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Canadian Venture Exchange blocks offshore firm’s reverse merger attempt

November 30, 2001
The Canadian Venture Exchange has blocked a reverse merger attempt by a firm offering online stockbroking products to offshore investment firms.British Virgin Islands domiciled Blue Chip Online Ltd., whose President is Canadian businessman Richard Czerlau, had been trying to reverse

Americas International Bank is insolvent, used to launder fraud proceeds, says liquidator

November 30, 2001
Bahamas-based Americas International Bank Corporation Ltd. is insolvent and was used primarily as "a vehicle to launder funds" received from investment fraud, according to its liquidator.Accountant Clifford Culmer painted a bleak picture of the bank's activities in an affidavit filed with the Bahamas Supreme Court on November 19, 2001.

Offshore fund manager Geoffrey Warne commits suicide

November 8, 2001
A man who was kidnapped earlier this year in a dispute over a fraudulently-operated offshore mutual fund has committed suicide.Geoffrey Hamilton Warne, 41, died at his home near Kingston, Ontario on October 4.

Insider Talking: October 31, 2001

October 31, 2001
More has become known about the re branding of the First Nevisian Group, which is now known as The FN Group, and the partial move from Nevis to the Dominican Republic, where its "strategic partner" is H. E. Partners, which

SEC lawsuit against Crescent Capital Offshore Fund

October 31, 2001
A Bahamas-domiciled firm that purported to be an "offshore hedge fund" has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by the SEC in the United States.Crescent Capital Offshore Fund participated in a fraudulent investment scheme that raised more than $11.6 million from approximately 350 investors, it has been alleged.

Bahamas firm has assets frozen in Florida

October 31, 2001
Bahamas-domiciled Global Asset Partners Ltd., which described itself as "a private asset management company located in The Bahamas", has had its assets frozen in the United States.The freeze order was issued after a lawsuit was filed against the firm by the SEC at the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on September 28, 2001.

Ernst & Young (Bahamas) fails to have action dismissed

October 31, 2001
Ernst & Young (Bahamas), partner Paul Clarke and former partner Philip Galanis have failed to obtain the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed against them in the United States.They now face a trial on allegations of investment fraud that were brought under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Investors in alleged stock scam asked to fund ‘asset recovery’ effort

October 31, 2001
Investors who bought shares in a Bahamas-based firm whose principals promptly closed shop and disappeared are being asked for $100,000 to finance what is being described as an 'asset recovery' effort.It might be a case of throwing good money after bad, however, given the track record of the people spearheading the venture.

Americas International Bank goes into liquidation

October 31, 2001
Americas International Bank Corporation Ltd. has become the latest Bahamas-based private bank to stop operating.AIBC's shareholders passed a special resolution on October 11, 2001 that the bank, which was licensed on September 23, 1994, should go into voluntary liquidation.

Americas International Bank closes for business

October 15, 2001
Americas International Bank Corporation Ltd. has become the latest Bahamas-based private bank to stop operating.AIBC passed a special resolution on October 13, 2001 that the bank should go into voluntary liquidation.

Insider Talking: September 30, 2001

September 30, 2001
How concerned is the Financial Times newspaper about being used to facilitate fraud? Not enough to stop publishing bogus valuations for the Cayman Islands domiciled Aristocrat Endeavor Fund. The FT is continuing to accept and publish sham Net Asset Values

Criminal complaints filed against former Bahamas-based stockbrokers

September 30, 2001
Criminal complaints for alleged securities offenses have been filed against nine people in Thailand, including two who were once involved with a fraudulent Bahamas based stockbroker.Pierre Gonyou and Kimberly Gonyou, formerly of Equity Management Group, of the Bahamas, are among

Bahamas mail-drop firm raises capital in illegal offering, then folds

September 30, 2001
Bahamas-based mail-drop firm ASAP Services Ltd., which only 10 months ago was selling unregistered shares that valued the tiny firm at $135 million, has collapsed after four years in business. Visitors to the firm's web-site at www.asapbahamas.com are greeted with an announcement stating that "as of August 31, 2001, A.S.A.P. Services, Ltd. is officially closed for business".

Securities fraud lawsuit filed against Tri-West Investment Club

September 30, 2001
A securities fraud civil lawsuit has been filed in the United States against an investment firm that used addresses in the Bahamas and Belize while raising money in an alleged high yield investment scam. The action was filed by the SEC against Tri-West Investment Club, Alyn Richard Waage and Haarlem Universal Corp. at the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California on September 6, 2001.

Aruba: Pursi Tjew San Jie-A-Swie et al

September 12, 2001
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Aruba - for a criminal investigation into Pursi Tjew San Jie-A-Swie, Farley Hon Ping Jie-A-Swie, Gerrit de Rouw, Hon Wo Choy, Kong Hing Supermarket NV, Kong Hing Supercenter NV and Kong Hing Freezone NV for suspected money laundering.

Insider Talking: August 31, 2001

August 31, 2001
Rampart Securities, a Canadian stock brokerage which is said to be owed at least US$2 million by Atlas Securities of the Turks & Caicos Islands, has had its "membership rights and privileges" suspended by the Investment Dealers Association of Canada; Regulators in St. Vincent have revoked the Class I international banking license of Maxi Bank Inc.; A Canadian crook who goes by the name of 'Sir Daniel Kingsley Lear' has been involved in a bizarre tax fraud trial in Manitoba, Canada; Four more people have been sentenced for their involvement in a $64 million fraud carried out in the names of Hammersmith Trust, Microfund and Luxor Capital Markets; Bahamas-based Oceanic Bank and Trust Limited has opened a marketing office in London, England; and La Comisión Nacional de Valores in Panama has launched investigations into the activities of Morrison Cross Financial Investment Ltd. and Britex International Ltd.

Former owner of AFC Re caught up in fraud investigation

August 31, 2001
The former owner of Bermuda-registered AFC Re has been caught up in an investigation into an alleged $200 million fraud involving an unlicensed offshore mutual fund.Atlantic Portfolio Analytics and Management, of Orlando, was an investment adviser to Evergreen Security Ltd., which filed for bankruptcy in Florida on January 23, 2001.

Asset freeze order against Surety Bank and Trust over failed mutual fund

August 31, 2001
A Florida court has issued an injunction forbidding the liquidator of Bahamas-based Surety Bank and Trust from distributing assets to seven people, including six of the bank's shareholders.The injunction is part of an investigation into an alleged $200 million fraud committed in the name of Evergreen Security Ltd., which effectively operated as an unlicensed offshore mutual fund.

Offshore promoter Yank Barry convicted of bribery and money laundering

August 31, 2001
Not even the courtroom presence of boxing legend Muhammad Ali could save offshore investment promoter Yank Barry from being convicted of bribery, conspiracy and money laundering in Texas. Barry, 53, who resides in the Bahamas and also spends time in Grenada, faces up to 70 years in prison and a fine of $2 million when he is sentenced, which is scheduled for November 19, 2001.

Brazil: Cayman Dossier

August 8, 2001
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Brazil into Paulo Salim Maluf (former Mayor of Sao Paulo), Caio Fabio D'Araujo Filho and Lafaiete Coutinho regarding the alleged sale of a counterfeit document known as the 'Cayman Dossier' in an attempt to discredit the President of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and other politicians.  

Insider Talking: July 31, 2001

July 31, 2001
The long-awaited criminal trial of Bahamas resident Yank Barry in Texas on charges that he bribed a prison governor to secure a lucrative contract for his soy-based food firm called VitaPro is due to start on August 7, 2001 following previous delays; A look at OffshoreBanc.com; Kevin Mann, Registrar of Mutual Funds in the British Virgin Islands, has issued a Cease and Desist Order against Ian Renert's so-called Equivest Premier Holdings (BVI) Inc., which has been holding itself out to be an offshore mutual fund manager; Evergreen Security - details about creditors and how much they are owed; The 'New Utopia' farce continues; Bahamian Hubert Bowe is still trotting out press releases at www.alexandersworld.net claiming that he is about to "break ground" on a major development called Alexander's World; The last remains of FIBG's sham insurer, IDIC, disappeared recently when its web-site at www.idic-ec.org went off-line; The purchase of about 10 million shares in Manchester United PLC for some GBP28 million (US$40 million) by BVI-registered The Cuban Expression Company Ltd. - pushing its overall stake up to 6.77 per cent - caused quite a stir among business and soccer reporters in England; Further misrepresentation by The Harris Organization of Panama; and Paul de Weerd leaves his position as Superintendent of the Turks & Caicos Financial Services Commission.

Lines Overseas Management lists on Bermuda Stock Exchange

July 31, 2001
Shares of the parent company of Bermuda-based stockbroker Lines Overseas Management were listed for the first time on the Bermuda Stock Exchange on July 24.A statement that the shares had been approved for listing was made on July 20 without any prior public announcement that an application had been submitted.

Suisse Security Bank & Trust loses court decision over license

July 31, 2001
Suisse Security Bank and Trust has failed to have the suspension and revocation of its license overturned on the grounds that the Central Bank of the Bahamas acted unconstitutionally.At issue was whether Section 14 (1)(f) of the Bank and Trust Companies Regulations Act 2000 contravened Article 27 of the Bahamas Constitution.

Prison sentences for Hammersmith Trust pair

July 31, 2001
Lengthy prison terms have been handed down to the first two defendants to be sentenced in a $64 million fraud some funds were laundered through the Bank of Bermuda in the name of an Antiguan 'paper' bank.William H. West, of Niceville, Florida was the first to be sentenced, receiving 136 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $25 million at a hearing on July 19, 2001.

Antigua Gov’t tries to seize Eurofed Bank assets

July 31, 2001
In secret court hearings held in Antigua, the island's government has been trying to seize all or most of the $76 million of assets recovered so far in the liquidation of Eurofed Bank Ltd., we can reveal.The government is claiming the assets under its anti-money laundering laws on the grounds that they are the proceeds of criminal activity by former Ukraine Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, 48.

Imperial Consolidated firm fined for contempt of court

July 31, 2001
A subsidiary of Imperial Consolidated PLC has been fined GBP12,500 (US$17,845) after pleading guilty to contempt of court in England. The fine and costs of GBP8,516.88 (US$12,157) were handed down to Mirfield Financial at the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, Leeds District Registry, Mercantile Court, on July 18, 2001.

PILL offers clients ‘no ID credit cards’ – 100% approved!

July 31, 2001
The Bahamas-based multi-level marketing group Prosper International League Ltd., known as PILL, has promised to review the wording of a new marketing initiative after OffshoreAlert pointed out apparent inaccuracies and misrepresentations.

Switzerland: Vladimiro Montesinos

July 10, 2001
Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Switzerland into Vladimiro Montesinos Torres, James Stone, Ilan Weil Levy, Zwi Sudit, Yury Khozyainov, Fernando Carulla, Rony Lerner and Mordechai Mintzer for alleged money laundering, bribery and embezzlement.

John McGarrity given bail and an ankle bracelet

June 30, 2001
Former Bermuda and Bahamas insurance businessman John Keith McGarrity is currently out on bail and wearing an ankle bracelet around Tampa, Florida after being arrested in Texas on May 31.McGarrity was detained after entering the US on a fake passport in Houston, according to a regulatory source.

Elderly client claims Sabourin and Sun cleaned her out

June 30, 2001
A 61-year-old woman is suing Canada-based offshore provider Peter Sabourin to recover CDN$876,451 that was allegedly defrauded from her trading account, leaving her destitute.Judith Laiken claims that Sabourin, who is described in court filings as a former school janitor, wiped out her entire account within six months of it being opened in March, 1999.

Insider Talking: June 30, 2001

June 30, 2001
The First International Bank of Grenada loaned $30,000 to the wife of Grenada's then chief regulator, Michael Creft, so that she could buy a car and another $50,000 to the then President of the Grenada Bar Association, Reynold Benjamin, according to a document sent to OffshoreAlert; Dean Cantrell and Marcel Deinnet snap up domains in names of countries in the Bermuda-Caribbean region, fraud complaint filed against 'offshore banker' Douglas Castle, 72-year-old convicted fraudster is back in business, SEC continues trend of failing to menaingfully punish accused fraudsters, First Ecom.com Inc. acquires half of First Ecommerce Data Services Ltd. that it did not already own, Antigua gaming outfit World Sports Exchange Ltd. sues County Savings Association over three checks that allegedly bounced, First American International Bank becomes latest offshore bank to be operated in Nevis without a license by Global Dominion Financial Services, and Latvia-based Paritate Bank appears to be in financial trouble.

Fund manager Ian Renert signed documents in names of pet geese, claims SEC

June 30, 2001
Investment advisor Ian Renert has been portrayed in a lawsuit as a bungling fraudster who genuinely believes that bank debenture trading programs exist and who signed mutual fund documents in the names of his pet geese.Renert, who controlled 36 mutual fund firms that were mostly incorporated in the Bahamas, has been accused of defrauding at least 850 investors who invested $22 million from June, 1997 to April, 1999.

Businessmen indicted over Evergreen Security alleged fraud

June 30, 2001
Three businessmen have been criminally indicted in the United States for allegedly stealing $27.7 million from British Virgin Islands-registered  mutual fund Evergreen Security Ltd.William J. Zylka, James P. Conroy and Martin W. Boelens Jr. were each charged with two or more counts of Grand Larceny at the Supreme Court of the State of New York on June 7, 2001.

SEC sues Ian Renert and Hawthorne-Sterling

June 9, 2001
The Securities & Exchange Commission has filed a civil lawsuit against US-based Ian Laurence Renert and his unregistered, Bahamas-based mutual fund group Hawthorne-Sterling & Co., for an alleged $22 million fraud.   As part of the complaint, an emergency order freezing the assets of both parties was granted on June 7, 2001 by the US District Court in Connecticut.

John McGarrity arrested in Texas

June 4, 2001
John Keith McGarrity, who is a former insurance officer in both Bermuda and the Bahamas, was arrested on May 31 in Houston, Texas after entering the United States on a fake passport, according to a US regulatory source.   A bond hearing was held on Friday, June 1 and we do not yet know whether he was released or remanded in custody.

Insider Talking: May 31, 2001

May 31, 2001
Ned Richard Hart, who was criminally indicted on February 23, 2000 along with Nevis based offshore provider Raymond David Finzer and Christian G. Cooper, pleaded guilty to one count each of fraud and money laundering on May 21, 2001 at

Gulf Union Bank settles lawsuit brought against former US athlete

May 31, 2001
The liquidators of Gulf Union Bank (Bahamas) Ltd. have reached an out of court settlement with a former professional athlete in the United States who borrowed money from the bank. Fred D. Barnett Jr., who played in the National Football League between 1990 and 1997 for the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins, had received a loan of about $70,000 from the bank to buy a sports car, said a bank representative.

Suisse Security Bank & Trust hearings put on hold to mid-June, 2001

May 31, 2001
Suisse Security Bank & Trust's fight to get back its Bahamas banking license and have the Central Bank Governor held in contempt of court for suspending and then revoking it is on hold until the judge handling the case returns from vacation on June 10, OffshoreAlert has been told.

Insider Talking: April 30, 2001

April 30, 2001
Attorney David Hampton Tedder, 54, who has spent much of his career involved in offshore finance, including several dubious ventures, is no longer licensed to practice law in the United States. Records kept by the State Bar of California, where

Bahamas judge removes Receiver of Hawthorne-Sterling group

April 30, 2001
The Bahamas Supreme Court has ruled that the local Securities Commission does not have the legal authority to wind up a mutual fund if the fund is unlicensed and, therefore, operating illegally. Senior Justice Emmanuel E. Osadebay issued his ruling on April 11, 2001 in relation to a winding up application filed by the Securities Commission against firms known as the Hawthorne-Sterling group.

Lincoln Fraser and Jared Brook resign from Imperial Consolidated

April 30, 2001
Three weeks after OffshoreAlert exposed their role in a failed hotel in England, Lincoln Fraser and Jared Brook resigned their positions with the UK-based Imperial Consolidated Group. The resignations of Fraser and Brook as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, respectively, of Imperial Consolidated was announced in a press release dated April 23.

Eric Resteiner charged with defrauding Christian Scientists

April 30, 2001
Former Bahamas resident Eric Resteiner has been accused of defrauding at least 50 people of $22 million in a civil lawsuit filed at the United States by the Securities & Exchange Commission. Many of the alleged victims were members of the Christian Science Church, according to a lawsuit filed at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on April 16, 2001.