Switzerland will return $150 million from blocked Swiss bank accounts by the end of the year to the United States to be given to victims of convicted Ponzi scheme con artist Robert Allen Stanford, the Federal Ministry of Justice said on Monday.
Stanford, a former Texas financier known primarily by his middle name, was convicted of fraud by a Houston jury in 2012 in what prosecutors called a $7.2 billion fraud that lasted two decades and which was eclipsed in size only by the Ponzi scheme run by Bernie Madoff.
About $50 million had previously been returned, the justice ministry said.
In October, the Swiss criminal court had rejected appeals against the seizure of the assets, paving the way for the remaining $150 million to be returned by the end of December, the ministry said.
Stanford, now serving a 110-year prison term, had stashed millions from his Antigua-based Stanford International Bank at the Swiss arm of French bank Societe Generale, which he tapped regularly to fund a fleet of private jets and a 100-foot yacht, according to U.S. District Court filings from 2012.
“The release (of the blocked funds) became possible after the American financier Allen Stanford’s fraud conviction became permanent,” the Swiss justice ministry said in a statement on Monday.
According to a 2012 sentencing memorandum, U.S. federal prosecutors said Stanford was a “ruthless predator” who routed $116 million in … proceeds “through a Swiss slush fund he controlled at Societe Generale”.
Societe Generale spent years fighting allegations that it had not adequately upheld its anti-money laundering obligations in accepting Stanford’s money, Swiss court filings show.
A bank spokesman contacted by Reuters declined to comment on Monday. — Reuters
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Things starting to fall in line. Investors getting back some their monies invested in the fraudster. Leroy King sentencing delayed until February because he’s a cooperating witness. The sweat must be filling up the sheets at night of the co conspirators.
You honestly believe in what you are trying to insinuate?
Sir Alan Stanford: A man who went from rags to riches to rags,into a jail cell for 110 years.He thought he was smarter and brighter than most.
How the mighty are fallen.
Time will tell! The alphabet boys are on the case and they leave no stone unturned. Every lead is followed. They build a case step by step and when they get to the end of the trail there is a figure or figures standing/sitting in front of them. The investigative budget is endless and the pursuit is relentless. A cooperative witness seals the deal. He’ll be made an offer that he can’t refuse. Those that may come up in the fact finding will have to answer. Best of all the know bs when they hear it. Stay tuned and yes I believe my insights. John Asche died with his testimony. Leroy King is in protective custody to tell his.
Just saying…..Donald Trump handing out pardons like sand these days, couldn’t anyone lobby him on behalf of Uncle Stanford? Antigua saw it’s best days when Uncle Stanford was here. I actually feel sorry for him.
Would you be saying the same thing if it was your own hard earned dollars he squandered?
Meanwhile leroy king money being quickly & quietly “invested” locally so it gorn.
He didn’t get any money. Only superbowl tickets. Damn ass.
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