CLEVELAND, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Affiliates of Peppertree Capital Management, Inc. (”Peppertree”) obtained a unanimous arbitration award in excess of $354 million against Terra Towers Corp., DT Holdings, and businessman Jorge Hernandez, personally (”Respondents”), the law firm of UB Greensfelder has announced. The award includes $25 million in punitive damages and covers Peppertree’s legal fees and other expenses.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Woods said: “I am humbled that I was selected by President Biden to serve in this capacity.  From the quest to sustain industrial peace to formulating equitable solutions in addressing international investment disputes, the world is increasingly leaning in and leveraging ADR to resolve both domestic and cross-border conflict.  I am excited to serve and contribute to advancing this effort.”

Attorney Woods brings over 20 years of experience in international law and dispute resolution, offering his expertise in legal, international development, and dispute resolution services across the U.S., Caribbean, South America, Central America, Europe, and Africa. His areas of specialization include transportation, construction, professional sports, labor, commercial transactions, securities, international investment, and real estate.

Recently, Woods was awarded a Fulbright Scholars Award (2024) for the Garvey-Nkrumah Development Incubator, a cross-cultural development program he founded. This initiative from Woods’ AFCA Development Group is a summer leadership and professional development program aimed at training aspiring lawyers of African descent in the US, the Caribbean, and Africa. The focus is on fields that serve as pillars to international and economic development and where such lawyers are grossly underrepresented: international law, trade & development, public policy, and conflict resolution.

The program, founded in 2022 is coordinated in partnership with a consortium of U.S., Caribbean, and African colleges and universities, including Howard University School of Law (ADR Program), the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Law School, The University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Law (Cave Hill Campus, Barbados), and UWI-Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy, and Services, as well as international governmental organizations, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

Established in honor of international civil rights leaders, political theorists, and dignitaries Marcus Garvey and Kwame Nkrumah, this fellowship provides a comprehensive “experiential learning laboratory” for program participants.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo for use with this article is available HERE

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Stefan Qin et al.
Civil Action No. 20-cv-10849 (LGS) (S.D.N.Y.)

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The following notice has been issued by Robert A. Musiala, Jr., the receiver in the above-captioned case.

NOTICE OF CLAIMS PROCEDURE AND CLAIMS BAR DATE

THIS NOTICE MAY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
FAILURE TO TIMELY SUBMIT A CLAIM PURSUANT TO THE DIRECTIONS BELOW
MAY RESULT IN YOUR CLAIM OR INTEREST BEING BARRED FROM A
DISTRIBUTION

To Potential Claimants:

On January 21, 2021, the above-captioned Court entered an Order appointing Robert A. Musiala, Jr. (”Receiver”) as Receiver for Virgil Technologies LLC, Montgomery Technologies LLC, Virgil Quantitative Research LLC (fka Decibel18 LLC), Virgil Capital LLC, VQR Partners LLC, and the assets of Virgil Sigma Fund LP and VQR Multistrategy Fund LP (together with all Recoverable Assets, as that term is defined in the Order Appointing Receiver, the “Receivership Estate”).

On August 8, 2022, the Court entered a separate Order (”Bar Date Order”) setting a date after which claims and/or interests (collectively “Claims”) filed against the Receivership Estate may be deemed untimely.

The purpose of this publication is to alert those persons or entities who may potentially hold a Claim against the Receivership Estate that 11:59 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time on December 6, 2022 has been set as the deadline (”Bar Date”) to file all Claims against the Receivership Estate.

Eligible Claimants

You may be eligible to submit a Claim if you (i) were employed by an entity of the Receivership Estate, (ii) paid any monies to entities within the Receivership Estate for investment purposes (regardless of the vehicle through which such investment was effectuated), (iii) provided services and/or goods to any entities within the Receivership Estate, or (iv) have other reason to believe you may be entitled to a recovery from the Receivership Estate.

How To Submit A Claim

Information and instructions on how to obtain a Claim Form and timely submit a Claim may be found on the Receiver’s website: https://www.bakerlaw.com/qin-receivership.

Deadline for Submitting A Claim

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all potential claimants and interest holders who believe they may be entitled to a recovery from the Receivership Estate must file their Claim Form (and accompanying documentation) electronically through the Receiver’s secure online Claims Portal (https://www.bakerlaw.com/qin-receivership) so that it is actually submitted to the Receiver no later than

11:59 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time on December 6, 2022.

Claims submitted electronically or postmarked after the Bar Date will not be timely and may not be considered by the Receiver in his discretion.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Receiver at qin-receivership@bakerlaw.com. ]]> https://caribpr.com/the-court-appointed-receiver-in-securities-and-exchange-commission-v-stefan-qin-et-al-announces-notice-of-bar-date-to-submit-claims/feed/ 0 https://caribpr.com/international-fraud-alert-las-vegas-resident-paulette-kimura-shimabukuro-and-related-entities-cited-for-multiple-reports-of-fraud-and-fraudulent-schemes/ https://caribpr.com/international-fraud-alert-las-vegas-resident-paulette-kimura-shimabukuro-and-related-entities-cited-for-multiple-reports-of-fraud-and-fraudulent-schemes/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2022 14:51:30 +0000 caribpr http://caribpr.com/?p=14914 This fraud alert and public safety warning is issued in relation to Paulette Kimura-Shimabukuro – a Las Vegas resident cited by victims and witnesses throughout the U.S. and globe for acts of fraud and attempted fraudulent schemes across a range of industry sectors.

Citing numerous business entities associated with Shimabukuro and her known accomplices – including DNA Distro, LLC; DNA Companies INC; and DNA Global Entities, LLC – reported schemes target investors and businesses in real estate investment, PPE trading and COVID-19 vaccine procurement, international commodities trading, and consumer product distribution.

CARIBPR WIRE, FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 11, 2022: Following repeated reports from investors, business owners, and organizations across the U.S. and globe – the Lerman Law Firm (Cathy Jackson Lerman, P.A.) has issued a fraud alert and public safety warning regarding numerous allegations of fraud against Paulette Kim Kimura-Shimabukuro.

Members of the public are urged to notify law enforcement when solicited to engage with known business entities connected to Shimabukuro and reported for acts of fraud, specifically, through the entities: DNA Distro, LLC; DNA Companies INC; and DNA Global Entities, LLC.

Paulette Kim Kimura-Shimabukuro is a 58-year-old female currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shimabukuro (a/k/a Paulette Shimabukuro, Paulette Kimura, and Paulette Kim) has a long history of complaints.

Numerous victims and witnesses located throughout the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia accuse Shimabukuro of fraudulent schemes that span several industry sectors over the past decade:

• In a 2010 federal lawsuit (US District Court of Nevada, Case no. 10-cv-01889) – citing breach of contract, breach of personal guarantee, fraudulent misrepresentation, misappropriation, self-dealing, and civil violations of the RICO Act – Shimabukuro is accused by Plaintiffs of conducting a real estate Ponzi Scheme that defrauded investors out of $678,000.
• In a 2011 lawsuit in San Diego, California (CHANNOINE COSMETICS, LLC VS. JAIMEE YOSHIZAWA, INC // Case No. 37-2011-00059853-CU-BC-NC) – Shimabukuro was ordered by the court to pay $365,518 to former business partners for breach of contract.

• Beginning in 2020, numerous victims and witnesses across the globe began reporting Shimabukuro for her role in soliciting, organizing and conducting fraudulent transactions for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shimabukuro, in the State of Florida, Division of Corporations records, has been reported to be a business partner of notorious South Florida fraudster David Coriaty (AKA David Columbo) through the entities DNA Distro, LLC; DNA Companies INC; and DNA Global Entities, LLC.
• Beginning in 2021, victims and witnesses also cite Shimabukuro and her partner David Coriaty (AKA David Columbo) for targeting businesses within the U.S. and globe and defrauding them out of funds in exchange for fake distribution services of consumer goods.

Victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers with knowledge of fraudulent acts and/or acts of attempted fraud by Paulette Kim Kimura-Shimabukuro – as well as her known associates or affiliated entities – are urged to immediately report all related information to their local law enforcement agency as this is a matter of public health and an ongoing fraudulent scheme.

Victims, witnesses and whistleblowers seeking assistance may contact Florida attorney, Cathy Lerman, Esq., principal of The Lerman Law Firm at 954-332-1143 or via email at clerman@lermanfirm.com.

ALERTA DE FRAUDE INTERNACIONAL: Paulette Kimura Shimabukuro, residente de Las Vegas, y entidades relacionadas citadas por varios reportes de fraude y esquemas fraudulentos

Esta alerta de fraude y advertencia de seguridad pública se emite en relación con Paulette Kimura-Shimabukuro, residente de Las Vegas citada por víctimas y testigos en todo Estados Unidos y el mundo por actos de fraude e intentos de esquemas fraudulentos en diversos sectores de la industria.

Citando numerosas entidades comerciales asociadas con Shimabukuro y sus cómplices conocidos, incluyendo, DNA Distro, LLC; DNA Companies INC; y DNA Global Entities, LLC, los esquemas reportados tienen como objetivo inversores y empresas en inversiones inmobiliarias, transacciones de equipos de protección personal (EPP) y adquisición de vacunas COVID-19, transacciones internacionales de mercancías y distribución de productos de consumo.

CARIBPR WIRE, FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 11, 2022: Después de repetidos reportes de inversores, propietarios de negocios y organizaciones en todo Estados Unidos y el mundo, Lerman Law Firm (Cathy Jackson Lerman, P.A.) emitió una alerta de fraude y advertencia de seguridad pública con respecto a numerosas acusaciones de fraude en contra de Paulette Kim Kimura-Shimabukuro.

Se exhorta a los miembros del público a notificar a las autoridades competentes en caso de que se les solicite participar con entidades comerciales conocidas relacionadas con Shimabukuro y denunciadas por actos de fraude, específicamente, a través de las entidades: DNA Distro, LLC; DNA Companies INC; y DNA Global Entities, LLC.

Paulette Kim Kimura-Shimabukuro es una mujer de 58 años que actualmente reside en Las Vegas, Nevada. Shimabukuro (alias; Paulette Shimabukuro, Paulette Kimura y Paulette Kim) tiene un largo historial de acusaciones.

Numerosas víctimas y testigos localizados en Estados Unidos, Canadá, Sudamérica, Europa, África y Asia acusan a Shimabukuro de planes fraudulentos que abarcan varios sectores de la industria en la última década:

• En una demanda federal de 2010 el (Tribunal de Distrito de Nevada, Caso No. 10-cv-01889) – citando incumplimiento de contrato, incumplimiento de garantía personal, representación engañosa fraudulenta, malversación, autocontratación y violaciones civiles de la Ley RICO – Shimabukuro es acusada por los demandantes de conducir un Esquema Ponzi de bienes raíces que estafó a inversores en $ 678.000.
• En una demanda de 2011 en San Diego, California (CHANNOINE COSMETICS, LLC VS. JAIMEE YOSHIZAWA, INC // Caso No. 37-2011-00059853-CU-BC-NC) – Shimabukuro recibió una orden judicial para pagar $ 365.518 a sus ex socios de negocios por incumplimiento de contrato.
• Comenzando en 2020, numerosas víctimas y testigos en todo el mundo empezaron a denunciar a Shimabukuro por su rol en la solicitud, organización y conducción de transacciones fraudulentas de equipos de protección personal (EPP) durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Shimabukuro, en los registros de la División de Corporaciones del Estado de Florida, fue reportada como socia de negocios del estafador de mala reputación en el Sur de Florida, David Coriaty (alias, David Columbo) a través de las entidades, DNA Distro, LLC; DNA Companies INC; y DNA Global Entities, LLC.
• Comenzando en 2021, las víctimas y testigos también citan a Shimabukuro y su socio David Coriaty (alias, David Columbo) por apuntar a empresas dentro de Estados Unidos y el mundo y estafarlas su capital a cambio de servicios de distribución falsos de bienes de consumo.

Se exhorta a las víctimas, testigos y denunciantes con conocimiento de actos fraudulentos y/o actos de intento de fraude por parte de Paulette Kimura-Shimabukuro, así como de sus asociados conocidos o entidades afiliadas, a reportar de forma inmediata toda información relacionada a las autoridades competentes locales, debido a que se trata de una cuestión de salud pública y un esquema fraudulento continuo.

Las víctimas, testigos y denunciantes que buscan asistencia pueden comunicarse con la abogada de Florida, Cathy Lerman, Esq., directora de The Lerman Law Firm al 954-332-1143 o correo electrónico clerman@lermanfirm.com.

“To set the scene:

Unlike doctors on the Principal List, the Health Practice Regulations don’t require institutionally registered doctors to have any postgraduate qualifications or any special training. Institutional List practitioners need only have obtained their qualifications from almost any medical school in the world (vs Principal List providers who must be registered from one of seven countries: Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States).

They are also not required to provide proof of specialist qualifications to call themselves a specialist or consultant, let alone a proper residency program (5 years), a fellowship program (an additional two years), and then three years of post-specialisation experience as required for the Principal List.

The only safeguard for patients to date is that institutionally registered doctors must practice at a “designated facility” and that Cabinet is responsible for designating these facilities.

Of course, the problem is that until April 6 2022, the Cabinet did not require facilities to meet any particular criteria before designating them, and Cabinet has no record of why Health City, Total Health, and Aster DM were designated as such. Cabinet has also not produced any criteria for reviewing the designation of facilities. In other words, there has been nothing to stop facilities from employing inexperienced Institutional List doctors with minimal supervision.

Until this court hearing, the concern had repeatedly been expressed by the local medical community that doctors on the institutional list were subject to a far lower level of regulation than doctors on the principal list, with consequent concerns for patient safety. This meant that doctors could be registered to practice here as institutional list practitioners with potentially very limited experience and qualifications.

On day 2 of the JR hearing, however, the Government’s QC stated that, on the Governments interpretation of the legislation, all doctors must possess the same or equivalent level of qualification and experience for registration. He stated that this is because Regulation 5 of the Health Practice Regulations is applicable to institutional list doctors as well as principal list doctors.  On day 3 of the JR hearing, the Government’s QC once more confirmed that this is the correct interpretation of the law, and the interpretation the government applies in regulating the institutional list.

We must await Justice William’s judgment to find out whether he will record that this new construction of the health practice law and regulations is correct, and must be applied going forwards, or whether he will instead recommend that the position is clarified by amending the legislation. Either way, the Government’s formal position, as articulated in court last week, means that all doctors registered to practice in Cayman must now possess an appropriate, minimum level of qualification and experience. As such, Regulation 5A, and the “second-tier” institutional list (initially introduced by the Health Practice law (2013 revision), will effectively be abolished.”

Of these two Grand Court Cases Nos 55 and 150 of 2021 in the Cayman court, this is a huge win for healthcare in Cayman – and for all duly regulated Principal List practitioners after years of dedication and investment into their education in compliance with the Health Practice Act and under the supervision of the Medical and Dental Council (MDC). I want to express my sincere appreciation for our lawyers Sally Bowler, Chris Buttler, and Ben Tonner from McGrath Tonner, who have worked tirelessly on our behalf to help affect these changes.

Unfortunately, all Institutional List physicians with boots on the ground in Cayman are exempted from meeting Principal List standards. Thankfully, the Cayman Islands Medical and Dental Society (CIMDS) has recently launched the “Green Tick” campaign to raise awareness about healthcare providers’ two separate registration lists. We invite the people of the Cayman Islands to educate themselves so they can make informed healthcare choices for their families. We also ask our Government to strongly reconsider their position on this matter as each existing Institutional List provider renews their registration (every two years). They should be held to the same medical standards, values, and code of ethics we Principal List providers stand behind for our patients.

At this juncture, only half the battle is won.

The Government has a discretion under the various laws to waive the duties payable by healthcare facilities, indeed by anyone. However, there is currently no transparent, published guideline or criteria assisting those liable to pay these duties to understand when they will or won’t be eligible for a waiver or an exemption: meaning that there is currently no transparent benchmark for obtaining a duty waiver or exemption. Health City (both in the east end and at its current and forthcoming Camana Bay facilities) receives huge financial privileges in the form of stamp duty waivers, import duty exemptions and discounts on work permit fees. This is all predicated on a contract that it entered into with the Government in 2010.

By comparison, Doctors Hospital paid CI$ 1.2 million in stamp duty to acquire its current site and has spent more than CI$ 1 million in customs duty alone over the last three years. Yet 12 years later Health City’s medical tourism facility, at least as the 2010 contract envisioned it to be, namely, an integrated hospital comprising of a hospital, medical university and an assisted living facility, has not materialized. So why are these concessions continuing to be granted?

Doctors Hospital is concerned about this lack of transparency and the lack of any regulatory framework which ensures fairness. As a result, Doctors Hospitals seeks a declaration that transparent criteria for the granting and refusal of concessions ought to be published for all to see.

Doctors Hospital has the same interest as any other taxpayer in the lawfulness of the Government collecting taxes and believes it is unlawful for the Government to grant waivers to Health City and others on the premise that it is now contractually bound to do so. In particular, when the public is losing out on large sums of money that would be available for public services.

Doctors Hospital’s motivation in bringing this judicial review is to, first and foremost, promote and preserve the integrity of healthcare in Cayman and to ensure that the Cayman Islands Government provides a fair and transparent tax system for all.

The ultimate findings from this three-day judicial review will be revealing. I sincerely hope that patient safety and the highest principles of healthcare are fully realised and that we bring an end to a long list of discriminatory concessions that Health City’s arrival in the Cayman Islands has brought about.”

]]> https://caribpr.com/statement-by-dr-yaron-rado-chief-radiologist-and-chairman-of-the-board-of-doctors-hospital-on-cayman-court-judicial-review-challenging-concessions-for-institutionally-registered-medical-professional/feed/ 0 https://caribpr.com/if-you-have-an-asbestos-claim-against-paddock-enterprises-llc-formerly-owens-illinois-which-made-kaylo-products-you-have-the-right-to-vote-on-paddocks-plan-of-reorganization-voting-will-help-d/ https://caribpr.com/if-you-have-an-asbestos-claim-against-paddock-enterprises-llc-formerly-owens-illinois-which-made-kaylo-products-you-have-the-right-to-vote-on-paddocks-plan-of-reorganization-voting-will-help-d/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2022 23:36:34 +0000 caribpr http://caribpr.com/?p=14791

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – The following statement is being issued by Prime Clerk, LLC regarding the bankruptcy of Paddock Enterprises, LLC.

If you have a General Asbestos Claim or Indirect Asbestos Claim against Paddock Enterprises, LLC (”Paddock”), formerly Owens-Illinois, Inc., which made Kaylo products, your rights may be affected by an upcoming vote on the Plan (available at PaddockVote.com) as part of the Paddock bankruptcy proceedings. Your vote will help determine whether the Plan will be confirmed.

The Bankruptcy Court approved a disclosure statement (available at PaddockVote.com) containing information that will help you decide how to vote on the Plan. The Plan proposes to set up a trust to resolve all Asbestos Claims.

Your legal rights may be affected if the Plan is approved. Only holders of General Asbestos Claims or Indirect Asbestos Claims, or their attorneys on their behalf, are entitled to receive a ballot to vote on the Plan. Holders of Claims and Equity Interests in all other Classes under the Plan are presumed to accept the Plan and are not entitled to vote.

The voting deadline, by which ballots must be actually received by Paddock’s balloting agent, Prime Clerk LLC, is April 8, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. ET. If you are unsure whether your attorney is authorized to vote on the Plan and intends to vote on your behalf, please contact your attorney.

If the Plan is approved by the Bankruptcy Court, all Asbestos Claims (whether or not you voted in favor of or against the Plan) will be channeled to the Asbestos Trust and resolved pursuant to the Trust Distribution Procedures.

Please read the Plan and other Plan Documents carefully for details about how the Plan, if approved, may affect your rights.

The Plan contains release provisions that may impact your rights, which include, among others, a “Release by Holders of Claims” in Section 10.6 of the Plan.  You should read this provision, as well as all other release, injunction, and exculpation provisions in the Plan, in their entirety.

If you have an Asbestos Claim, you will be deemed to have agreed to all “Releases by Holders of Claims” set forth in Section 10.6 of the Plan if you fall into any of the following categories:

(a)  you vote to accept the Plan;

(b)  you vote against the Plan, but you do not opt out of the releases by affirmatively checking the appropriate box on your ballot; or

(c)  you do not vote for or against the Plan and do not opt out of the releases provided for in the Plan.

You have the right to object to the Plan. The deadline to file an objection to the Plan is May 5, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. ET. There are specific requirements that must be followed to file an objection. The requirements are found in the Solicitation Procedures Order and other notices relating to Paddock’s Plan (which can be found at PaddockVote.com). Objections received after the deadline may not be considered by the Bankruptcy Court and may be deemed overruled without further notice.

This is only a summary. You can obtain additional information or instructions, review the Plan Documents, or obtain a solicitation package with a ballot to vote (as applicable), by contacting Prime Clerk LLC. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan.

For more information:

Paddock Ballot Processing
c/o Prime Clerk LLC
850 Third Avenue, Suite 412
Brooklyn, NY 11232

Visit: PaddockVote.com

Request More Information: paddockinfo@primeclerk.com

Request Ballot with Solicitation Package to Vote on the Plan: paddockballots@primeclerk.com

Call: (877) 425-8665 (Toll-Free) or +1 (917) 947-6267 (International) ]]> https://caribpr.com/if-you-have-an-asbestos-claim-against-paddock-enterprises-llc-formerly-owens-illinois-which-made-kaylo-products-you-have-the-right-to-vote-on-paddocks-plan-of-reorganization-voting-will-help-d/feed/ 0 https://caribpr.com/did-you-file-a-claim-against-purdue-pharma-as-part-of-its-bankruptcy-proceeding-do-you-have-a-claim-against-purdue-pharmas-owners/ https://caribpr.com/did-you-file-a-claim-against-purdue-pharma-as-part-of-its-bankruptcy-proceeding-do-you-have-a-claim-against-purdue-pharmas-owners/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:48:46 +0000 caribpr http://caribpr.com/?p=14567

A Hearing to Consider Confirmation of the Chapter 11 Plan May Affect Your Rights

Confirmation Hearing August 9, 2021.

DH challenges the fairness of the ongoing grant of financial concessions to Narayana Hrudayalaya Private Limited (”NHP”) by the Government of the Cayman Islands (”CIG”) for the current Health City development. Also, granting vast financial concessions to DM Healthcare (”DM”) for the Aster Cayman MedCity development, and the proposed financial concessions to NHP for the proposed development at Camana Bay is concerning.

CIG recently announced NHP will develop a new hospital at Camana Bay. The Premier reportedly stated, “concessions and duty waivers already in place for Health City would apply to the new facility” (Cayman Compass, 19 February 2021).

Concerning Aster Cayman Medcity, the Premier reportedly said DM would “not have to pay duty on medical equipment or supplies for 25 years after the commencement of construction of phase 1,” and an agreement to that effect would be executed that day (Cayman Compass, 21 December 2020).

DH acknowledges CIG’s intention to attract foreign investment to the Cayman Islands and welcomes it. However, DH firmly believes fair competition and a level playing field for all healthcare providers serves the best interests of all, especially the general public. Therefore, DH issued a pre-action letter to CIG on Monday, 8 March 2021, to which CIG has not substantively responded.

“We believe in fair and competitive marketplaces. Eliminating the gap between healthcare providers in Cayman is more important than ever. No market should be subjected to anticompetitive, monopolistic, or dominating behavior. The power held by these companies affects the Cayman economy, our democracy, and ultimately the health and well-being of our citizens. It is especially unfortunate for the many local-owned businesses who have been contributing to the country for years, shaping our community to what it is today,” says Dr Yaron Rado, Board Chairman and Chief Radiologist, Doctors Hospital.

Though never indicted by a jury of his peers and being the only person ever charged in any capacity in his case, due to pressure applied by the Prosecution and threats to charge and deport his then wife, who was in the process of receiving her Green Card, Fredrick waived his right to indictment and entered into a plea bargain based on a prosecutor’s information, subsequently being sentenced to five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release.

“Though I am not happy about the circumstances and situations surrounding my guilty plea, nor am I happy about all the time I lost with my children. The net effect of what happened, oddly enough, was the best thing that could have ever happened to me at that time. It gave me time, time to find me, learn to love and accept me for exactly who and what I am, find my purpose and calling in this life and realize what it truly means to be ‘Black in America’. I have been everywhere a person wants to be and everywhere they don’t and because of that I can now effectively use my Knowledge, Experience and Execution abilities to bring about real impact and change in disadvantaged communities in the United States and abroad and am looking forward to doing so!”

About Fredrick D. Scott:

Fredrick D. Scott is the CEO of The Scott Family Office Intl. A single-family office structure from which Fredrick stewards his family’s assets. He is also the Chairman of the Board for the New York City–based foundation, The Scott Family Foundation Intl., a Civil Society Organization (CSO) and member of the United Nations Global Compact. Fredrick is a business consultant, private equity investor, motivational speaker, social activist, and philanthropist. Named one of Ebony magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30″ in May 2010 at the age of 25, Fredrick was, at the time, the youngest African American hedge fund founder in history.

Fredrick is the pioneer of the #GetRealWoke movement. Designed to foster economic stability, viability, and the uplifting of our community by advancing financial literacy initiatives and combating policing, incarceration and economic tactics that are used to perpetually disenfranchise communities of color and render these communities modern day slaves in the United States. You can learn more about Fredrick and his endeavors by visiting: https://fredrickdscott.com and on Instagram: @fredrickdscott

Fort Named Director of Investigations at Tax and White-Collar Boutique

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP, is pleased to announce that John D. (Don) Fort, the former Chief of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation (CI) Division, has joined the firm as Director of Investigations. Mr. Fort departed the IRS at the end of September, after three years atop the IRS’s criminal enforcement arm and nearly 30 years at the agency. Mr. Fort will operate his practice out of K&F’s Washington, D.C. office.

Mr. Fort’s three decades of experience investigating financial crimes and his extensive network of connections both within the government and in private industry will prove invaluable to K&F’s broad client base of institutions and individuals facing high-stakes controversies and negotiations with government agencies. Mr. Fort will assist clients facing governmental investigations involving all manner of alleged financial and economic crimes, including tax crimes, money laundering, and Bank Secrecy Act violations. Mr. Fort also will play a central role in the firm’s internal investigations practice and will advise clients on compliance regimes. In addition, he will be available as an expert witness and for voluntary or court-mandated monitorships.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Don to K&F, and we’re confident that Don will strengthen and supplement Kostelanetz & Fink’s already deep bench in civil and criminal tax controversies and white-collar criminal defense,” said partner Bryan Skarlatos. “Don’s unique knowledge and insights into the government’s inner workings will help the firm continue providing the finest advice available and ensure that we secure the best outcomes possible for our clients.”

“I have long admired Kostelanetz & Fink’s tenacious advocacy and legal acumen, and I’m pleased to join the firm for this next chapter in my career,” said Mr. Fort. “I look forward to assisting clients in navigating the often thorny government investigations and negotiations process and bringing my experience and expertise to bear in strategically resolving our clients’ toughest challenges.”

Mr. Fort’s time in law enforcement included overseeing investigations of some of the most significant financial crimes ever investigated involving tax evasion, sanctions evasion, money laundering, bribery, international corruption, bank malfeasance, cyber and cryptocurrency crimes, and terrorist financing.

As both Chief and Deputy Chief of IRS-CI, Mr. Fort supervised numerous high-profile matters, including the college admissions scandal known as “Varsity Blues” that ensnared several celebrities; the Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen federal tax investigations; the Michael Avenatti tax investigation; the takedown of the largest darknet child exploitation website funded by cryptocurrency; two Chinese nationals who were charged with laundering $100 million in the hack of a cryptocurrency exchange; the Swiss Bank Program in which 80 Swiss banks entered into agreements with the government and paid $1.36 billion in penalties; the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) worldwide money laundering, structuring, and tax evasion matter; the Credit Suisse guilty plea, and many more.

Mr. Fort began his IRS career in 1991 as a Special Agent in Baltimore, Maryland, and later served in various investigatory roles around the country, before being elevated to Deputy Director of Strategy, IRS-CI Headquarters in 2014. Mr. Fort was named Chief of IRS-CI in June 2017.

Mr. Fort has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management from Gettysburg College and is a licensed CPA in the State of Virginia.

About Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP
Over the past 75 years, Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP, has built a global reputation as the law firm of choice for clients facing high-stakes controversies and negotiations with government agencies. K&F attorneys have unparalleled experience in tax controversies and white-collar criminal defense and are regularly called upon to handle the most challenging and sensitive cases and internal investigations. An important part of the firm’s practice includes tax and estate planning, commercial litigation, government procurement, and government contracting.

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