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ウエストネバダ事件に関するＦＢＩの発表
United States Attorney
District of Nevada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
September 5, 2007
HENDERSON MAN CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING INVESTORS OF OVER $20 MILLION IN MINING CLAIM SCAM
LAS VEGAS-A resident of Lake Las Vegas was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury today on fraud charges for soliciting numerous individuals in the United States and Japan to invest millions of dollars in various purported mining projects in Peru, California, Nevada, and Guyana, announced Steven W. Myhre, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Nevada. Alberto DoCouto, age 64, of Henderson, Nevada, is charged with Wire Fraud, Securities Fraud, Fraudulent Interstate Securities Transactions, Making a False Statement, and Visa
Fraud.
According to the court records, it is alleged that Alberto DoCouto created or caused the incorporation of numerous business entities and limited liability companies, including West Nevada Precious Metals Corporation, Vista Continental Development Corporation (Vista), and Miranda Mining LLC. DoCouto has no known expertise nor any appreciable experience in mining precious metals, but nonetheless made, and caused others to make, false representations that he and his numerous corporate alter egos were actively engaged in exploring and developing a series of lucrative mining claims at sites in Peru, California, Nevada, and Guyana.
DoCouto allegedly solicited and persuaded others in the United States and Japan to invest millions of dollars in his companies and in the various alleged mining projects. DoCouto repeatedly represented to investors that their investments were needed to bring these projects to fruition. Investors in these projects typically received shares of stock in Vista, and the investments were often secured by promissory notes guaranteeing repayment of the funds within a certain period.
More particularly:
Peru Mining Claims: Beginning no later than 2001, DoCouto solicited and persuaded investors in the United States and Japan to invest millions of dollars in a Peru mining project which he claimed held vast proven deposits of gold and other precious metals worth millions or billions of dollars. In exchange for the funds invested in the purported mining project DoCouto issued shares of stock and promissory notes guaranteeing repayment of the investments. However, DoCouto did not develop or engage in substantial mining operations in Peru, but he instead diverted and converted most of the funds he obtained from investors for personal purposes, expenses and luxuries.
Twentynine Palms, California: By 2003, DoCouto had spent most of the funds he had obtained from investors in the Peru mining project on personal expenses. In early 2003, DoCouto solicited individuals to invest in another purported mining project near Twentynine Palms, which DoCouto claimed held gold deposits worth millions of dollars. In order to promote the investment opportunity, DoCouto drove an investor from Las Vegas to Twentynine Palms, (in a Bentley automobile which he had purchased previously with proceeds from the scheme) to view the purported site and claims. Relying on DoCouto's representations, an investor transferred $1 million to DoCouto for the alleged Twentynine Palms mining operation. Once again, DoCouto did not use the invested funds to develop any substantial mining operations in or near Twentynine Palms, but instead converted the $1million investment for his own use.
American Canyon Project: By June 2003, DoCouto approached investors with yet another purported investment opportunity. DoCouto told investors that in spite of his best efforts, the mining project at Twentynine Palms could not proceed because the mining site was a habitat of endangered tortoises. DoCouto told investors that he had begun mining operations at the "American Canyon Project" in northern Nevada, and that the site held deposits of gold and precious metals worth at least $18 million. DoCouto convinced at least one investor to invest $5 million in exchange for Vista stock and a promissory note guaranteeing repayment of the funds within three years. In truth, the mining claims did not hold any proven deposits of precious metals, and DoCouto once again converted a substantial portion of the funds to his personal purposes, including for the purchase of a 6,000 square foot residence at Lake Las Vegas.
Guyana Diamond Mine: In late 2003 or early 2004, before the American Canyon Project had proven to be a sham, DoCouto approached investors with yet another investment opportunity involving diamond and precious metals mining operations in Guyana. DoCouto persuaded investors to commit millions of dollars to the project. One such investor was the All Japan Liquor Merchant Association (a Japanese pension fund), which invested approximately $6.4 million in the Guyana project. Contrary to DoCouto's representations, investors did not receive any return on their investments, and DoCouto did not repay the funds, but converted a substantial portion of them for his own personal use, including for the payment of personal expenses and the purchasing of luxury automobiles and other items.
The Indictment also alleges that on January 8, 2002, DoCouto made a false statement in an application for an immigrant United States visa by stating that he had never been charged, arrested or convicted of any offense when he knew that he had previously been charged with several crimes in Canada, and that DoCouto knowingly obtained and possessed an immigrant United States visa through false claims, statements or fraud. Additionally, the indictment requests forfeiture of the proceeds of DoCouto's crimes, including DoCouto's home at 10 Placa De Rei Court at Lake Las Vegas, a 2002 Bentley Arnage, a 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55, and a 2004 Cadillac Escalade.
DoCouto was arrested on August 24, 2007, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Foley on August 27, 2007. Judge Foley found that DoCouto was a flight risk and danger to the community, and ordered him detained pending trial. DoCouto is scheduled to be arraigned on September 14, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leavitt.
It is estimated that numerous persons fell victim to the defendant's alleged scheme. Any individuals who believe they may have been victims of this alleged scheme are asked to contact FBI Special Agent David Nanz at (702) 385-1281.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the United States Bureau of Land Management, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Vasquez. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
天網恢恢、疎にして漏らさず
天の網は広く、その目は粗いようだが、悪人を漏らすことなく捕える。すなわち、天道は厳正で、悪事をなしたものは早晩必ず天罰を受ける。
ｳｴｽﾄﾈﾊﾞﾀﾞ社の経営者であるAlberto DoCoutoは、先月9月5日、米国連邦大陪審によって起訴が決定された。
http://lasvegas.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/miningfraud090507.htm
ＦＢＩの発表によると、集めた資金は
for his own personal use, including for the payment of personal expenses and the purchasing of luxury automobiles and other items.
（自らの贅沢品の購入に流用していたようです。）
a 2002 Bentley Arnage, a 2003 Mercedes Benz SL55, and a 2004 Cadillac Escalade.
（ﾍﾞﾝﾄﾚｰ ｱﾙﾅｰｼﾞｭ、ﾒﾙｾﾃﾞｽ ﾍﾞﾝﾂ SL55、ｷｬﾃﾞｨﾗｯｸ ｴｽｶﾚｰﾄﾞ）
＊因みに私の愛車は、Suzuki Everyです｡
私たちの酒販年金資金の144億円は、Chancery&Leadenhall Limited（ﾁｬﾝｾﾘｰ社）が発行する私募債の購入に不正使用されました。
中央会会長による決済印が押されていましたが、不正使用されたとの事です。
約款上も、中央会が直接に投資出来ないので、私募債購入を持ちかけた金融ﾌﾞﾛｰｶｰが連れてきたｸﾚﾃﾞｨ･ｽｲｽと信託（実は、単なる保護預かり）契約を結ぶという形を整えて実行されました。
そして、償還日直前になって、投資先会社が破綻したとして、全く償還されませんでした。
実際には、第一回の償還日前、及びその後に、「投資に対する利息金」、「償還遅延の違約金」という名目で、10億円が数度に分けて入金されていました。
しかし、時を置かずに、その内の7億円がWest Nevada Precious Metals Corp（ｳｴｽﾄﾈﾊﾞﾀﾞ社）に、当時の中央会副会長の決済で、またも不正に貸付けられました。
この貸付けも、約定日に返済が無いばかりか、今度はその返済期限日を前に、ｳｴｽﾄﾈﾊﾞﾀﾞ社から、追加融資の約束が守られなかったとして、80億円の賠償請求訴訟を起こされました。
放置すると、請求通り80億円を支払わなければならないので、中央会は反訴。
連邦裁判所に管轄を移し、今までに5,000万円以上の費用を掛けて、現在も係争中です。
詐欺師のグループに、本当にやりたい放題にやられっ放しです。
現状、刑事責任の追及は、元事務局長に対してのみです。
とっても、おかしな話しですよね。
不思議の国、日本。
Invaroへの捜査開始
ＣＳＣ（ｸﾚｰﾑ ｽﾀﾝﾀﾞｰﾄﾞ ｶｳﾝｼﾙ）のＨＰより引用
SFO begins Invaro probe
Mar 2007
Liverpool-based Invaro went into voluntary liquidation in June 2004.
Appointed liquidator Smith and Williamson revealed in 2005 that Invaro owed its main creditors, including Canadian firm Chancery and Leadenhall, £85m (Post, 19 May 2005, p2).
An SFO spokesman told Post: “I can confirm we are investigating Invaro’s affairs. Searches have been carried out today at a number of locations in Merseyside, Humberside and North Yorkshire in connection with an investigation into Invaro and related companies and individuals.”
However, he was unable to comment further.
Post previously reported that the recovery of monies owed to creditors of Invaro had been thrown into doubt. Then, after a year of investigations, S&W claimed the transfer of funds – which stands at £2.8m – between Invaro and Chancery and Leadenhall was “possibly valid” (Post, 11 August 2005, p3). It was also investigating a £2.1m payment to the Selby Trust, owner of Rock Insurance, which S&W alleged constituted a bonus to Invaro chairman Terry Lindon.
A spokeswoman for S&W said she could not comment on Invaro.
（Post）
以上引用終了
Invaro関連で3ヶ所を家宅捜索した模様です。
詐欺の立件は、とても難しいようですが、インペリアル事件から続くPONZI詐欺が是非とも解明されるよう願います。
行政処分じゃないから大丈夫？
2007年3月16日（金）20:06
［東京 １６日 ロイター］ 金融庁は１６日、クレディ・スイス
金融庁によると、クレディ・スイスのプライベートバンク部門（日本国外の拠点）は、日本人富裕層を対象に営業を行う組織「ジャパンデスク」を日本国外に複数設置し、所属の行員を日本に出張させるなどして、預金勧誘などの営業活動をしていた。
同庁は、この活動が銀行法が禁じる「銀行業の無免許営業」に該当すると判断、法令違反となる活動を今後一切行わないよう要請するとともに、法令順守に必要なマニュアル策定などを求めた。
クレディ・スイスは「金融庁の指摘・要請を真摯（しんし）に受け止め、引き続き内部管理およびコンプライアンス体制を強化し、再発防止に努める」とのコメントを発表した。
(以上引用終了）
今回は行政処分じゃないですから、日本のみなさま、気にしないで下さい。
またですか！
金融庁がクレディ・スイス投信に業務改善命令
2006年09月22日18時24分
［東京 ２２日 ロイター］ 金融庁は２２日、伝票処理などに問題があったとして、クレディ・スイス投信に対し、業務改善命令を出した。
金融庁によると、クレディ・スイス投信は２００４年２月に実施した運用部トレーディングチームに対する内部監査とその後の調査で、多数の発注伝票の未作成・記載不備を確認したが、それから２年以上の間、金融庁への報告を怠っていた。また、２００５年１０月に兼業承認を申請した際、法令違反の事実を認識していたにもかかわらず、申請書に法令順守状況は良好である旨を記載していた。
クレディ・スイス投信は業務改善命令に対して「今回の行政処分を厳粛かつ真摯に受け止め、今後も引き続き内部管理態勢の強化に努める」とのコメントを発表した。
（以上掲載終了）
同グループで、一体何度目の行政処分なのでしょうか？
