CMKM Diamonds Inc. (fka CMKX)

[dia duit]

Bupsie's career went straight into the proverbial latrine trench!

Or to put it another way, he became a penny stock pimp.

he had a West Point Classmate who was involved in a Penny Scam himself

Budster also hooked up with the notorious convicted felon Terry Ramsden.


http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000137073540/

When I looked into Private Trading Systems, I noted that its chairman, chief executive, treasurer and corporate secretary is none other than C. Austin BUD BURRELL, whose dire warnings about naked shorting have been featured at NCANS.net, on the Bob OBrien blog and similar Internet sites.

BURRELL also has been a litigation consultant for John OQuinn, the Texas lawyer representing OVERSTOCK.COM in its suit against Rocker Partners, Gradient Analytics and other defendants who allegedly undermined the companys stock through nefarious shorting activities.

Its worth noting that shares of Endovasc Inc., another company that is part of the anti-naked shorting coalition, also were sold by a foreign boiler room known as Bellador Advisory Services.

Theres another interesting aspect to Private Trading Systems. According to the Form 10-12 that Private Trading filed earlier this month with the SEC, its biggest shareholder, with a 43.2 percent equity stake, is T.P. Ramsden.

The filing said Ramsden controlled the rights to the technology behind the trading system that the company is developing to allow institutional investors to privately trade securities, instruments, or any financial asset that is capable of being converted to electronic form.

What Private Trading Systems SEC filing did not say is that T.P. Ramsden is Terry Ramsden, once a highflying British bond trader, who pleaded guilty to investment fraud in the 1990s and later was convicted of bankruptcy fraud. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison, and served 10.

Ramsden is making a comeback of sorts, and has raised eyebrows in British investment circles by taking positions in several small public companies whose shares have moved upward after his arrival (Hansard Group is one example).

I offer this tale as yet another example of the kinds of activities that members of the anti-naked shorting coalition have been engaging in, while claiming that it is their detractors who are involved in dishonest undertakings.



SEC target Rosenfeld nabbed in money laundering sting

2002-08-16 17:36 PT - Street Wire

by Brent Mudry


Bay Street penny stock lawyer Simon Rosenfeld, a past securities violator, has been charged with three counts of money laundering in a Canadian sting operation related to Bermuda Short. The Miami-based overall FBI-RCMP operation is the broadest U.S.-Canadian joint probe of stock-market-related money laundering in recent history. Of 58 individuals named in 23 separate grand jury indictments unsealed Thursday in Miami, 20 were Canadian, including Mark Valentine, the suspended head of Toronto brokerage Thomson Kernaghan, controversial former Vancouver lawyer Martin Chambers and numerous Vancouver and Toronto penny stock players.

The top-secret arrest of Mr. Rosenfeld, 55, was more than two months ago, the first known arrest related to the overall Bermuda Short operation. FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Frank Figliuzzi confirms the first of the 58 current parties was arrested 6:30 Tuesday morning, as more than 100 FBI agents fanned out across the U.S. in the co-ordinated arrest operation, which ended Wednesday. A total of 29 targets were arrested in the greater Miami area, Boca Raton and other cities in South Florida.

While Special Agent Figliuzzi was unable to make any comment on the Rosenfeld case, another high-ranking law enforcement official confirmed the Toronto lawyer is related to the overall Bermuda Short operation. "There is a connection," the official told Stockwatch. Although the RCMP-based "E" Division, which handled the Chambers sting, dubbed "E-POS," presumably for "point-of-sale," notes its investigation lasted three years, the Toronto Rosenfeld case is believed to be much more recent.

It is unclear whether Mr. Rosenfeld, like Mr. Chambers, was snared for offering to launder drug money. In fact, even though the whole outline of the Rosenfeld case was presented in Ontario Provincial Court at Old City Hall in Toronto Wednesday, almost every detail is covered by a broad publication ban requested by the lawyer's lawyer.

While publication bans at Canadian bail hearings are relatively routine, the Rosenfeld ban is so broad that a Toronto RCMP spokeswoman told an inquiring Stockwatch reporter Thursday that even the identities of the two parties cannot be revealed. This was particularly surprising, as the reporter had made no direct or indirect mention of Mr. Rosenfeld, had no knowledge of his predicament at the time, and was specifically inquiring about the Toronto individuals named Thursday, especially Mr. Valentine.

Left unexplained is exactly why there is such a fuss about Mr. Rosenfeld, and why is case is so sensitive that a respected Canadian judge would agree to a publication ban so broad that even the parties' names were protected. Stockwatch has since confirmed that the names are no longer subject to such a gag order.

Here is what Mr. Rosenfeld and his defence lawyer are so desperate to keep a secret. For the record, Mr. Rosenfeld has been charged with three counts relating to money laundering. The Toronto penny stock lawyer was charged June 4 with one count each of money laundering and possession of proceeds of an alleged crime. A month later, on July 5, a third count, also of money laundering, was added to the list.

Co-accused Sotirios Phronomadis, believed to be a secondary player, was also charged June 4 with two counts relating to money laundering. Both men face a next court date of Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. in Court 114, unless Mr. Rosenfeld and his lawyer manage to get the date switched or shroud the case in further secrecy.

It is not known whether Mr. Rosenfeld, like Mr. Chambers, was snared in a sting to launder Colombian cocaine funds, or some other operational premise. In the Chambers operation, an undercover RCMP corporal and an undercover FBI special agent posed as Colombian narco-cartel operatives anxious to launder drug money through banks in Canada, the U.S., especially Miami, and offshore.

While Mr. Rosenfeld, like his co-accused, remains presumed innocent until proven guilty, he is hardly the most respected lawyer on Bay Street.

Mr. Rosenfeld's biggest claim to fame, at least in penny-stock circles, is a $2.82-million penny stock fraud judgment the United States Securities and Exchange Commission won against him in March of last year. (All figures are in U.S. dollars.)

The combined judgment against Mr. Rosenfeld gave him full credit for his key role in the "pump and dump" promotion of Synpro Environmental Services, a Nasdaq Small Cap Market stock, between 1991 and 1994. The SEC claims Mr. Rosenfeld, the former president, treasurer and director of Synpro, violated a number of securities regulations in the fraudulent scheme.

Mr. Rosenfeld, 54, earlier served as a director of Al Shefsky's Silversword Corp. and SFP International, while fellow Synpro director and defendant Terry Kochanowski, 37, also of Toronto, earlier served as a director of United Gunn Resources. None of these three companies were involved in the regulatory proceedings. Mr. Kochanowski and bribed Colorado broker John F. Yakimczyk, 60, settled their Synpro prosecutions earlier.

In a consent settlement in January, 2000, Mr. Kochanowski agreed to disgorge $50,000 of illicit profits, but payment was waived and no fine was levied, based on a "demonstrated inability to pay." Both Mr. Rosenfeld and Mr. Kochanowski have been banned as directors or officers of a public company.

In a consent settlement with the SEC in April, 2000, Mr. Yakimczyk agreed to disgorgement of $139,500 in illicit profits, but payment of all but $15,000 was waived, and no fine was levied, based on the promoter's plea of poverty. In a July, 1996, settlement with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Mr. Yakimczyk agreed to a reprimand, a two-year prohibition on association in any capacity with a brokerage, and a $25,000 fine.

The SEC claims Mr. Rosenfeld, with the assistance of Mr. Kochanowski, masterminded and orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to falsely inflate the value of shares of Synpro, formerly known as Sherwood Corp., and made numerous registration violations including unregistered distributions of offshore shares. "For instance, Rosenfeld directed Synpro to overstate the value of the company's assets by falsely reporting, among other things, that Synpro owned a $15-million, 17-acre property on the Isle of Rhodes, Greece. Rosenfeld also failed to disclose the related party nature of numerous transactions to which Synpro was a party," states the SEC.

The regulator also notes the Toronto lawyer made numerous moves to "condition" the market for Synpro shares to sell his secret holdings, including making undisclosed stock and/or cash kickbacks to broker Mr. Yakimczyk, of Aurora, Colo., and other promoters, for inducing investors to buy the stock. The SEC claims that Mr. Kochanowski was also a central player, arranging and keeping track of the bribe payments.

In a final judgment entered March 12, 2001, by United States District Court Judge William Pauley III for the Southern District of New York, Mr. Rosenfeld was ordered to pay a total of $2,816,764. This amount includes $1.09-million in disgorgement, $630,000 in prejudgment interest and $1.09-million in civil penalties.

Under the direction of Mr. Rosenfeld from December, 1991, to December, 1994, Synpro claimed to be involved in international real estate development and in the recycling of waste tires into marketable byproducts. Until March, 1993, the company was headquartered in both Portchester, N.Y., and Toronto, before relocating to Conyers, Ga.

In 1991, Synpro reported its acquisition of Ramia Holdings, a Cypriot company controlled by Giovanni Ilardo, an Italian resident, for 5.62 million restricted shares. The sole asset of Ramia was Italhellas SA, a company based in Rhodes, Greece, whose sole purported asset was 17 acres of property on the Isle of Rhodes. Synpro valued the property and the shares at $15-million. Neither Synpro nor Italhellas own or have ever owned property on the Isle of Rhodes, however, and Synpro accordingly overstated its assets by $15-million.

Synpro also claimed the Greek government made $13.5-million in grants and loans for development of the property, but this also was allegedly false. In the second dubious property deal, Synpro claimed in July of 1992 that it acquired 100 per cent of Inmobiliaria Medialuna SA, an Equatoguinean corporation, from three companies: Croyden Investments, Nesden Management and Korsal Finance SA. Synpro claimed that IMSA owned the Hotel Medialuna, a purported resort hotel located in the west African country of Equatorial Guinea, valued at $20-million.

Three months later, in October of 1992, Synpro and Mr. Rosenfeld were informed by IMSA that the Presidency of Equatorial Guinea had transferred ownership of the hotel to the government. IMSA twice informed Synpro and Mr. Rosenfeld that it was proceeding to annul its agreement with Synpro. The SEC claims Synpro and Mr. Rosenberg knew of or recklessly disregarded the significant risks and uncertainties concerning the true ownership of the hotel.

The SEC also claims that Synpro issued 362,500 shares to a consultant, Euro-Pacific Investments & Trading, as compensation for "professional services rendered" in connection with the acquisition of the Rhodes property, but it forgot to disclose that in reality Euro-Pacific was a British Virgin Islands shell controlled by Mr. Rosenfeld. At the time the shares were issued, the Toronto lawyer was both president and secretary of Euro-Pacific, which had business addresses in London and Tortola.

Later in 1992, Synpro falsely claimed it had obtained a $5-million line of credit from Societe Financiere Privee SA, a private Swiss bank based in Geneva. Synpro also issued 7.2 million shares to Elije, another BVI shell with business addresses in Geneva and Tortola, but forgot to mention the offshore shell was controlled by Mr. Rosenfeld. The company paid four million shares to Elije as payment for a $1-million fee for arranging the purported $5-million line of credit, and 3.2 million shares in payment of a $1.6-million fee for "structuring and consulting services" in connection with Synpro's acquisition of IMSA.

The SEC claims that from August of 1992 through February of 1995, 4.23 million of the 7.2 million shares issued to Elije were sold to public investors in the U.S. and Canada. About 735,000 of the shares were sold through accounts in Elije's name at various registered broker-dealers, while 3.8 million of the shares issued to Elije were transferred to brokerage accounts in the name of Merchant House Internationale Populaire SA. Of these shares, 3.5 million were sold in the U.S. and Canada through accounts in the name of Merchant House at various brokerages. The SEC claims that Merchant House is another BVI shell controlled by Mr. Rosenfeld.

The 4.23 million shares sold generated proceeds of $1.05-million, and almost all of the proceeds were remitted to bank accounts controlled by Mr. Rosenfeld. The SEC claims that as part of the fraudulent scheme, at least 1.32 million of the 7.2 million Synpro shares issued to Elije were delivered to "various persons" for their efforts in boosting the stock price by inducing the public to buy the stock.

In addition, at least 76,000 of the 362,500 shares issued to Euro-Pacific were delivered, and at least $200,000 was paid in cash, to "various persons" to arrange public buying. While Mr. Rosenfeld was the alleged mastermind and controlling figure, the SEC notes that Mr. Kochanowski was a central player, and he arranged for and kept track of the kickback payments to brokers.

Three years before embarking on the fraudulent Synpro pump and dump, Mr. Rosenfeld was a key player in another troubled penny stock promotion, Silversword, which he departed in 1990. He was not the most distinguished Silversword player, however. That title goes to Howe Street player Terrance Philip Ramsden, also known as Terrence Ramsden, the controversial flamed-out expatriate British horse racing gambler and penny stock promoter. A decade ago, Mr. Ramsden achieved the rare distinction of joining the select list of penny stock players deemed unfit for even the former Vancouver Stock Exchange, which was dubbed at the time as the Scam Capital of the World by Forbes magazine.

On Howe Street, Mr. Ramsden is best known for his rocky reign over Silversword, a controversial Toronto company listed on the VSE. In mid-1990, two years after Mr. Ramsden took control of Silversword, shocked VSE officials abruptly halted trading after they suddenly twigged in to some sort of suspicious trading. That fall, the exchange demanded Mr. Ramsden be given the boot before it would lift the trading suspension, without making public any details of his troubles with authorities.

Mr. Ramsden's Silversword saga traces back to September, 1987, when the VSE halted trading of Canadian Estate Land Corp., a one-year-old VSE shell, amid a two-step reverse takeover in which the London financier's Panther Oil and Gas Ltd. was vended into Lynx Petroleum Ltd. and Lynx was vended into Canadian Estate. The deal gave Mr. Ramsden 95-per-cent control of Lynx, resulting in him becoming the major shareholder of Canadian Estate.

Mr. Ramsden opted not to join the board, which was led by Alan Shefsky, now a TSX Venture Exchange diamond stock promoter, and Mr. Rosenfeld, the Toronto lawyer. When the deal closed in March, 1988, Canadian Estate changed names to Silversword, which began trading at $4.05. (All Silversword figures are in Canadian dollars.) The thinly traded stock slipped to $1 by that August but bounced back to end the year at $1.75.

1989 was a banner year for Silversword. The stock more than doubled to $3.70 in early February amid increasing trading volume, then peaked at $7 that August.

Silversword trading was even more volatile in early 1990, with the stock collapsing from $2.50 that January to 68 cents five weeks later, then abruptly quadrupling to $3.05 a month after that, in early March.

Three months later, on June 1, 1990, the VSE abruptly halted trading at $2, "pending clarification of market activity." Later that month the exchange upgraded its action to a trading suspension, citing concerns over both the market activity and the composition of Silversword's board of directors. (Mr. Rosenfeld, who served a stint as chairman, had already left the board that February.)

Silversword's controversial collapse was no doubt embarrassing to its marquee director, former federal cabinet minister Eugene Whelan, whose claim to fame was serving 12 years as agriculture minister under the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau. (Mr. Whelan was subsequently named Senator Whelan by current Prime Minister Jean Chretien in 1996, but he resigned in July, 1999, as the senate, plagued by no-shows and sleepers, nudges out members at age 75.)

The only sliver of detail to emerge on the Silversword debacle came on Nov. 22, 1990. "The company has been advised by the VSE that trading of its shares will not resume on the exchange until such time as Mr. Terence Ramsden, the principal shareholder of the company, divests himself of his holdings in Silversword," stated Silversword head Raymond Barlett, an associate of Mr. Ramsden, in a terse press release.

Silversword shares never resumed trading on the VSE and the Vancouver penny stock exchange delisted the stock in May, 1993. (By this time, Mr. Rosenfeld's fraudulent promotion of an unrelated penny stock on Nasdaq was at its peak.)

Nowhere in the VSE's public notices or Silversword press releases was there any mention of Mr. Ramsden's serious troubles with British authorities, as exchange authorities usually liked to sweep any emerging scandals under the carpet as the targets were swept out the door.

While officials mysteriously halted trading of Toronto-based Silversword on the Vancouver exchange, Mr. Ramsden's world was falling apart in London. "Terry Ramsden, who was once Britain's fifty-seventh richest man but ended up becoming one of the country's most famous bankrupts after running up gambling losses of more than 100 million pounds," stated the Guardian newspaper in a recent article. Mr. Ramsden was also well on his way to jail.

British racing and gambling journalist Mark Siggers of Alfa, an industry news service, notes that Mr. Ramsden, a familiar face at horse tracks around the world, reputedly lost 58 million pounds to bookies in three years after betting heavily and disastrously on his own stable of racehorses. The bookies and authorities found out too late that Glen International, which also happened to be a major shareholder of Silversword, was about to collapse.

"Pursued by the Serious Fraud Office, Ramsden fled to the U.S. in 1991 and fought extradition procedures from a Los Angeles jail cell. When he eventually volunteered to return, receiving a two-year suspended jail sentence for having fraudulently induced finance houses to invest in Glen International," reports Alfa. The judge reportedly found Mr. Ramsden's guilt was related to criminal recklessness instead of deliberate fraud.

Bad as this might sound, Mr. Ramsden's troubles were just starting. The tax chaps from Inland Revenue sent the Silversword financier a bill for 21.5 million pounds in overdue taxes and he was declared bankrupt soon after. Unfortunately, Mr. Ramsden then perpetrated a bankruptcy fraud by hiding assets from bankruptcy court officials, including 77,000 pounds of winnings from a British track and 300,000 pounds he received from a New York trust.

The fallen horseman of Howe Street was sentenced to 21 months in prison in 1998, and on his release he reportedly appeared in a number of Internet companies, including some with betting Web sites. Soon after walking free, with the prison doors clanging shut behing him, Mr. Ramsden headed to the open doors of Union Securities in Vancouver, which was happy to open a brokerage account for the fallen financier.

While Mr. Ramsden has relocated to Gibraltar, amid an exodus of British bookies and gambling figures to the tax-friendly secrecy haven, the troubles in his former racing empire are far from over.

On Jan. 4, high-profile British horse trainer Rod Simpson, who had been the top trainer in Mr. Ramsden's stable for years, was fined 2,500 pounds by the British Jockey Club for a series of racetrack misdemeanours. "What I didn't allow for was the fact that the Jockey Club has these ex-policemen aged 90 to 130 with nothing else to do," the unrepentant racing legend told the press.

According to Alfa, two years ago Mr. Simpson had the misfortune of being evicted by receivers from racing stables owned by another client, David Piper, who had been arrested and charged with drug trafficking offences. One of the horses trained by Mr. Simpson for Mr. Piper was Nipper Reed, named after the Great Train Robbery detective who put the infamous Kray brothers behind bars.

Although Howe Street boosters love to say the riff-raff were chased out years ago, Mr. Ramsden is back to playing the markets through Vancouver brokerage Union Securities, which filed a $248,400 (Canadian) suit against its offshore Gibraltar-based client this January. another Silversword alumni has been in regulators' crosshairs in recent years.

While Union's star client in recent years, at least in the bad-boy category, has been notorious American career felon and New York Mafia associate Ed Durante, Mr. Ramsden deserves special recognition for his own career achievements.

(In the unrelated Durante case, Vancouver broker Trevor Koenig, who ran Union's White Rock satellite branch specializing in garbage OTC Bulletin Board stocks, has been in custody since his Labour Day, 2001, border arrest, and is now in jail in New York. In a parallel Durante sting to that of Mr. Koenig, controversial Vancouver offshore accountant Michael K. Graye, an associate of Mr. Chambers, was nabbed last October.)

With such a rich penny stock legacy on Howe Street and Bay Street, it is hardly a surprise that so many Canadians, including Mr. Rosenfeld, were targeted and nabbed in Bermuda Short.