All content of David Marchant

Ex-ODBT operators set up new investment scheme

July 31, 2003

Two businessmen who previously helped to operate the now-defunct, scandal-ridden Overseas Development Bank & Trust in Dominica are involved in a new investment scheme in the United States. Terence de'Ath, a British national, and Gary Lynn McDuff, a citizen of the United States, are behind The Avenger Fund Business Trust, which was formed in Nevada on March 22, 2002. 

Lancer Offshore Latest: Asset freeze and details of securities holdings

July 31, 2003

A United States court has issued a temporary order freezing the assets of the Lancer Offshore Group, which has been implicated in a massive securities fraud.The assets were frozen on July 10, 2003 at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida following a complaint filed by the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Liechtenstein moves to freeze alleged crime proceeds

July 31, 2003

The authorities in Liechtenstein have started criminal proceedings to seize US$6 million and other assets that allegedly belong to a convicted drug trafficker in the United States.Jeffrey B. Collins is believed to control US$4.296 million at Centrum Bank AG and US$2.3 million at Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG.

Marc Harris hires Manuel Noriega’s criminal defense attorney

July 31, 2003

Jailed offshore provider Marc Harris has hired former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega's attorney to defend him against 13 counts of money laundering in Miami.Frank A. Rubino confirmed to OffshoreAlert that: "I am representing Mr. Harris in the U. S. District Court for the money laundering charges filed against him."

US court freezes assets of Dominica Gov’t-controlled bank

July 31, 2003

Nearly $5 million belonging to the government-controlled National Commercial Bank of Dominica has been frozen in the United States after an offshore bank client was found to be in contempt of court.The U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois froze $4,793,472 at NCB's correspondent account at the Bank of America in Miami, Florida on July 9, 2003.

AlphaStar Insurance Services sued in New Jersey

July 31, 2003

AlphaStar Insurance Services Inc., formerly Stirling Cooke Insurance Services Inc., has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed in the United States by a construction group. The complaint was filed at the U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on June 30, 2003 by Casalino Interior Demolition Corp., Castle Demolition Corp., formerly Casalino Demolition Corp.; Sajac Management Corp., Castle Sanitation Corp., formerly Casalino Sanitation Corp.; Citywide Recycling Corp. and Casalino Construction Corp. of New York, all registered in New York.

Switzerland requests information about accounts at US banks for fraud investigation

July 31, 2003

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud and money laundering - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Switzerland - that was filed at federal court in the USA on April 22, 2003. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Gunter Tschudin, Gabriele Borjan, Raymond Schmitt, Luigi Piffaretti, Sidney Management Ltd., Scoote AG, Packaline AG, Lincoln Door SA, Tresor Line Inc., Lane Consulting Ltd., Kelly Pahl & Associates Ltd., James Larkin Pahl , Joseph Kelly, Jansons Solicitors, NAJA Establishment, General Surety Company Ltd., Harleysville National Bank and Trust Co., NationsBank, Charles Weaver and Michael Adkins.

Insider Talking: July 31, 2003

July 31, 2003

Police in Bermuda have carried out raids on several offices on the island, including those of law firm Appleby Spurling and Kempe, looking for documents as part of a criminal investigation, reported The Royal Gazette newspaper on July 22, 2003; A Canadian Alliance MP wants Canada to investigate the possibility of annexing the idyllic Turks and Caicos Islands, reported the National Post, of Canada, on July 15, 2003; A court in Zurich, Switzerland, has sentenced Greek businessman Panagiotis A. Papadakis to 23 months and 16 days in prison for fraud, according to a newsletter published by the International Chamber of Commerce's Commercial Crimes Bureau; Former janitor John Wayne Zidar, 60, who orchestrated a Ponzi scheme that took in approximately $74 million from about 3,200 people in the United States and elsewhere, including Bermuda, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on July 28, 2003 at the U. S. District Court for the District of Western Washington; Mazars Neville Russell, the administrators of the Imperial Consolidated Group, have recovered relatively few assets for distribution to its clients and creditors, if a recent filing with Companies House for England & Wales is anything to go by; Just 15 months after they were formed, voluntary applications have been made to strike off two companies that were set up by former senior officers of the Imperial Consolidated Group to carry on in business as IC was collapsing after defrauding investors of $345 million; and A publicly-traded firm in the United States has written off its entire $1 million investment with Omnicorp Bank, which was closed down by regulators in St. Vincent last year but only after the bank's depositors were asked to convert their CDs to preferred shares in a highly dubious U. S.-registered, Canadian-based firm called Solara Ventures.

Winding-Up petitions filed against five offshore banks

July 22, 2003

Petitions to wind-up five offshore banks are due to be heard at Grenada High Court on Thursday, July 24, 2003.The banks are Bank Crozier Ltd., DIAK Bank Ltd., Anglo American Bank Ltd., Wellington Bank & Trust Ltd., and Cornerstone International Saving & Investment Bank Ltd.

Lancer Offshore boss seeks to halt US lawsuit

July 22, 2003

Offshore hedge fund boss Michael Lauer has claimed there is an "excellent likelihood of a successful reorganization" of Lancer Partners L. P., an investment partnership he operated which filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on April 16, 2003.

Ex-Imperial Consolidated attorney struck off in UK

July 15, 2003

An attorney has been struck off by the Law Society in the United Kingdom, primarily for helping the Imperial Consolidated Group defraud the public. Michael John Harvey was struck off on July 2, 2003 following a hearing on July 1-2 before a professional disciplinary tribunal, the Law Society confirmed to OffshoreAlert.

Asset recovery firm wins $36 m judgment against US law firm

July 15, 2003

The organizer of the asset recovery section of OffshoreAlert's upcoming Symposium has won a $36 million judgment against a U.S. law firm.Interclaim Holdings Ltd. and Interclaim Recovery Ltd., which are based in Ireland and owned by a Bermuda holding company, secured the judgment in Chicago on July 3 following a trial that lasted two and a half weeks.

Fugitive offshore banker files criminal charges

July 15, 2003

A French magistrate has ordered a criminal investigation into several people accused of offenses against fugitive offshore banker Thierry Nano.Among those named in the complaint are two U. S. FBI Agents, an alleged FBI informant, the Prime Minister and chief offshore regulator of the Caribbean island of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Lancer Offshore assets frozen, Receiver appointed after SEC action

July 10, 2003

A United States court today issued a temporary order freezing the assets of the Lancer Offshore Group, which has been implicated in massive securities fraud.The assets have been frozen until at least July 18, 2003 when a hearing has been scheduled at the U. S District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Grenada offshore banker receives prison sentence

July 9, 2003

A U. S.-based businessman has been sentenced to 34 months in prison for defrauding $1.2 million from clients of his offshore shell bank.Douglas Castle, a principal of Grenada-licensed Windsor International Bank & Trust, was also ordered to pay $1.2 million when he was sentenced on June 25, 2003 at the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

University’s Pension Plan invested $67 m in Lancer Offshore

July 9, 2003

The University of Montreal Pension Plan invested US$67 million - representing more than eight per cent of its total assets - in the now-insolvent Lancer Offshore fund, according to a lawsuit.Another major investor was the AXA group, whose investment vehicles put in $15.25 million in June, 2002 - less than three months before the New York Post newspaper began raising questions about the Fund and six months before the Fund announced it was suspending cash redemptions.

Stirling Cooke loses High Court judgment to Sphere Drake Insurance

July 8, 2003

Two UK subsidiaries of the Bermuda-based AlphaStar Insurance Group, formerly Stirling Cooke Brown Holdings, have lost a UK High Court judgment that has implications for many related reinsurance lawsuits and arbitrations around the world.AlphaStar's share price fell from 13 cents to seven cents per share after the judgment was released today and many in the industry expect the decision to render the long-troubled firm insolvent.

Liechtenstein police investigate alleged extortion attempt

June 30, 2003

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged threats to kill - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance by Liechtenstein - that was granted by federal court in the USA on May 28, 2003. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include James Vincent Sullivan, Dr. Andreas Schurti, Thomas McGovern, and Sullivan Import-Export Holding Ltd.

MRM subsidiaries to go into liquidation, judge criticizes Pennsylvania regulator

June 30, 2003

A Pennsylvania judge has criticized state insurance regulators in the United States and reinsurers for failing to save two property and casualty subsidiaries of Bermuda-based Mutual Risk Management. On June 26, Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt granted petitions from Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken to liquidate Legion Insurance Co. and Villanova Insurance Co.

Handcuffed US national commits suicide in Costa Rica

June 30, 2003

The on-going investigations into widespread investment fraud in Costa Rica took a turn for the bizarre on June 24 when U. S. national Roy Taylor managed to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head while he was handcuffed following a police raid on his business, which was known as 'The Vault'.

ESG Re attempts to block arbitration by Reinsurance Services of Princeton

June 30, 2003

An underwriting subsidiary of Bermuda-based ESG Re has taken legal action in the United States in an attempt to prevent Reinsurance Services of Princeton from initiating arbitration proceedings against it. ESG Reinsurance Ireland Ltd., formerly known as European Specialty Reinsurance (Ireland) Ltd., filed a motion to enjoin arbitration against RSP at the U. S. District Court in New Jersey on April 11, 2003.

Marc Harris in custody, so far refusing to co-operate with U. S. authorities

June 30, 2003

Offshore businessman Marc M. Harris was tipped off that U. S. criminal investigators were in Nicaragua looking for him the night before his arrest after being indicted in Florida for money laundering, OffshoreAlert has been told. Despite the tip-off, Harris spent the night in Managua and was arrested the next morning — on June 10 — as he traveled to the country's immigration department with his attorney.

Bermuda captive is defendant in four class action lawsuits in US

June 30, 2003

Bermuda-based captive First Virginia Reinsurance Ltd. has been named as a defendant in four class action lawsuits filed in the United States on behalf of thousands of physicians, hospitals, clinics and attorneys. The lawsuits are on behalf of all parties in the U. S. who bought malpractice liability insurance coverage through Reciprocal of America, now in receivership, and/or affiliated parties from January 1, 1991 to January 31, 2003.

AXA is latest creditor to file suit against Lancer Offshore group

June 30, 2003

Yet another lawsuit has been filed against the Lancer Offshore Group, which has collapsed with estimated liabilities of approximately $350 million and assets largely comprising shares in dubious, thinly-traded firms that appear to be vehicles for securities fraud.

Switzerland investigates convicted fraudster Jean-Claude Lacote for new suspected fraud

June 30, 2003

Article based on two applications to collect evidence - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Switzerland - that were granted at federal court in the USA on December 19, 2002 and March 10, 2003. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Jean-Claude Lacote, Robert Sullivan, Bo Krusell, Pierre Baudry, Roger Baudry, Aldus Finance Ltd., Kredietbank, Banque Bruxelles Lambert, Glen Tiney, Detroit International Investment Inc., Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank, and David Dubowski.

Swiss asset manager accused of fraud and money laundering

June 30, 2003

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Switzerland - that was filed at federal court in the USA on February 20, 2003. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance inlcude Claudio Boscaro, Santo Maesano, MTB Bank, HBO-Casa Cambiaria SA, OPM Trust and Consult, and Symphonia Suisse.

Insider Talking: June 30, 2003

June 30, 2003

The Bank of Bermuda sacked 14 staff in June after catching them distributing pornographic e-mails, reported The Royal Gazette newspaper; Imperial Consolidated co-founders Jared Brook and Lincoln Fraser are close to being arrested by the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom, according to the June 12, 2003 edition of 'Private Eye', a British satirical magazine; Meanwhile, UK-registered financial services firm Kingsbridge Holdings PLC has partly blamed its "very disappointing" loss of £1.397 million (US$2.3 million) for the six months ended February 28, 2003 on Imperial Consolidated; While owners of web-sites in the United States are legally protected against libel actions from people who believe they have been defamed on Internet message boards, that does not appear to be the case in the Cayman Islands; In the United States, where there is a tax protester, there is usually an illegal offshore investment scheme not far behind and Eddie Ray Kahn, who lives in Sorrento, Florida, is no exception; The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission issued a warning about Richmont Investments Inc. on April 10, 2003; Former Bank of Bermuda (Cayman) officer Marc Vanmarsenille, who lost his job in the aftermath of the Cash 4 Titles fiasco, is a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed at the Turks & Caicos Islands Supreme Court on November 7, 2002; At the same court, a lawsuit has been filed against TCI-registered Sealand Housing Corporation in an attempt to collect on a judgment awarded in the UK High Court; Two businessmen previously exposed in OffshoreAlert for their involvement in the sale and operation of sham offshore credit unions involving Nevis, Panama and the United States have each been sentenced to 25 years in prison, ten of which is suspended, for defrauding a 101-year-old woman out of her life savings; and If creditors of Bahamas-based Suisse Security Bank & Trust were wondering why the winding-up of the bank is taking so long, they should read the prelude to the recently-released written judgment by Bahamas Supreme Court Justice Austin Davis in which he turned down the bank's attempt to regain its banking license, which was suspended on March 5, 2001 and revoked on April 2, 2001.

Affiliate of former BSX-listed firm accused of securities fraud

June 30, 2003

The Hartcourt Companies has become the latest affiliate of Bermuda-registered Mezzanine Capital, whose shareholders have included subsidiaries of Lines Overseas Management and the Bank of Bermuda, to be accused of securities fraud in the United States. A civil lawsuit was filed by the SEC at the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California on May 27, 2003 against The Hartcourt Companies Inc., which is registered in Utah and based in California; Alan V. Phan, 57, of Long Beach, California; and Yongzhi Yang, 45, of Los Angeles, California.

Principals of Bahamas bank accused of hiding assets

June 30, 2003

The principals of Bahamas-based Suisse Security Bank & Trust have allegedly put more than $31 million of client funds in jeopardy due to their "interference and obstruction" with its provisional liquidation.This includes $5.5 million in cash that was transferred out of an account at Barclays Bank in Nassau in April, 2001 after the bank was closed down by regulators, according to investigators.

Arrest warrants issued for directors of UK/offshore-based investment group

June 30, 2003

Two businessmen whose investment group includes an offshore IBC that was held out to the public as an investment fund have had arrest warrants issued against them in the United States. British national Sendjer Shefket, 43, and U. S. citizen Yen Lung Chen, 51, have been accused of operating a high yield investment scam.

Alleged cocaine trafficker laundered funds through Swiss and US banks, say investigators

June 30, 2003

Article based on an application to collect evidence into suspected narcotics trafficking and money laundering - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Switzerland - that was granted at federal court in the USA on November 14, 2002. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Tullio Pezzana, Vincenza Pezzana Siracusa, William Pezzana, Nicola Di Stefano, Blackstone Universal Corp., Banca Del Gottardo, Anker Bank, and Amtrade International Bank.

Bank Crozier boss arrested and released without charge in Spain

June 30, 2003

Peter Johansson, head of the Bank Crozier group, which has offshore bank licenses in Grenada and St. Lucia, was arrested and released in Spain in June after a complaint was made to local police by clients unable to redeem their funds.Johansson told OffshoreAlert he was arrested at Barcelona airport on Friday, June 20 and released on Sunday, June 22 after two nights in custody. His passport was initially confiscated but soon returned, said Johansson.

Cayman resident arrested in New York for alleged securities fraud

June 30, 2003

Cayman Islands resident Myron Gushlak has been arrested in the United States after a criminal complaint was filed against him alleging securities fraud. Gushlak was arrested on April 25, 2003 - the same day that an arrest warrant was issued at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is currently in custody.

Hunt for Villalobos assets turns to Miami

June 30, 2003

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into money laundering, narcotics trafficking and investment fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Costa Rica - that was granted at federal court in the USA on May 27, 2003. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Osvaldo Villalobos Camacho, Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho, Freddy Villalobos Camacho, Victor Sandino Soto, Kenneth Alvarado Thomas, Bertrand Henri St-Onge, Sandra Kerwin St-Onge, Luc St-Onge, Richard Rivers, Norman Denault, Alejandro Alvarado Miranda, Javier Calderon Granados, Hermanos Villalobos Exchange House (OFINTER SA), Servicios de Soporte al Turismo SA, Casa de Libertad SA, Favillale, Carlos Badilla, Fonseca Vargas Omar, Mario Borges Soubirus, Michael Sterling, David Brown, Forbes & Stobart SA, Framagra SA, Palma de Mayorca SA, Inversiones Haas SA, Danir SA, Compania Mercantil El Desierto SA, Casa de Cambio Ofinter SA, Immobiliaria Internacional Platino SA, Barclays Bank, Whitney Bank, Amtrade International Bank, The International Bank of Miami, and LGT Bank.

Leadenhall Bank credit card-holders targeted by Manhattan District Attorney

June 30, 2003

Credit cards issued by Bahamas-based Leadenhall Bank & Trust and other offshore banks were used to access over $100 million in 2001 alone by residents of New York's tri-state area, according to Manhattan's District Attorney. Robert M. Morgenthau made the claim in a press release issued on June 26, 2003 when he disclosed that one Leadenhall client had pleaded guilty to tax evasion and another was under investigation.

Switzerland seeks evidence in Washington for investigation into advance-fee fraud

June 30, 2003

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud - pursuant to a request for assistance from Switzerland - that was filed at federal court in the USA on December 19, 2002. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Lothar Helmar Wilfried Trinks, Christina Kaiser, Detlef Spiess, a.k.a. Detlef Brettschneider; Rudolf Steiger, Menno Fischell, a.k.a. Wolfgang Fluck, Wolfgang Schlesinger, Wolfgang Burg, Wolfgang Fischell, Hans-Jurgen Nero, Wolfgang Zuburg, Rudi Dillmann, Sabine Doerre, Peter Bucher, Raoul Rossbach, a.k.a. Mike Foster, Louis Mayer, Dr. E. Mankwald, Philippe Le Boustier, Marco Barbieri, Iva Kampke, Jan Zwarts, Rudolf Steiger, Enrico Raimundi, Marina Zivkovic, a.k.a. "Maja"; Thierry Hurthin, Renate Josephs, Nezir Lekaj, a.k.a. Alberto; Jesenko Kresic, Joseph Reis, Corner Bank, Western Sierra National Bank, ABN AMRO, LZB Munchen, Liechtensteinische Landesbank, Migros Bank, US Overseas Bank & Trust Alliance Inc., US Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Bank of America, Banque IPPA & Associates, Hanover Investment and Management Corporation, Hanover Trust International Inc., Hanover Manufactures, Vermogensverwaltung Lothar Trinks, New York Investment Banking Corp., Hamilton International Capital Management Inc., MAAF Assurances France SA, AXA Assurances Luxembourg, MAAF Assurances France SA, and Internet Conten Service AG.

Bank Crozier boss arrested and released in Spain

June 26, 2003

Peter Johansson, head of the Bank Crozier group, which has offshore bank licenses in Grenada and St. Lucia, has been arrested and released in Spain after a complaint was made to local police by clients unable to redeem their funds.

Cayman Islands resident Myron Gushlak arrested in New York

June 22, 2003

Cayman Islands resident Myron Gushlak has been arrested in the United States after a criminal complaint was filed against him alleging securities fraud.

Pavlo Lazarenko released from prison pending trial

June 22, 2003

Former Ukraine Prime Minister Pavlo Ivanovich Lazarenko, who allegedly secretly controlled an offshore bank called Eurofed, has been released from prison in California. After more than two years in custody pending trial on 53 counts of money laundering, fraud and transportation of stolen property, Lazarenko was allowed out on "conditional release" in an order dated June 11, 2003 at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. 

$130 million judgment against securities fraudster

June 22, 2003

A federal court in the United States has entered a $130 million judgment against a businessman who perpetrated an investment fraud using several offshore structures. The judgment, entered on June 6, 2003 at the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, requires Terry Dowdell to pay disgorgement of $121.2 million, $8.6 million in prejudgment interest and a fine of $1 million.

Lancer Offshore hearing adjourned again in the BVI

June 14, 2003

A hearing to force an offshore hedge fund group into administration has been further adjourned until September 8, 2003 at the British Virgin Islands High Court. The hearing into the affairs of Lancer Offshore Inc. and The Omnifund Ltd. began over one day on May 30, 2003, reconvened over one day on June 11 and will not now continue for another three months.

David Tedder convicted of four felony counts

June 14, 2003

U.S.-based asset protection attorney David Hampton Tedder, who has been implicated in many investment scams over the years, was convicted of four felony counts in Wisconsin on June 10, 2003 after a week-long trial.Tedder, 56, of Winter Park, Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to violate the wire wagering act, and conspiracy to launder over $10,000,000 in gambling profits.

Marc Harris denied bail, pleads not guilty

June 13, 2003

Offshore businessman Marc M. Harris, watched by his mother and represented by a public defender, was denied bail today in Miami, where he pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of money laundering."It's clear to me that the government has established by a preponderance of the evidence that he is a risk of flight," said Magistrate Judge William Turnoff.

Offshore provider Marc Harris describes himself as software developer during court hearing

June 11, 2003

The prospect of offshore financial services provider Marc Harris being charged with perjury to go along with 13 counts of money laundering was raised during his first court appearance in Miami today after being arrested and deported from Nicaragua yesterday. The clerk at Miami Magistrates Court reminded the prosecution of this option after drastically different accounts of Harris' occupation and finances were given during a hearing which lasted less than five minutes.

Lancer Offshore court hearing adjourned in British Virgin Islands

June 3, 2003

An application by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission to force an offshore hedge fund group into administration has been adjourned to June 11. A hearing on the application against Lancer Offshore Inc. and The Omnifund Ltd. took place on Friday, May 30, 2003 but was not concluded. It was adjourned for 12 days because the judge is traveling this week.

Grenada ignores recommendation to close down ‘unlicensed’ bank

May 24, 2003

A local bank in Grenada whose core business is providing services to the island's offshore sector does not even have a valid license, according to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. But Capital Bank International is still operational because an ECCB recommendation to close it down has been ignored by Grenada's Minister of Finance, Anthony Boatswain.

Sterling International Bank sued in Canada

May 23, 2003

A 'paper' company registered on the Caribbean island of Nevis has filed a lawsuit in Canada against an insolvent offshore 'shell' bank in an effort to recover $1.08 million that it claims to have deposited. Nevis-domiciled Kachina Inc., formerly Praxis Inc., is seeking a judgment for $1,088,588 against Sterling International Bank Inc., which, according to the complaint, was licensed in Nauru on November 28, 1994 and went into provisional liquidation on September 27, 2000.

Former Government scam buster sentenced to six months in prison

May 15, 2003

A United States Treasury officer whose job involved warning the public about investment fraud has been sentenced to six months in prison after he admitted receiving $15,000 in return for providing information to someone who turned out to be a fraudster. James Lynn Kramer-Wilt was sentenced on May 12 at the U. S. District Court for the District of Eastern Texas. He is due to begin his prison term on June 23, 2003. Kramer-Wilt had pleaded guilty to one count of "willful receipt of unlawful compensation from a source other than the executive branch of the United States Government".

Offshore fund head John Lipton arrested in Costa Rica

May 15, 2003

A man who headed an offshore fund that collapsed last year amid allegations of impropriety has been arrested in Costa Rica and criminally charged with fraud. United States national John Sherman Lipton, who has homes in Costa Rica and California, was taken into custody in early May, according to a report in A. M. Costa Rica on May 14, 2003.

Imperial Consolidated founders declared bankrupt

May 7, 2003

Lincoln Julian Fraser and Jared Bentley Brook, co-founders of the Imperial Consolidated Group, were both declared bankrupt at Grimsby County Court, England on May 2, 2003. It is the second bankruptcy in just over seven years for Fraser at the age of just 31-years-old.