Recent Articles

Asset Search News Roundup: March 18, 2012

Fred Abrams
March 19, 2012 02:36

A letter rogatory from Kenya and the February 24th return of Mayan artifacts to Guatemala. Following a money trail through multiple jurisdictions may necessitate letters rogatory.  Such a letter rogatory was filed October 12, 2011 in In Re: Request from Kenya, U.S. District Court for the District...

The Asset Recovery Case Of Cohen v. S.A.C. Trading Corp.

Fred Abrams
March 12, 2012 19:11

The New York Post and Bloomberg wrote last month about the appeal pending in Cohen v. S.A.C. Trading Corp., et. al., (11-1390-cv). The Cohen appeal is over the trial court’s March 30, 2011 dismissal of Patricia Cohen’s Second Amended Complaint.  The Second Amended Complaint accused Ms....

Asset Search News Roundup: March 4, 2012

Fred Abrams
March 04, 2012 22:16

Todays “Asset Search News Roundup” mentions whistleblower programs: An Asset Search Via Whistleblowers & Other Tipsters comments on IRS and SEC efforts to sniff out fraudulently concealed assets with the help of reward programs.  Forbes’ March 2nd article IRS Whistleblowers...

Prosecutors Add To Indictment Connected To Ponzi Scheme Case

Fred Abrams
February 27, 2012 21:35

At “Hockey bid a factor in Beckman’s Ponzi trial”, the StarTribune analyzes the Second Superseding Indictment filed in the criminal prosecution against Jason Bo Beckman, Gerald Durand and Patrick Kiley.  This StarTribune article explains the three are accused of money laundering and other...

Asset Search News Roundup: February 19, 2012

Fred Abrams
February 20, 2012 02:50

The Financial Action Task Force updates its standards and two politically exposed persons are criminally charged in the Turks and Caicos Islands¹: The Financial Action Task Force has revised its 40 Recommendations for fighting money laundering and terrorist financing.  A February 16th press release...

Forex Dealer Sued For Allegedly Ignoring Red Flags Of Fraud

Fred Abrams
February 14, 2012 00:21

A February 3rd civil complaint filed against Forex dealer Peregrine Financial Group, (“PFG”), alleges “PFG ignored or failed to discern a myriad of objective red flags of fraud…” Complaint at pp. 5-6 ¶12.  The complaint asserted a $48 million dollar claim under...

Asset Search News Roundup: February 6, 2012

Fred Abrams
February 06, 2012 16:40

The February 6th “Asset Search News Roundup” concentrates on the possible abuse of attorney trust accounts: “Three UBS Clients Accused of Hiding Offshore Money From IRS” outlines the suspected tax fraud case against ex-San Diego tax attorney Christopher M. Rusch and...

Using Pretrial Discovery In Cases With Foreign Trusts

Fred Abrams
January 31, 2012 02:40

It is no surprise that foreign trusts can easily be used as elements to fraudulently protect or conceal beneficially owned assets.  In some jurisdictions a trust may however, be considered void if the trust was “self-settled” (i.e. the grantor and beneficiary were found to be one and...

Asset Search News Roundup: January 22, 2012

Fred Abrams
January 23, 2012 00:45

A principal of PokerStars pleads guilty and Nigerian advance fee frauds: ? The May 9, 2011 Asset Search News Roundup and Secreting Money Via Internet Gambling On The Isle Of Man, discussed criminal prosecutions against the principals of three internet gambling businesses.  One of the principals,...

Revisiting A Lawsuit Against Two Private Investigators

Fred Abrams
January 15, 2012 15:25

Lawsuit Claims PI’s Could Have Illegally Accessed Bank Info, explained that plaintiff Victoria Florea had filed two lawsuits against private investigators Nicole Bocra and Terry L. Gilbeau, president of Checkmate Investigative Services, Inc.  The first of these lawsuits was voluntarily discontinued...