Money Laundering

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Harris Organization appeals libel decision

August 31, 1999
The Harris Organization financial services group of Panama has served official notice that it will appeal its loss of a recent libel lawsuit against Offshore Business News & Research Inc., which publishes Offshore Alert. The grounds for the appeal were not known at press time.

‘Nothing unusual’ about turn-over of Cayman bank records to US Receiver, say Cayman attorneys

August 31, 1999
Although much has been made overseas of a decision by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands to approve a request to hand over the bank records of Euro Bank Corporation client Kenneth Taves to his US-based Receiver, there is nothing unusual about such a move. The foreign press has been lauding the deal as a break with tradition by Cayman after comments to that effect by Robb Evans, the Receiver for Kenneth Taves, his wife, Teresa; and their businesses J. K. Publications Inc., MJD Service Corp., TAL Services Inc. and their affiliates and subsidiaries.

Bermuda bows to foreign pressure, makes tax evasion an offence

August 31, 1999
Bermuda has led the way among offshore financial centres by making tax evasion an offence under its Proceeds of Crime Act. When the amendment comes into effect, which will not be before January, 2000, foreign investigating authorities such as the US government will be able to obtain bank records and other information about people charged with, or suspected of, tax evasion offences.

OBNR defeats Harris Organization in libel lawsuit

August 13, 1999
The Harris Organization financial services group of Panama has lost its libel lawsuit brought against Offshore Business News & Research, which publishes this newsletter, and OBNR's principal, David Marchant. Judge Michael Moore, sitting in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, issued a strong ruling in favour of OBNR and Marchant on August 10, 1999.

United Kingdom: Michael Joseph O’Brien

August 13, 1999
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in the United Kingdom into Michael Joseph O'Brien and others for narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

John Mathewson let off with probation after turning in his bank’s clients

August 4, 1999
Former Cayman banker John Mathewson has kept his freedom as a reward for turning in his clients to the US authorities. Mathewson, 71, was sentenced to five years of probation, 500 hours of community service and a $30,000 fine at the U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on August 2 after previously pleading guilty to money laundering, and tax evasion charges brought not only in New Jersey but also at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

US criminal defendants become latest victims of John Mathewson

July 31, 1999
Eight defendants in a criminal indictment filed in Nebraska recently appear to be the latest victims of former Cayman banker John Mathewson's decision to help US authorities investigate his ex-clients.David Abboud, his brother Gene, son Baron and nephew Joseph, Susan Germer, United Imports Corp. (d.b.a. M. D. Electronics), G&A Distributing Inc. (d.b.a. Broadway Enterprises) and Infinite Electronics were charged on April 26, 1999 with 15 counts of Mail Fraud, 11 counts of Wire Fraud, seven counts of Unauthorized Reception of Cable Television Service, one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and 13 counts of Domestic Money Laundering.

Libel trial judge asks: ‘Where is Marc Harris?’

July 31, 1999
The libel trial involving The Harris Organization financial services group of Panama and Offshore Business News & Research ended on July 30 with Judge Michael Moore asking: "Where is Marc Harris?" Harris was nowhere to be seen during six days of testimony even though he was the main subject matter of the March 31, 1998 Offshore Alert article that was being complained about.

Poland: Alexei Bragontchouk

July 1, 1999
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Poland into Alexei Bragontchouk and others for allegedly laundering millions of dollars that are believed to be the proceeds of illegal weapons trafficking.

Bahamas businessmen accused of money laundering

June 30, 1999
Bahamian businessman George J. Wilson, who is accused of money laundering and other serious offences in the US, was released from prison on March 11 and is not allowed to leave the US pending the outcome of his trial in Texas. His co-defendant in the criminal action, Bahamas attorney Norwood Rolle, is in the Bahamas and is considered to be a fugitive by the US authorities.

Euro Bank goes into voluntary liquidation

June 30, 1999
Cayman Islands-based Euro Bank Corporation this month officially went into voluntary liquidation, as we revealed it would in the May edition of Offshore Alert. Additionally, two members of its management, Ivan Burges and Judi Donegan, were arrested by Cayman police but released without charge, according to sources.  

Harris Organization/OffshoreAlert trial set to start on July 6, 1999

June 30, 1999
The civil libel trial between Offshore Business News & Research, Inc., which publishes this newsletter, and The Harris Organization financial services group of Panama will start at the United States District Court for the District of Southern Florida (in Miami) on July 6. After two postponements by the court because of scheduling problems, a definite date has now been set for the trial, which is scheduled to last for about one week.

Switzerland: Maria Fernanda Espinel

June 21, 1999
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Switzerland into Maria Fernanda Espinel for alleged money laundering.

USA v. Philip Abramo, et al: Criminal Indictment

June 15, 1999
Criminal Indictment in USA v. Philip Abramo, a.k.a. Lou Metzer; Philip Gurian, a.k.a. Martin Clainey; Glen Vittor, Barry Glesser, and Louis Consalvo at the U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Harris Organization-OBNR trial put back by court

May 31, 1999
The libel trial involving The Harris Organization financial services group of Panama and Offshore Business News & Research, Inc., which publishes this newsletter, has been put back to an unnamed date by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

First International Bank of Grenada launches Pyramid scheme

May 31, 1999
The First International Bank of Grenada and the sham insurer known as IDIC have launched an international pyramid scheme as the latest phase of their plan to part investors from their money. There is also concern that FIBG may have become involved in stock manipulation involving a Florida-registered penny stock firm that trades on the NASDAQ over-the-counter market.

Euro Bank to go into voluntary liquidation

May 31, 1999
Cayman-registered Euro Bank Corporation is to go into voluntary liquidation following a report into its affairs by Ian Wight and Michael Pilling, of Deloitte & Touche, OffshoreAlert can reveal. The accountants were appointed as controllers of the bank by the Cayman government on May 11 following concerns that it may be involved in illegal activities.

Offshore banker William Cooper arrested in Antigua

May 31, 1999
Antigua continued its battle to clean up the image of its offshore financial services sector this month with the arrest of a notorious banker and an attempt to force another suspect bank into receivership. American-born William W. Cooper, aged 59, was arrested in Antigua on May 18 after a warrant was issued against him in the United States, where he has been criminally indicted for alleged money laundering and fraud.

Antigua advisor attacks US Advisory against island’s offshore industry

May 31, 1999
One of the architects of Antigua's new anti-money laundering laws has written to the US Treasury protesting its recent issuance of an Advisory warning that all transactions with Antiguan financial institutions should be treated as suspicious. US-based attorney Carlos E. Loumiet conceded that there were "a few shortcomings" in Antigua's new legislation but he claimed the US had ignored the "numerous positive changes in bank supervision in Antigua and Barbuda over the past two years designed to clean up the offshore banking sector in that country".

Marc Harris withdrawn as witness as libel trial draws near

April 30, 1999
The Harris Organization's libel complaint against Offshore Business News & Research, Inc, which publishes this newsletter, and the company's principal, David Marchant, is due to start on May 24 at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (in Miami). We were also notified this month that the group's founder, chairman and sole owner of its common stock, Marc Harris, has been withdrawn from The Harris Organization's witness list.

Rudolph Linschoten arrested in Florida

April 30, 1999
A businessman who is alleged to have defrauded about 170 investors out of more than $6 million through a high-yield investment scheme is in custody after being arrested this month in Florida. The FBI picked up Rudolph Linschoten, who also goes by the name Rudolph Van Lin, in Fort Lauderdale on April 18.

Richard Hape arrested on suspicion of money laundering

March 31, 1999
Canadian businessman Richard Hape, 51, who is a Senior Executive of Turks & Caicos Islands-based British West Indies Trust Limited, was arrested in Canada on February 16 and charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.Simultaneous with Hape's arrest in Ontario, the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police executed a search warrant at the offices of British West Indies Trust Limited and a restraining order was served on the Trust's employees and banks.

Grenada bank scam: Injunction bid against Offshore Alert fails

March 31, 1999
The First International Bank of Grenada, the International Deposit Insurance Corporation and the World Investors Stock Exchange this month failed in their bid to obtain a court injunction preventing Offshore Alert from continuing to report on their fraudulent activities.Attorneys representing these entities filed hundreds of pages of documents at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in an effort to obtain an emergency injunction preventing Offshore Alert from continuing to report on their dubious activities.

Poland: Alexei Bragontchuk

February 24, 1999
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Poland into Alexei Bragontchuk and for alleged fraud and money laundering regarding the proceeds of weapons trafficking.

Two more Harris Organization clients indicted in the US

January 29, 1999
Less than a year after two clients pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking charges in California, a criminal indictment has been brought in Florida against two more clients of The Harris Organization of Panama. The indictment was filed against Aurelio Anthony Vigna and his son, Joseph R. Vigna, on December 17, 1998 at the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Details of alleged fraud against Bahamas attorney Leslie Vernon Rolle

January 29, 1999
Bahamas attorney Leslie Vernon Rolle is facing a criminal investigation into an alleged attempt to swindle clients of UBS (Bahamas) Limited out of $2.2 million. Police have been asked to look into the matter following incriminating evidence that was unearthed during the execution of an Anton Piller order issued by the Bahamas Supreme Court last month as part of a civil action brought by UBS.

Attorneys threaten OffshoreAlert with lawsuit over exposé of insurance-banking fraud

January 29, 1999
Offshore Alert has received two letters from attorneys threatening to sue us over the banking/insurance scandal involving World Investors Stock Exchange, International Deposit Insurance Corporation, First International Bank of Grenada, International Exchange Bank and Fidelity International Bank, that is exposed in the January 29, 1999 edition of Offshore Alert.

Banking-insurance scam advertisements ask investors to sign away their assets

January 29, 1999
Avertisement from 'Vincent Lachmi' and 'Dr. Vincent Kumar' starts appearing on the Internet in connection with fraud perpetrated in the names of the International Deposit Insurance Corporation, the World Investors Stock Exchange, Fidelity International Bank, International Exchange Bank and the First International Bank of Grenada.

Marc Harris-OBNR lawsuit due to be tried in May

January 29, 1999
The Harris Organization's $30 million libel action against Offshore Business News & Research, Inc. and its principal, David Marchant, is scheduled to go to trial in May of this year at the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Miami).
Van Brink (l) & Robert Skirving (r)

OffshoreAlert exposes massive offshore banking and insurance fraud

January 29, 1999
Offshore Alert can today expose a massive fraud involving at least three banks, an insurance company and a stock exchange into which investors are believed to have invested tens of millions of dollars. Participants in the scam include the World Investors Stock Exchange in Grenada, the International Deposit Insurance Corporation in Nevis, the First International Bank of Grenada, the International Exchange Bank, which is registered in either Nauru or Grenada but operated out of Bermuda and Texas; and Fidelity International Bank, which is registered in Nauru but operated from St. Vincent.

Cayman Parliament officially removes fiscal exemption clause in PCCL

November 30, 1998
The Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly passed an amendment on November 18, 1998 to remove the fiscal exemption clause from its Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Act, as we told readers would happen in the September edition of Offshore Alert. The amendment

Marc Harris latest: Senior officers undergo lie detector tests

November 30, 1998
Information coming from Panama indicates that November has been yet another bad month for The Harris Organization. All the signs are that the offshore financial services group, which has been accused in this newsletter of running a Ponzi scheme and of massive insolvency, is about to go bust.

USA v. Kenneth Thenen et al: Thenen’s Witness List

November 4, 1998
Kenneth Thenen's Witness List in USA v. Kenneth Thenen, Daniel Morris, Scott Thenen, Philip Carallo, Paul Braid, Dennis Farber, Richard Schuman, Melvin Brink, Charles Valvo, John Michael Flynn, Alexander McKenzie-Ross, Fernando Colon, Daniel Post, Stacey Thenen Demet, F. Larry Robinette, Dean Henrichs, Eugene Shirley, Kelly Thomas, Marcelli Martinez, Michael Philipson, Gabriel Aboy, Gilbert Harding, Lang Lewis, Peter Tobeck, Jeffrey Berman, Maurice Durbin, John Grifo, Rolando Viadero, Kurbanali Ramzanali, Patricia Dennis, Henry Geringer, Guy Benamati, Nicholas Paun, Harold Schumacher, Michael McClendon, and Dana Schuman at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Antigua amends offshore laws in bid to curb white-collar crime

October 31, 1998
Following a 17-month review, the government of Antigua and Barbuda this month announced a series of legislative initiatives aimed at cleaning up the jurisdiction's reputation for being one of the most poorly regulated offshore financial centres. Proposed amendments to the International Business Corporation Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act will create the Offshore Financial Sector Authority, which will have broad oversight and enforcement powers over offshore financial institutions.

Former US regulators lend support to white-collar criminals in Antigua

October 31, 1998
A report that we have been told was paid for by powerful banker Allen Stanford and presented to the Antiguan government in January of this year as part of the review of Antigua's offshore financial services sector contained a recommendation that would have severely hindered efforts to combat rampant white-collar crime.

Cayman amendment to PCCL drops fiscal exemption clause

September 30, 1998
The Cayman Islands government has drawn up an amendment to its Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Law that removes the fiscal exemption clause that so irritated the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. However, the proposed amended legislation would still appear to offer little in the way of comfort to foreign governments seeking information about, and the seizure of, assets held by suspected tax evaders.

Cops 0, Robbers (Alleged) 1

August 31, 1998
The first real test of Cayman's anti-money laundering Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Law 1996 has ended in victory for the alleged money launderers and defeat for the US government - all because the US authorities were a day late in meeting a key filing deadline. Although not agreeing with his interpretation of at least two key points of the PCCL, Cayman's Court of Appeal nevertheless upheld a decision by former Chief Justice George Harre to discharge a restraint order freezing $7 million in three accounts at the Royal Bank of Canada that were controlled by Americans William J. McCorkle and his wife, Chantal.

BVI government discusses its all-crimes legislation

August 31, 1998
The British Virgin Islands government has denied that its Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Law is 'defective' by UK standards, even though it agrees that its legislation provides no assistance for foreign investigations into tax offences. Since the UK has already described the all-crimes laws of Bermuda and Cayman as defective for similar reasons, there would seem to be little doubt that the BVI's law is considered in a similar light by the UK, which has also been confirmed to us by an independent source.

Marc Harris latest: Liquidity crisis deepens, another client goes to prison

August 31, 1998
More information has come our way this month that sheds further light on the current and past turmoil of The Harris Organization of Panama, including details of liquidity problems, the conviction of another one of its clients on a drug trafficking charge and allegations of 'bounty hunting' against two of the group's officers. The financial services group, which we have previously reported as being insolvent, running a Ponzi scheme, ripping off clients and laundering the proceeds of crime, seems to be in financial trouble.

Bermuda should not become haven for tax crimes, says Financial Secretary

July 31, 1998
Bermuda should not develop the reputation of a haven for those wishing to "hide the proceeds of tax crimes", the Ministry of Finance's Financial Secretary told the Money Laundering and Cybercrime Control conference that was held on the island this month. Addressing a proposed amendment to Bermuda's Proceeds of Crime Law to incorporate tax offences committed in foreign countries, Peter Hardy said Bermuda faced a "dilemma".

Cayman’s fiscal exemption clause in PCCL may be legally invalid

July 31, 1998
The fiscal exemption clause in the Cayman Island's Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Law may be legally invalid, according to a leading local lawyer and trust services provider. Attorney WS Walker said that legal advice obtained by his firm in London was that the exemption would not stand up if legally tested.

US freezes $3.2 m at Stanford International Bank

July 31, 1998
U. S. authorities have frozen nearly $3.2 million in accounts at Antigua-based Stanford International Bank, as part of an investigation into the illicit fortune of the late Mexican drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes, reported The Wall Street Journal.

US government battles for jurisdiction over Swiss American Bank

June 30, 1998
A battle for legal jurisdiction between the US government and four offshore financial institutions in a $7 million forfeiture case contains a number of important issues that will affect all companies and individuals who operate offshore but have US clients.Among arguments being put forward by the US government for jurisdiction over banking entities located in Antigua, Switzerland and Panama is the fact that the offshore companies sell their services over the Internet, which can be accessed in the US; that Swiss American Bank has advertised in the in-flight magazine of American Airlines; and that SAB has correspondent banking relationships with banks in the States.

US seeks to extend legal powers over foreign countries

June 30, 1998
Major legislation has been introduced to US Congress that would extend the power of the US authorities to apply its money laundering laws and penalties in other countries.The proposed laws, which were tabled in April, has the support of both Democrats and Republicans, according to a report in Miami-based newsletter Money Laundering Alert.