Espirito Santo Bank

Spain: Raúl Gorrin Belisario et al (‘Laundering of PDVSA Corruption Proceeds’)

May 6, 2024

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence from Espirito Santo Bank, now Brickell Bank; Total Bank, The Bank of New York Mellon, and FlexFunds ETP LLC - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Spain - for a criminal investigation into Raúl Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Gorrin Belisario, Luis Fernando Vuteff Garcia, and Jose Vicente Amparan Croquer for the suspected laundering of "hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars and/or Euros in profits" from an alleged bribery scheme involving Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., a.k.a., PDVSA, described as "Venezuela's state-owned oil company", some of which was allegedly launder "by purchasing real estate in Spain in the name of shell companies via real estate bonds".

Comodo Holdings Ltd. v. William Giarusso et al: Discovery Application

January 11, 2019

Application by Comodo Holdings Limited to take discovery from William Giarusso and TD Bank NA for use in a legal proceeding in the British Virgin Islands, filed at the U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Monica Maria Mellao Silveira Mello v. Brickell Bank: Discovery Application

November 29, 2018

Application by Monica Maria Mellao Silveira Mello to take discovery from Brickell Bank, formerly known as Espirito Santo Bank, for use in proceedings before Brazilian tribunals, including a probate proceeding for the estate of Guilherme Carlos Arantes Mellao, filed at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Providence Financial Investments, Inc. et al: Trustee’s Motion For Substantive Consolidation

April 16, 2018

Trustee's Motion For Substantive Consolidation in re. Providence Financial Investments, Inc. and Providence Fixed Income Fund, LLC at the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Argentina: Federico Garcia Aparicio

May 12, 2017

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence from Brickell Bank, TotalBank, and Wells Fargo Bank - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Argentina - for a criminal investigation into Federico Garcia Aparicio for suspected investment fraud.

Petroforte Brasileiro de Petroleo Ltda.: Chapter 15 Petition

March 7, 2014

Chapter 15 Petition for Recognition of a Foreign Main Proceeding in Brazil by Afonso Henrique Alves Braga, as the Foreign Representative of Petroforte Brasileiro de Petroleo Ltda., at the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Argentina: Ricardo Jaime

July 29, 2011

Request from Argentina for Judicial Assistance in a criminal investigation into Ricardo Raul Jaime for alleged unjust enrichment and corruption while serving as National Transportation Secretary.

Chile seeks evidence from Coutts & Co. and Espirito Santo Bank

August 24, 2009

Chile is seeking evidence from Coutts & Co. International Bank and Espirito Santo Bank, both in Miami, for a criminal investigation into the alleged payment of $15 million in bribes regarding a defense contract. Several offshore companies established in the

Chile: Ramon Ignacio Vega Hidalgo

July 17, 2009

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Chile into Ramon Ignacio Vega Hidalgo, former Commander in Chief of the Chilean Air Force, and other retired Chilean air force officials, including Jaime Estay Viveros, Florencio Duble Pizarro and Luis Bolton Montalva, for suspected bribery, corruption, fraud and embezzlement in connection with a contract entered into by the Chilean Air Force with the Sociedad Anonima Belga de Construccion Aeronautica in 1994 for the purchase of 25 Mirage aircraft and parts. Other individuals and businesses that form part of the investigation include Gustavo Eduardo Vega Pizarro, Rosa Maria Vega Pizarro, Veronica Raquel Vega Pizarro, Karel Honzik Hubka, Henriette Bahna Hamwi, Inversiones Calafquen SA, Berthier Investment Inc., Alfield Limited, Darmol International Ltd., Sunchase Holding Ltd., Conrado Ariztia O'Brien, Bartolome Dezerega Salgado, Intercountry Holdings Ltd., MD Management Consultants Ltd., Technical Ventures, Organizational Investments Corp., I.Systems, Nor-Sur Management Ltd., Contempo International Ltd. and Shanghai Overseas Investments Ltd.    

Latin America Round-Up: November 10, 2008

November 10, 2008

ARGENTINA Menem on trialAlthough he did not show up at court, former Argentina president Carlos Menem began to be tried for his alleged involvement in smuggling arms to Ecuador and Croatia, the biggest corruption scandal during his years in office

Latin America Round-Up: June 7, 2006

June 7, 2006

COLOMBIA: Uribe set for win;; Arrested for Money Laundering; MEXICO: Laundering Couple Trapped; NICARAGUA: Efforts to Repatriate Alemán's Assets Continue; PANAMA: Prestigious Law Firm Involved in Pinochet Scandal; and PARAGUAY: Saving Cooperatives under Scrutiny.

Latin America Round-Up: March 6, 2006

March 6, 2006

ARGENTINA: New Anti-Money Laundering unit; BRAZIL: PineBank under Scrutiny in Miami; CHILE: More controls over casinos; COLOMBIA: Businessman accused of money laundering; Rodríguez Orejuela's son in trouble; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: The Anti-Laundering Unit fever goes on; GUATEMALA: US to help in anti-laundering efforts; INTERNATIONAL: New guidelines for correspondent banks; REGIONAL: In the footsteps of their fathers; and PERU: Laundered money is about $550 Million.

Offshore entities sue Miami law firm for $140 m

August 17, 2005

Three offshore-based businesses are suing a Florida law firm for more than $140 million in damages, alleging professional malpractice concerning a failed factoring business.A civil lawsuit was filed on August 10, 2005 at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by Banco Espirito Santo International Ltd., incorporated in the Cayman Islands; ESB Finance Ltd., incorporated in the British Virgin Islands; and Banco Espirito Santo SA (Nassau Branch), a Portuguese corporation. Defendants are Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart PA, a law firm incorporated in Florida, and Mark Scheer, a Florida resident and shareholder of GY&S. Causes of action are professional malpractice, and negligent misrepresentation.

Venezuela seeks evidence from US banks for investigation into bank regulator

July 31, 2004

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud and corruption - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Venezuela - that was filed at federal court in the USA on June 30, 2004. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Banco Capital CA, Jose Alejandro Roja Ramirez, Banco Espirito Santo, Espirito Santo Bank, Inversiones Westfalia, Inversiones NBK, CA, Servicios CA, Inversiones 23697 CA, Waterfield Investment Inc., Consorcio Partenon, CA, Westfalia Investments, Citibank, and Fleet Bank, NA.

Venezuela: Banco Capital

June 30, 2004

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Venezuela involving Banco Capital.

Switzerland seeks records at Espirito Santo Bank for criminal investigation of Jacques Baer

May 31, 2004

Switzerland is seeking account records at Espirito Santo Bank in Miami as part of a criminal investigation into 42 year old Swiss national Jacques Baer for alleged embezzlement of $8 million. Details are contained in an application for the appointment

Switzerland: Jacques Bauer

May 7, 2004

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Switzerland into Jacques Bauer for alleged theft.

Nine indicted for allegedly defrauding Espirito Santo Bank

December 15, 2003

Nine businessmen have been criminally indicted in Florida for allegedly perpetrating an accounts receivable factoring scam which an offshore bank group claims has cost it approximately $170 million. The December 4th indictment relates to the same circumstances which led to Cayman Islands-licensed Bank Espirito Santo (International) Ltd. filing a civil lawsuit against E. S. Bankest LLC earlier this year.

Belgium: Melchior Wathelet

April 10, 2001

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Belgium into Melchior Wathelet for suspected forgery and bribery.