't surprise me a bit.

What DOES surprise me is that, according to this site, I am already a "member" here, and nothing could be further from the truth. I'd never heard of THIS site until this am, when it surfaced as I searched my own name. Lo and behold, when I try to "join" with my own email, it tells me that I am already a member. And, as I reviewed the complaint content, came to realize that, word for word, it's a mirror image of another crap site, where the owner, a disbarred lawyer, offers to clean up your name if you'll pay him some blackmail money.

Turns out? Same disbarred lawyer setting up additional blackmail sites. Must be a good scam, and worthy of replication in hi mind. Sadly, for him, when he did ask me for a couple grand, I told him he's nuts and I'd rather have DFranco's half-truths and full-out lies than further mess things up by bending to extortion by a lawyer. What was it Shakespeare said about that..."First, let us kill all the lawyers..."

So...its been a few years, DFranco has spent much energy flailing about over this, trying to stir up a hornet's nest over it, poisoning any wells he passes, and yet, the prosecutrr in Florida says no crime has been committed, and closed the case.(DFranco has been told by me the name of the realtor/seller of the house in question and told to pursue her for the deposit paid)
So says also the prosecutor in Bremerton, Wash., where DFranco used his 2 rental houses as meth labs with the help of the "undocumented immigrants" he allowed to live in the homes. (and he has so told me he was doing. Also, a friend of mine back there who had the duty of demolition of one of the homes in question that was determined by him, a Fed Contractor in the business of demolition of crack/meth lab houses and black mold houses, to have been a meth lab).

I can speak of this with some knowledge, since what DFranco spent most of his time in contact with me back there when I lived there, was to get me to, as a mortgage banker with the 3rd largest bank in the USA, was to refi his houses. I personally went to the hosues, did a walkaround and peek in, and then to DFranco asking how many illegals were living in one(10 he answered) and whether it was a meth lab.(Yes, he answered, and why he needed to "get out" of the mortgage. Mind you, not "out of" ownership, just better deal on the mortgages)

He DOES misrepresent some thing grossly. He claims to have been out of work for a year...wasn't that the year he bought a construction crane for over a$100, 000? The same crane that he also asked me to find a buyer for once he determined he wanted to stick the 3 homes' mortgages into a bankruptcy, told me he had lots of cash stashed in hold with his brother (yes, the same one here, the DEA field agent) so he, DFranco could bail on all his bills, have hidden cash and retire to Florida for the rest of his life? The same crane that, once he DID file his Chapter 7, he then asked if I knew someone that could make it just disappear and come abck to him later quietly, and that there would be some "really good money in it" for me if I helped????

Which, seeing this illegal thing, the life of DFranco, more and more unveiled before my eyes, I chose to no longer worry about chasing the realtor/seller holding the deposit on the property. Gave DFranco her name, he had every ability to go find her himself, since I told him I would have nothing to do with defrauding the bankruptcy court or the IRS. Further, once I found out that he had declared bankruptcy on the 3 mortgages, I told him I couldn't condone that, or any of his ultimate plan(which he had not, until then, revealed to me in its entirety or scope) being a mortgage banker myself.

The foolishness written in his presentation leaves so much TRUTH out and so much of the live dialogue and hides his true intentions of that time, realized by me ONLY through the events, the written communications, and contrasting live conversations, as to leave me not speechless about all of it, but preferring to wait until the IRS and Bankruptcy Court finsh THEIR investigations into DFranco and decide what direction they want his next decade to go..., both of which I HAVE contacted, ... as well as the DEA concerning DFranco's brother, the DEA filed agent, who, according to David, has lots and lots of "untraceable" cash each time he comes back from a raid in Central America. Enough to have 7 rental homes in his own name BTW, and be DFranco's investor money pool whenever needed.

I hope David, hiding out in Minot, ND, from his own creditors, (many small subcontractors that worked honest days, weeks, months of labor for David's concrete contracting company in Seattle, the suppliers of materials and equipment that got cheated), can review his days of operating meth labs with illegals, his decisions to cheat 3 banks out of $600K+, defrauding both the IRS by hiding his income for years, and the Bankruptcy Court by hiding a couple hundred grand in his brother's accounts during his Chapter 7, will one day be able to realize that all that occurred in his life has been of his own making and choosing, and that wherever he tried to cheat someone else, he has been corrected by G-d.

As for my situation with him- much of what he(and his DEA field agent brother, finding lots of free cash on raids in Central America) above is half-truth or less, and quotes given have been massaged or changed from the originals and NONE of David's rearranging of terms and decisions as given verbally in the 600 some phone calls all hours of day and night as the coke or crack took its effect on his mind, are represented.

I will hold those issues for the Fed agencies as they conclude their investigations in the near future.

Steven Berkowitz