James Merrill

PP Blog Tag archives on references to "James Merrill."

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

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 […]

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]

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 […]

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

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 […]

UPDATE: TelexFree Figure James Merrill Will Remain Jailed; [MAY 21 DEVELOPMENT: Merrill’s Brother Subpoenaed In State Probe, Boston Globe Reports]

(UPDATED 11:30 A.M. EDT MAY 21 U.S.A. See Update at bottom of this brief, originally published May 20.) TelexFree figure James Merrill was unable to persuade a federal magistrate judge to free him, the PP Blog has learned. Judge David Hennessy declined Merrill’s bail application today, the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said moments […]

Realty Firm Linked To Carlos And Katia Wanzeler Also Linked To Former TelexFree CFO Joe Craft

(2nd Update 2:12 P.M. EDT U.S.A.) Acceris Realty Estate LLC, a Massachusetts company that listed Katia Wanzeler as its registered agent, was formed by Joe H. Craft in February 2013, according to corporation records in Massachusetts. Craft, accused by the SEC last month of securities fraud at TelexFree, is TelexFree’s former CFO. The appearance of […]

UPDATE: TelexFree’s James Merrill Remains In Custody

UPDATED 8:14 p.m. EDT U.S.A. James Merrill, the onetime president of TelexFree arrested and detained May 9 on wire-fraud conspiracy charges, was not freed at a bail hearing today and will remain in custody. “The judge took the matter under advisement,” the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts said early […]

BULLETIN: Feds Say Carlos Wanzeler Left U.S. For Canada On Same Day Homeland Security Raided TelexFree Offices; Alleged Fugitive Then Flew To Brazil On Date His Home Was Raided; Wanzeler’s Wife Arrested As Material Witness After Telling Agents Husband Was Staying In Hotel

(10th Update 10:53 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) Federal agents arrested Massachusetts resident Katia Wanzeler at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York yesterday after “someone in Brazil” purchased her a “one-way ticket” two days ago and paid cash, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleges in an affidavit. Katia, the wife of alleged TelexFree fugitive […]

BULLETIN: REPORT: Wanzeler’s Wife Arrested; [UPDATE: U.S. Attorney’s Office Confirms Arrest]

BULLETIN: (6th update 6:10 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) There are reports on Twitter, citing a Boston Globe story, that the wife of accused TelexFree figure Carlos Wanzeler has been arrested at an airport. The office of U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts confirmed the arrest to the PP Blog at 11:46 a.m., saying […]