Archive for May 2014

Say It Ain’t So, Lefty! Phil Mickelson’s Name Surfaces In Insider-Trading Probe

The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times are reporting tonight that golfer Phil Mickelson’s name has surfaced in an insider-trading probe that also involves billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas sports bettor William “Billy” Walters. Reports say Mickelson was approached today by the FBI at the Memorial golf tournament hosted by Jack […]

BULLETIN: Judge Issues Order That Directs Justice Department’s Bankruptcy Watchdog To Appoint Trustee Over TelexFree Case

BULLETIN: Judge Issues Order That Directs Justice Department's Bankruptcy Watchdog To Appoint Trustee Over TelexFree Case

BULLETIN: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Melvin S. Hoffman of the Massachusetts Central Division in Worcester has ordered the appointment of a trustee in the TelexFree Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The U.S. Trustee, the U.S. Department of Justice’s watchdog arm in bankruptcy cases, pressed for the appointment last month. “There are reasonable grounds to suspect that the […]

Effort To Fete Two-Time SEC Pyramid Defendant And Alleged Racketeer Sann Rodrigues In Brazilian Senate Hall Reportedly Thwarted

Effort To Fete Two-Time SEC Pyramid Defendant And Alleged Racketeer Sann Rodrigues In Brazilian Senate Hall Reportedly Thwarted

Politicians appear to have spared themselves some embarrassment, but MLM had another La-La Land PR train wreck today. iG (Brazil) is reporting that an effort to honor accused TelexFree pitchman and two-time SEC defendant Sann Rodrigues in a Brazilian Senate hall today was thwarted. The effort to fete Rodrigues appears to have been staged by […]

Zeek Receiver Proposes Date For First Interim Distribution

Zeek Receiver Proposes Date For First Interim Distribution

Kenneth D. Bell, the receiver in the Zeek Rewards Ponzi- and pyramid case, has asked a federal judge to set Sept. 30 as the date of the first interim distribution to victims. Senior U.S. District Judge Graham C. Mullen of the Western District of North Carolina must approve the proposal and other scheduling logistics proposed […]

MAYA ANGELOU: 1928-2014: A Statement By The President Of The United States

MAYA ANGELOU: 1928-2014: A Statement By The President Of The United States

A statement by Barack Obama, the President of the United States, on the passing of Maya Angelou: When her friend Nelson Mandela passed away last year, Maya Angelou wrote that “No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again, and bring the dawn.” Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one […]

BULLETIN: SEC: Carlos Wanzeler Built ‘Small Real Estate Empire’ Consisting Of 34 Properties Mostly Acquired With Cash; Alleged Fugitive Also Acquired Yacht, 2 Ferraris, A Porsche And 3 Bimmers — And Put New Mexico Firm Set Up By Joe Craft In Charge Of Nevis Company

BULLETIN: SEC: Carlos Wanzeler Built 'Small Real Estate Empire' Consisting Of 34 Properties Mostly Acquired With Cash; Alleged Fugitive Also Acquired Yacht, 2 Ferraris, A Porsche And 3 Bimmers -- And Put New Mexico Firm Set Up By Joe Craft In Charge Of Nevis Company

BULLETIN: (8th update 9:10 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) In an amended complaint in the SEC’s pyramid- and Ponzi case against TelexFree, the agency says alleged TelexFree fugitive Carlos Wanzeler was using investors’ money to build a “small real estate empire” that consisted of 34 properties in Massachusetts and Florida. Wanzeler, 45, also allegedly acquired a 40-foot […]

TelexFree Faces Prospect Of Regulatory Probe In Oregon; [UPDATE: Judge To Appoint Bankruptcy Trustee, WSJ Reports]

TelexFree Faces Prospect Of Regulatory Probe In Oregon; [UPDATE: Judge To Appoint Bankruptcy Trustee, WSJ Reports]

UPDATED 5:06 P.M. EDT U.S.A. See Comments thread below for breaking news that the judge overseeing the TelexFree bankruptcy case in Massachusetts will appoint a trustee. First reported by the Wall Street Journal. Original story on separate TelexFree matter in Oregon is below . . . ** ______________________________ ** The staff of the Oregon Public […]

DISTURBING: Report Of TelexFree-Related Kidnapping And Extortion Bid

DISTURBING: Report Of TelexFree-Related Kidnapping And Extortion Bid

La Republica, a newspaper in Peru, is citing information from police and reporting that a TelexFree promoter in the country was kidnapped Thursday afternoon and held in a van. The PP Blog cannot independently verify the report, which suggests the kidnapping was carried out by TelexFree members who ordered the man to withdraw money from […]

Katia Wanzeler No Longer In Custody Of U.S. Marshals Service

UPDATED 11:49 A.M. EDT U.S.A. Katia Wanzeler, the wife of accused TelexFree Ponzi-schemer and alleged fugitive Carlos Wanzeler, no longer is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). Whether she has concluded an appearance before a federal grand jury in Massachusetts is unclear. If the appearance occurred, it is possible it was delayed […]

BULLETIN: Nevada Public Utilities Commission Staff Recommends Denial Of TelexFree’s Telecom Application; ‘Financial Statements . . . Cannot Be Relied Upon At This Time’

BULLETIN: Nevada Public Utilities Commission Staff Recommends Denial Of TelexFree's Telecom Application; 'Financial Statements . . . Cannot Be Relied Upon At This Time'

BULLETIN: The staff of the Nevada Public Utilities Commission has recommended that TelexFree’s telecom application be denied, saying the firm filed the application and then almost immediately filed for bankruptcy protection. Based on the bankruptcy filing, the financial information provided by TelexFree during the application process “cannot be relied upon at this time,” the PUC […]

FBI, Homeland Security Establish Site, Questionnaire For TelexFree Victims

FBI, Homeland Security Establish Site, Questionnaire For TelexFree Victims

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have established a website for individuals who believe they were defrauded by TelexFree, an alleged pyramid- and Ponzi scheme the Massachusetts Securities Division says gathered more than $1.2 billion. Here is a link to a statement by the FBI and DHS. The page includes a link […]