The bottom of p. 5 of this Wolfsberg Group Statement says money laundering risks include financial “[a]ccounts for ‘gatekeepers’ such as accountants, lawyers, or other professionals for their clients where the identity of the underlying client is not disclosed to the financial institution.

It is therefore no surprise that assets hidden through laundering

  • A March 14th Reuters article outlined the New York federal indictments filed in U.S.A. v. Beck, 12-cr-0211 and U.S.A. v. Thomann, 12-cr-0212.  The indictments respectively claimed that Swiss financial advisers Beck and Thomann participated in a conspiracy to commit tax fraud.  Each purportedly hid more than $100 million in assets from the IRS

An October 25th press release describes a forfeiture effort pursued by the U.S. Government against Teodorin Nguema Obiang, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Forestry and Agriculture and the first son of Equatorial Guinea’s head of state.  For me, this press release raises another issue:  Could Equatorial Guinea nationals commence a lawsuit in the U.S. against Nguema and Equatorial Guinea?

Such a lawsuit might claim that Nguema collected vast sums of monies during an alleged public corruption scheme originating in Equatorial Guinea.  It could also allege that Nguema had possibly used the supposed corruption proceeds to help fund his lavish lifestyle which included the purchase of this palatial Malibu, California mansion at 3620 Sweetwater Mesa Road:

Among the many questions this prospective lawsuit raises, are: Would the claimants who are Equatorial Guinea nationals, possess a cognizable claim in a lawsuit filed in the U.S.?;  and Could Equatorial Guineas’ immunity from lawsuits, (as contemplated by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act), be avoided because of the “commercial activity” or “takings” exceptions at 28 U.S.C. §§ 1605(a) (2) or (a) (3)?Continue Reading Suing Teodorin Nguema Obiang For His Malibu Mansion, Gulfstream Jet, Etc.

Using Divorce To Dissipate Assets & Delay Creditors” described allegations from 2008, that ex-Tyco chief executive Dennis Kozlowski might have fraudulently conveyed assets via an excessive divorce settlement.  Stated differently, the ex-Tyco chief was thought to have possibly used his divorce settlement as an asset protection tool.

An August 10th civil complaint filed

The Premier And The Hip-Hop Magazine” published by Forbes on March 3, 2010, observed that special prosecutor Helen Garlick had so far not filed public corruption or other charges against former Turks & Caicos Islands premier Michael Misick.  The March 3rd article also pointed out that the former premier and his ex-wife U.S. actress LisaRaye McCoy, were alleged to have invested monies in the US-based Hip Hop Weekly magazine.

$300,000 dollars for example, might have been transferred in 2007 to Hip Hop Weekly through companies known as My Way Productions 2 and the Windsor Investment Group.  The former premier and Ms. McCoy seemed deeply involved in My Way Productions 2, as more fully set forth at “The Former Premier’s Nexus To Hip Hop Weekly Magazine” and “The Actress, An Ex-Premier & Hip Hop Weekly Magazine“.  Windsor Investment Group meanwhile, was apparently partially owned by the former premier and his brother, Chal Misick.

The former premier, Ms. McCoy, Chal Misick and the Windsor Group are now thought to possibly be subject to a June 23, 2011 restraining order which allegedly froze the former premier’s assets worldwide.  The Turks & Caicos Sun has reported that the alleged June 23rd order “was made” by special prosecutor Garlick and that it lists the former premier, Ms. McCoy, Chal Misick, the Windsor Group and others.Continue Reading Former Premier Misick Reportedly Subject To Worldwide Asset Freeze

Today’s “Asset Search News Roundup” is about politically exposed persons and a suspected laundering scheme.

  1. “FAQ” webpage focuses on the legal tools for freezing illicit assets dictators or other politically exposed persons might hide in Switzerland.  Via such tools, Swiss authorities recently froze $1 billion in assets believed to be connected to either Muhammad Hosni

Money mules and the former Tunisian president’s assets are covered by this “Asset Search News Roundup”:

  1. The Washington Post and FDIC previously outlined how some money launderers pretended to be employers to basically induce their so-called “employees” to wire transfer illicit funds as straw men.  These straw men commonly called money mules, were also just

The October 27th “Asset Search News Roundup” covers Former Premier Michael Misick and tax fraudster Erwin Mayer:

Detecting crimes during a marital asset search and Mexico’s ubiquitous drug cartel violence, are examined by the September 26th "Asset Search News Roundup".

  1. Any crimes committed by a divorcing spouse hiding assets would conceivably be detected during a marital asset search. As the following articles reveal, a divorcing spouse hiding assets might possibly face