Marc Harris
May
2007
USA v. David Van Dyke: Criminal Information
Criminal Information in USA v. David Van Dyke at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
April
2007
USA v. Robert E. Payne: Criminal Indictment
Indictment in USA v. Robert E. Payne at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
June
2006
Insider Talking: June 7, 2006
A British company that is at the heart of a liquidation scam being perpetrated against creditors of failed litigation funding firm Invaro Ltd. has missed a statutory deadline for filing its first accounts and is now subject to penalty fees; Former Panama-based, offshore financial services provider Marc Harris, 41, has lost his appeal against his November 24, 2003 conviction in the United States on multiple tax fraud, tax evasion and money laundering charges and May 21, 2004 sentencing to 17 years in prison, a fine of $20.3 million, and restitution of $6.6 million; and An unlicensed Canada-based forex dealer with a checkered past appears to be behind a purported offshore investment provider that was the target of a warning by the Bermuda Monetary Authority earlier this year, OffshoreAlert can disclose.
March
2005
Insider Talking: March 31, 2005
Three former senior officers of The Harris Organization, which defrauded clients out of tens of millions of dollars before collapsing in 2002, are back in business in Panama. Lawrence George Gandolfi, 65, a.k.a. Larry Gandolfi Christopher Glover Davy, 60, and
February
2005
Latin America Round-Up: February 28, 2005
CHILE: Pinochet Says He Wants to Pay; COLOMBIA: Corruption Costs; INTERNATIONAL: An Evil Eye Opens Up Again; Banking Blues; and MEXICO: Salinas Again.
January
2005
Insider Talking: January 31, 2005
Search the Internet for ‘Caledonian Offshore Ltd.’ and you will receive a plethora of hits for web-sites containing allegations that the firm engages in wholesale illegal activity, specifically that it takes money from residents of third-world countries on the false promise that they will be offered jobs in the offshore oil industry; Tthere is still no sign of the US Postal Service taking any action against another up-front-cash-for-non-existent-jobs fraudster – Rommy Kriplani, a few years after OffshoreAlert handed them more than enough evidence to bring a prosecution for mail fraud; Ten months after the closure of Canada-based OFC Publications Inc., which published Offshore Finance Canada and Offshore Finance USA magazines, another publisher of news about offshore financial centers and issues that affect them has closed down; The Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom has refused an application for ‘permission to carry on regulated activities’ by Target Asset Management Limited, whose links with accused fraudster Sendjer Shefket were first revealed by OffshoreAlert on June 30, 2003; The Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Second Circuit in Panama has allowed a request from former employees of the now-defunct Harris Organization to freeze US$800,000 of its assets on the grounds that they were fired illegally, according to a report in El Panama America newspaper on December 27, 2004; Bermuda hotelier and former Minister of Tourism David Dodwell has settled litigation with a former business partner that lasted more than 12 years, spanned courts in three countries and was notable for its acrimony; British solicitor Mark Agombar, who was banned as a company director for six years in the United Kingdom last year for his part in a timeshare scam, was named as a defendant in a civil complaint filed by Johnston International Limited at the Turks & Caicos Islands Supreme Court on April 30, 2004; and The Securities Commission of the Bahamas announced on November 16, 2004 that it was “monitoring” a criminal investigation in Switzerland into suspected investment fraud and money laundering by Dieter Behring and “assessing any possible connections Mr. Behring may have with existing licensees or registrants of the Commission.
July
2004
Insider Talking: July 31, 2004
How absurd has the criminal case in Texas involving Bahamas resident Yank Barry become?; A recent land-mark opinion by the United States Supreme Court that effectively determined federal sentencing guidelines were unconstitutional has formed the basis of an appeal by jailed former offshore services provider Marc Harris against his sentence of 17 years in prison and a financial penalty of $26 million for fraud, money laundering and tax evasion; The Central Bank of Belize has warned that an entity calling itself ‘Development & Holding Bank of Belize’ is not licensed; In July, the Bermuda Monetary Authority also issued warnings about suspect or bogus companies claiming to have ties to the jurisdiction; The United States FBI is establishing an office in the Bahamas, reported the Nassau Guardian; On July 19, 2004, a United States podiatrist admitted to using an offshore bank and credit card account to launder money and evade New York City state and federal taxes on more than $300,000 in income, according to a press release from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, which prosecuted the case at the state Supreme Court; Germain Bourgeois, the former investment manager of the University of Montreal Pension Plan, is suspected of receiving payments in return for “convincing” three parties to invest “hundreds of millions of dollars” in the Lancer Offshore group of funds; and A civil lawsuit has been filed at the Turks & Caicos Islands Supreme Court against a solicitor who was recently disqualified from serving as a company director in the U. K. by the Department of Trade & Industry for his part in a timeshare scam.
May
2004
USA v. Marc M. Harris: Criminal Judgment
Judgment in a Criminal Case in USA v. Marc M. Harris at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
May
2004
Marc Harris sentenced to 17 years in prison
Former offshore financial services provider Marc Harris was sentenced today to 17 years in prison in the United States.Harris, 39, was also fined $20.32 million, and ordered to pay restitution of $6.58 million by Judge James Cohn, sitting at the
May
2004
Marc Harris facing up to 19.5 years in prison
The United States Probation Service has recommended that former offshore provider Marc Harris be sentenced to between 15.66 and 19.58 years in prison.The recommendation is contained in a Pre Sentence Investigation report that will be read by U. S. federal
February
2004
USA v. Moises Kriger: Criminal Judgment
Judgment in a Criminal Case in USA v. Moises Kriger at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
January
2004
Missed filing deadline costs Harris chance to challenge conviction
An attempt by offshore provider Marc Harris to overturn his conviction for money laundering and tax evasion has failed because of an apparent blunder by his attorneys.
On January 23, 2004, U. S. District Judge James Cohn threw out Harris’ motion for a Judgment of Acquittal because it was filed after the statutory deadline for post trial motions had expired.
January
2004
Marc Harris sentencing delayed
The sentencing date for convicted offshore financial services provider Marc Harris has been put back from February 6 to April 30, 2004.
An order postponing sentencing was issued at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on January 16, 2004 following a request from the United States Probation Office.
November
2003
Marc Harris convicted of money laundering, conspiracy and tax evasion
Five and a half years after being exposed as a criminal by OffshoreAlert, offshore businessman Marc M. Harris, 38, has been found guilty of 16 counts of money laundering and tax evasion.Harris was convicted by a jury on November 24, 2003 following six days of testimony at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, in Fort Lauderdale. He did not testify on his own behalf or call a single witness.
November
2003
Marc Harris found guilty of tax evasion and money laundering
Offshore services provider Marc M. Harris, 38, was today found guilty of 16 counts of money laundering and tax evasion.A jury at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, in Fort Lauderdale, found him guilty of
November
2003
Marc Harris: No verdict until next week
There will be no verdict in the Marc Harris money laundering tax evasion trial until Monday, November 24 at the earliest.The jury retired to consider its verdict at 12.35 p.m. today and the judge allowed jurors to deliberate until well
November
2003
Harris jury will consider verdict tomorrow
A jury in Florida will retire tomorrow to determine the fate of offshore businessman Marc Harris.After five days of presenting several witnesses and mountains of documented evidence, the United States Government wrapped up its case against Harris at 3.48 pm
November
2003
Marc Harris’ attorney puts blame on former business partner, Robin Baily
It was Panama based offshore services provider Peter Robin Baily, not Marc Harris, who set up and maintained a scheme for Florida businessman Moises Kriger to evade United States taxes, a jury heard today.That was the scenario put to Kriger
November
2003
Police called when irate client demanded funds, court hears
Police were called to the office of Marc Harris in Panama when a client turned up demanding access to his funds, a jury in Florida heard today.Despite their presence, Joseph Vigna testified that he would not leave the premises but
November
2003
Marc Harris advised clients to destroy documents, allege prosecutors
Offshore businessman Marc Harris advised two of his United States-based clients to destroy their business records and flee to Panama in 1995 when they were being audited by the IRS, a jury in Florida heard today.Tony Vigna and his son, Joseph, took the advice, shredding and burning documents concerning their illegal refrigerant gas smuggling operation and moving to Panama, said federal prosecutor Gregory Tortella in his opening argument on the first day of what is expected to be a nine-day trial.
November
2003
The Marc Harris money laundering/tax evasion trial set to start on Monday
Despite late efforts to have charges against him thrown out, offshore businessman Marc Harris will go on trial for 30 counts of money laundering and tax evasion in Miami, Florida on November 10.Harris will be defended by Frank Rubino, a
October
2003
USA v. Moises Kriger: Criminal Information
Criminal Information in USA v. Moises Kriger at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
October
2003
Marc Harris fails to have indictment dismissed, trial to start on Nov. 10
Offshore asset protection specialist Marc Harris, who is in custody awaiting trial, has failed to have a 13-count tax evasion and money laundering indictment against him dismissed at federal court in Miami, Florida.On October 6, 2003, Judge James I. Cohn denied two motions by Harris to dismiss all or some of the 13 counts brought against him on May 6, 2003.
October
2003
USA v. Marc M. Harris: Superseding Indictment
Superseding Indictment alleging tax fraud and money laundering in USA v. Marc M. Harris at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
September
2003
Insider Talking: September 30, 2003
Legal proceedings at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida involving a $170 million claim by Cayman Islands licensed Bank Espirito Santo International Ltd. against United States based receivables factoring firm E. S. Bankest LC et
September
2003
Superseding indictment against Marc Harris
A Grand Jury in Miami returned a superseding indictment on September 30 against offshore provider Marc Harris, adding one count of conspiring to defraud the IRS and eight counts of tax evasion to the 13 counts of money laundering first brought against him in May.
Harris faces a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge and each tax evasion charge, up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on each money laundering count and a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the false return charges, stated prosecutors.
September
2003
Marc Harris asks judge to dismiss indictment
Offshore asset protection businessman Marc Harris has filed motions to dismiss a 13 count money laundering indictment brought against him in Florida. Among the grounds put forward by Harris’ attorney, Joaquin Fernandez, are “statute of limitations” bars and “pre indictment
August
2003
Latin America Round-Up: August 31, 2003
ARGENTINA: Circle around Menem narrower; COSTA RICA: Costa Rica becoming popular; ECUADOR: No foreign holidays for Noboa; MEXICO: Pressure mounts over big banks; NICARAGUA: Alemán in prison: PANAMA: Marc Harris’ friends in Panama in trouble?; and PARAGUAY: González Macchi ordered to stay put.
August
2003
Insider Talking: August 31, 2003
Fund manager Brian Paul Kuhn pleads guilty at the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands to several counts of theft of client funds; Switzerland investigates theft of financial data by computer hackers; HedgeWorld Limited closes Bermuda office and relocates its staff to New York; “Marc Harris stole your funds”, investment fraudster tells clients; Bermuda-based Bank of Butterfield and Bank of Bermuda expand overseas; and career conman David Tedder is sentenced to five years in prison, fined $1.06 million and ordered to forfeit $2.7 million at federal court in the USA.
August
2003
Marc Harris granted trial date extension
A federal judge in Miami has granted a motion by Marc Harris to have his trial start date put back from August 11, 2003 so that he can review evidence against him.In an order dated August 20, 2003, Judge Donald L. Graham set a new two-week period from October 6, 2003 to October 17, 2003 to try the 13 counts of money laundering that have been brought against Harris.
August
2003
Harris assumed bogus role in sham firm, says client
Offshore businessman Marc Harris and his employees associates in Panama assumed bogus officer roles in a sham offshore company and produced phony invoices, false bills of lading and backdated documents as part of an elaborate scheme to help a client
August
2003
Panama to investigate alleged corruption regarding Marc Harris
Panama’s government is to carry out an investigation into allegations of corruption involving its own officials and offshore crook Marc Harris, according to the local media.
President Mireya Moscoso announced on August 6 that a Commission would be appointed to conduct the inquiry, reported La Prensa newspaper.
July
2003
Latin America Round-Up: July 31, 2003
ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY and URUGUAY: Banco General de Negocios, Multibanco, Banco Comercial sagas continue; NICARAGUA and PANAMA: Following Marc Harris’ steps in Nicaragua; PANAMA and COLOMBIA: Colombian scandal affects Panama; and PERU: Kroll unable to find Fujimori’s money so far.
July
2003
Marc Harris hires Manuel Noriega’s criminal defense attorney
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.”
June
2003
Latin America Round-Up: June 30, 2003
ARGENTINA: Purge in the making; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: The consequences of Baninter banking scandal; ECUADOR: Ex-minister investigated for laundering; MEXICO: HSBC investigated; NICARAGUA: New charges for Alemán; and PANAMA: Iranian citizen arrested; Frozen Guatemalan assets; New rules; The legacy of Marc Harris in Panama.
June
2003
Marc Harris in custody, so far refusing to co-operate with U. S. authorities
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.
June
2003
Marc Harris denied bail, pleads not guilty
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.
June
2003
Offshore provider Marc Harris describes himself as software developer during court hearing
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.
May
2003
USA v. Marc M. Harris: Criminal Indictment
Criminal Indictment alleging money laundering in USA v. Marc M. Harris at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
February
2003
Former Harris Organization officer admits role in Millennium Fund scam
Bill Amos, a former officer with The Harris Organization financial services group of Panama, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in the United States.
Amos, 49, whose full name is William Earl Amos Jr., admitted the charge last year and has already been sentenced, said a spokesman for the U. S. Attorney’s Office in Alabama.
December
2002
Insider Talking: December 31, 2002
UK-based Capital City Finance Limited, which was formed on August 20, 2001 as a spin-off from the Imperial Consolidated Group, is three and a half months overdue with the filing of its annual return with Companies House for England and Wales; If clients of St. Vincent-licensed Omnicorp Bank needed further evidence that they are being taken to the cleaners by the bank’s management, there has been plenty of it recently; Investment fraudster Tracy Calvin Dunlap, Jr. was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison on December 19, 2002 at the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.; Steve Saemmler Klein, who operates a dubious Belize-based offshore group known as Grupo CAT, has apparently gone missing; and Alyn Richard Waage, 56, of Canada, and James Michael Webb, 40, of California, were extradited on December 19, 2002 from Costa Rica to Sacramento, California to face numerous federal charges relating to the Tri-West Investment Club, an Internet-based investment fraud scheme that allegedly netted more that $60 million.
October
2002
Insider Talking: October 31, 2002
In the wake of action taken by Swiss authorities against the Zurich based Sovereign Finance Group, which is being investigated for money laundering involving Russia and the Caribbean, regulators in St. Vincent & the Grenadines are taking action against Sovereign
September
2002
Insider Talking: September 30, 2002
The Imperial Consolidated fraud has taken a further turn for the bizarre with the distribution in September of several press releases, masquerading as news stories, by a newly incorporated British company called Matrix International (Management) Ltd., whose commercial address is
August
2002
Three convicted drug dealers own preferred shares in The Harris Organization
New evidence obtained by OffshoreAlert shows that THREE convicted drug dealers are beneficial owners of the British Virgin Islands-registered parent of The Harris Organization financial services group. The traffickers all own preferred shares, which purport to pay annual interest of 10% in the case of Wallace Stull and James Somerville, and 7% for Lawrence Boulanger.
August
2002
Harris Organization Clients
Selected Clients of The Harris Organization – August 31, 2002
August
2002
‘Marc Harris stole my mother’s savings’, says son
Letter to the Editor of OffshoreAlert from the son of an alleged victim of Marc Harris.
August
2002
Marc Harris account ‘dormant since 1998’, says Georgia Pacific Securities
Letter to the Editor concerning Marc M. Harris from attorney Lee Tupper, of Tupper Jonsson & Yeadon, representing Georgia Pacific Securities.
August
2002
‘Retract or face punitive damages’, demands Richmark Capital’s attorney
Letter to the Editor of OffshoreAlert regarding Marc Harris from attorney Steve Clemons, of Leggett & Clemons, representing Richmark Capital.
August
2002
ALERT: Debt-ridden Harris Organization begins operating under a new name
Banks, brokers and other companies are advised that offshore financial services provider Marc Harris is now operating under the new name of ‘Mitchell Astor Gilbert Trust Co.’
July
2002
Insider Talking: July 31, 2002
Hendrik Rienstra, 73, the principal of sham Panama-registered insurer New England International Surety Co. Inc., has died.; OffshoreAlert has uncovered three new names associated with the business activities of crooked financial services provider Marc M. Harris, who has moved his operations to Nicaragua after running up massive debts in Panama, leading to an application from a creditor to wind up his company and an eviction notice issued by his commercial landlord; Police in the UK have charged a fourth person, Francois M. Verkaeren, with conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with an investigation into the business practices of Merrion Reinsurance Company, which is located in Dublin, Ireland; The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has announced that two residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands – Michael Witt, 45, and his partner, Tina Grenier, 41 – have been arrested and charged with various narcotics, money laundering and possession of crime offenses and their US$1 million property restrained in an operation codenamed ‘Oilsheik’; and Local newspapers in the Bahamas have suddenly become excited over a criminal indictment that was issued in the United States as long ago as June 15, 1999.
