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    AO 44 2 (Rev. 11/98) Warrant for Arrest

    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT_ _ _

    - ' -~ D l S T R I C T

    OF CONNECTICUT

    UNITED STATESOF AMERICA

    V.

    JUAN CARLOS GUILLEN ZERPA

    WARRANT FOR ARREST

    DOCKET NUMBER: 3: / /mj 31(w/&)

    TO: The United States Marshaland any Authorized United StatesOfficer

    JUAN CARLOS GUILLEN ZERPAYOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to arrest_ - " - " ' ' - ' ' - ' ~ - - " " ! ~ ' ' - - ' ' - , " " , , , , ~ ' ' - Name

    and bring him forthwith to the nearest magistratejudge to answer a

    o Indictment 0 Information .Complaint 0 Order of Court 0 Violation Notice 0 Probation Violation Petit ion

    charging h im w it h (brief descriptionofoffense) Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, to obstruct justiceand to def raud the U.S. Securities an d Exchange Commission; an d Obstruction of an official proceeding,

    in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section(s) 371, 1512 & 2

    WILLIAM I. GARFINKEL UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGEName of Issuing Officer

    Signatureo f ~ ; ; ; r i ~ ; ~ } " \ " ' - - > '

    . - - -A--

    Title of Issuing Officer

    March 2, 2011 at Bridgeport, ConnecticutDate and Location

    Bail fixed at $ _ byName of Judicial Officer

    RETURN

    This warrant was received and execu ted with the a rres t of the above named-defendant at

    -

    DATE RECEIVED NAME AND TITLE OF ARRESTING OFFiCER SIGNATURE OF ARRESTING OFFICER

    DATE OF ARREST-rr\le Copy

    A T T " ' ~ ' H :~

    ,JI'",- - " ' - - ' - : " " ~

    W".' i i ~ " , ~ n - t ! " ' t ,. cr .:,$. l i i ~ r ~ ~ i r t

    ~~

    . v 7 C - /

    Y f . l U l V ~ " " ' r

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    AO 91 (Rev. 08/09) Criminal Complaint

    UNITED STATES DISTRICT

    C ~for theDistrict o f Connecticut 2011 HAR-2 P 3: 00United States o f America

    v.

    JUAN CARLOS GUILLEN ZERPA

    Defendanus)

    ))))))

    Case No.

    u.s. oisnucr COURT

    ,:,jCGEPOET. CD

    3://111) 31 (W/G)

    CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

    I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best o f my knowledge and belief.

    On or about the date(s) o f October 2010 to March 2011 in the county o f Fairfield in the

    District o f Connecticut , the defendant(s) violated:

    Code SectionTitle 18. United States Code.Section 371

    Title 18. United States Code,Sections 1512(c)(2) & 2

    Offense DescriptionConspiracy to Obstruct Justice. to Obstruct an Official Proceeding and toDefraud the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

    Obstruction of an Official Proceeding

    This criminal complaint is based on these facts:

    Se eattached affidavitof Special Agent Stacy G. Bowery. dated March 2, 2011

    Olf Continued on the attached sheet.

    Sworn to before me and signed in my presence.

    Date:

    ~ : P - 2 ! - - = -& i - -

    Judge s signature

    City and state: Bridgeport. CT William I. Garfinkel. U.S. Magistrate JudgePrinted name and title

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    STATE OF CONNECTICUT

    COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD

    s s :

    AFFIDAVIT

    B r i d g e p o r t , C o n n e c t i c u t

    March 2 , 2011

    I , S t a c y G. Bowery, b e in g d u ly sworn , h e r e b y depose and

    s t a t e :

    1 . I am a S p e c i a l Agen t o f t h e F e d e r a l Bureau o f

    I n v e s t i g a t i o n (FB I), and have b e e n so employed f o r approx ima te ly

    13 y e a r s . I am c u r r e n t l y a s s i g n e d t o a White C o l l a r squad i n t h e

    F B I' s B r id ge po rt R e s i d e n t Agency. I n my r o l e as a S p e c i a l Agent

    o f t h e FBI, I have r e c e i v e d t r a i n in g i n c o n d u c t i n g c r i m i n a l

    i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , and I am f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e p r o c e d u r e s o f t h e FBI.

    As a S p e c i a l Agent o f t h e FBI, I have p a r t i c i p a t e d i n numerous

    c r i m i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g v i o l a t i o n s o f f e d e r a l c r i m i n a l

    l aw, i n c l u d i n g i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f o r g a n i z e d c r i m e , as w e l l a s

    c r i m i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g m a i l f r a u d and w i r e f r a u d ,

    money l a u n d e r i n g , mor tgage f r a u d and bank f r a u d o f f e n s e s , a s w e l l

    a s o th e r f in a n c ia l f r a u d s .

    2. I make t h i s a f f id a v i t i n s u p p o r t o f a t w o - c o u n t c r i m i n a l

    c om p la in t s ee kin g an a r r e s t w a r r a n t f o r JUAN CARLOS GUILLEN ZERPA

    ( h e r e a f t e r , "GUILLEN") on c h a rg e s o f : Count On e - c o n s p i r a c y t o

    o b s t r u c t j u s t i c e , t o o b s t r u c t an o f f i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g , and t o

    d ef r a ud t h e U.S. S e c u r i t i e s and Exchange Commission ("SEC"),

    c o n t r a r y t o 18 U.S .C . 1503, 1512 , and 371 , a l l o f which i s i n

    v i o l a t i o n o f 18 U.S .C . 371; and Count Two - o b s t r u c t i o n o f an

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    o f f i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g , i n v i o l a t i o n o f 18 U.S .C . 1512 and 2.

    3. The i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t h i s a f f i d a v i t i s based

    upon my p e r s o n a l knowledge d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , my

    rev iew o f documents , i n f o r m a t i o n s up pl i e d t o me by o t h e r a g e n t s

    and o f f i c e r s , i n c l u d i n g c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h and i n f o r m a t i o n I have

    o b t a i n e d from FB I S p e c i a l Agent J a s o n M. Breen , who i s t h e c a s e

    a g e n t on t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t I have l e a r n e d

    a b o u t i n f o r m a t i o n s u p p l i e d by a c o n f i d e n t i a l human source

    ("CHS"), my r ev iew o f p r e l i m i n a r y d r a f t t r a n s c r i p t s o f

    c o n s e n s u a l l y r e c o r d e d phone c a l l s , a s w e l l a s e m a i l s and t e x t

    messages i n v o l v i n g t h e CHS, GUILLEN a n d / o r o t h e r s , and

    i n f o r m a t i o n and documents made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e FBI by

    r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e SEC, a s w e l l a s i n f o r m a t i o n t h e FB I

    o b t a i n e d from a c o u r t - a p p o i n t e d r e c e i v e r and h i s s t a f f . The

    f a c t s s e t f o r t h h e r e i n do n o t r e p r e s e n t e v e r y f a c t known t o me o r

    e v e r y f a c t d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n ,

    which i s o n g o i n g . Due t o t h e ongo ing n a t u r e o f t h e

    i n v e s t i g a t i o n , I r e s p e c t f u l l y r e q u e s t t h a t t h i s a f f i d a v i t a s w e l l

    a s t h e c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t and any a r r e s t w a r r a n t i s s u e d by t h e

    C o u r t i n t h i s m a t t e r , be s e a l e d u n t i l f u r t h e r O r d e r o f t h i s Cour t

    o r o t h e r C o u r t .

    A p p l i c a b l e Law

    4. S e c t i o n 371 o f T i t l e 18 p r o v i d e s :

    I f two o r more p e r s o n s c o n s p i r e e i t h e r t o commit anyo f f e n s e a g a i n s t t h e Uni ted S t a t e s , o r t o d e f r a u d t h e

    2

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    Uni ted S t a t e s , o r any agency t h e r e o f i n any manner o rf o r any p u r p o s e , and one o r more o f such p e r s o n s do anya c t t o e f f e c t t h e o b j e c t o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y , each s h a l lbe f i n e d u n d e r t h i s t i t l e o r impr i soned n o t more t h a nf i v e y e a r s , o r b o t h .

    S e c t i o n 1503 o f T i t l e 18 p r o v i d e s i n p e rt in e n t p a r t :

    Whoeverimpedes , o rimpede , t h ep un is hed as

    . c o r r u p t l y . . i n f l u e n c e s , o b s t r u c t s ,endeavor s t o i n fl u en ce , o b s t r u c t , o rdue a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f j u s t i c e , s h a ll bep r o v i d e d i n s u b s e c t i o n ( b ) .

    o r

    S e c t i o n 1512 o f T i t l e 18 p r o v i d e s i n p e r t i n e n t p a rt :

    Whoever c o r r u p t l y . . o b s t r u c t s , i n fl u en ce s , o rimpedes any o f f i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g , o r a t t e m p t s t o do so ,s h a l l be f i n e d u n d e r t h i s t i t l e o r i m p r i s o n e d n o t moret h a n 20 y e a r s , o r b o t h .

    S e c t i o n 1512 f u r t h e r p r o v i d e s , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , t h a t "an

    o f f i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g need n o t be pend ing o r a b o u t t o be i n s t i t u t e d

    a t t h e t ime o f th e o f f e n s e . n Moreove r, S e c t i o n 1512

    p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e r e i s " e x t r a t e r r i to r ia l F e d e r a l j u r i S d i c t i o n

    o v e r an o f f e n s e u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n . "

    Background o f th e I n v e s t i g a t i o n

    5 . I am working w i t h o t h e r FB I a g e n t s on an i n v e s t i g a t i o n

    o f v ar io u s i n d iv id u al s and e n t i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e Michae l

    Kenwood Group, LLC ( h e r e a f t e r , t h e "MK Group" ) , an a f f i l i a t e d

    e n t i t y c a l l e d Michae l Kenwood C a p i t a l Management , LLC ( h e r e a f t e r ,

    "MK C a p i t a l " ) and o t h e r r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s and hedge funds , as w e l l

    a s a n o t h e r e n t i t y t h a t i s a r e g i s t e r e d i n v e s t m e n t a d v i s e r and

    he d ge funds i t a d v i s e s . The i n v e s t i g a t i o n has r e v e a l e d t h a t some

    o f t h e hedge funds i n v o l v e d i n c l u d e t h e S h o r t Term L i q u i d i t y Fund

    3

    \

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    ( h e r e a f t e r , "STLF"), t h e MK Venezue la Fund ( h e r e a f t e r , t h e "MK VZ

    Fund") , t h e MK S p e c i a l O p p o r t u n i t i e s Fund ( h e r e a f t e r , "SOF"), and

    o t h e r s . The v a r i o u s hedge funds i nvo l ved i n t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n ,

    i n c l u d i n g t h e ones i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e p re v i ou s s en te nc e , w i l l be

    r e f e r r e d t o h e r e i n c o l l e c t i v e l y a s t h e "Funds" .

    6. The i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s focused on a f r a u d scheme

    o c c u r r i n g i n C o n n e c t i c u t and e l s e w h e r e from a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2006 t o

    2011 t o d e f r a u d i n v e s t o r s and c r e d i t o r s o f v a r i o u s hedge funds

    a d v i s e d by t h e s e and r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s . P a r t o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n

    i s f o c u s e d on a pe r son who w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o h er e i n a s a

    c o n f i d e n t i a l human so u rce ( th e "CHS"), GUILLEN and o t h e r s ,

    i n c l u d i n g a fo rmer Venezue lan b a n k e r l i v i n g i n F l o r i d a who w i l l

    be r e f e r r e d t o h e r e i n a s t h e "Middleman." GUILLEN i s an

    a c c o u n t a n t i n Venezue la and p r a c t i c e s i n a f i rm a s s o c i a t e d with a

    m a j o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l a cc ou n tin g f ir m. As s e t f o r t h i n g r e a t e r

    d e t a i l below, th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n shows t h a t t h e CHS, GUILLEN, t h e

    Middleman and o t h e r s a l l p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a c o n s p i r a c y t o f a l s i f y

    an a s s e t v e r i f i c a t i o n l e t t e r on b e h a l f o f STLF which p u r p o r t e d t o

    v er i f y t h a t STLF was owed money by v a r i o u s Venezue lan companies .

    The l e t t e r a t t e s t e d t h a t t h e l o ans i n t o t a l amounted t o a t l e a s t

    app rox i ma te l y $275 m i l l i o n , when t h e CHS, GUILLEN and t h e

    Middleman a l l knew t h a t no such l o a n s were owed t o STLF. The

    l e t t e r , which w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o h e r e i n a s t h e " F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t

    Ve r if ic a t i o n L e t te r ," was f a l s e .

    4

    The c o n s p i r a c y i n c l u d e d

    \

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    p r o v i d i n g t h e F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t Ve r if ic a ti o n L e t te r t o t h e SEC i n

    t h e c o u r s e o f i t s o f f i c i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n . The c o - c o n s p i r a t o r s

    a l s o c a u s e d t h e F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t Ve r if ic a ti o n L e t te r t o be

    s u p p l i e d t o t h e b us i n es s a d v i s e r s a p p o i n t e d by t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

    i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a c i v i l s u i t f i l e d by t h e SEC and s t y l e d SEC

    v . 11 1 a r r a m e n d i , e t a l . , 3 :11 -cv -00078 (JBA) ( h e r e a f t e r , t h e "SEC

    Act ion" )

    7. Dur ing t h e c o u r se o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , t h e CHS

    approached t h e FBI t o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g a scheme t o

    d e f r a u d r e l a t i n g t o t h e Funds . Th e CHS h as a d m i t t e d d i r e c t i n g

    t h e scheme t o d e f r a u d . Th e CHS has p r o v i d e d i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e

    g o v e r n m e n t ' s i n v e s t i g a t i o n and i s e x p e c t e d t o e n t e r a p l e a o f

    g u i l t y t o v a r i o u s f e d e r a l f e l o n y c h a rg e s , i n c l u d i ng f ra ud cha rges

    an d c o n s p i r a c y t o o bs t r u ct j u s t i c e , t o o b s t r u c t an o f f i c i a l

    p r o c e e d i n g , and t o d e f r a u d , among o t h e r s , t h e SEC. The CHS hopes

    t h a t t h e i n fo rm a tio n he has p r o v i d e d w i l l be c a l l e d t o t h e

    a t t e n t i o n o f t h e s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t a t t h e t ime o f s en te nc in g. The

    i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d by t h e CHS r e l a t i n g t o GUILLEN, t h e

    Middleman an d o t h e r s h as been c o r r o b o r a t e d by, among o t h e r

    t h i n g s , p u b l i c r e c o r d s , p r e l i m i n a r y d r a f t t ra n s l a t io n s o f

    c o n s e n s u a l r e c o r d i n g s , e m a i l and t e x t communica t i ons , bank

    r e c o r d s and t h e F B I ' s c r i m i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

    5\

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    Th e SEC I n v e s t i g a t i o n and Lawsu i t

    8 . Th e SEC i s a f e d e r a l government agency a u t h o r i z e d by

    law t o i n v e s t i g a t e p o s s i b l e v i o l a t i o n s o f s e c u r i t i e s l aws ,

    conduc t o f f i c i a l enfo rcemen t i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , and f i l e c i v i l

    a c t i o n s t o p r o t e c t i n v e s t o r s i n c on ne ct i on w it h t h e purchase and

    s a l e o f s e c u r i t i e s .

    9. Beginn ing i n 2010, t h e SEC, as p a r t o f i t s o f f i c i a l

    i n v e s t i g a t i v e and enfo rcemen t a u t h o r i t y , s o u g h t i n f o r m a t i o n and

    documenta t ion from t h e CHS and t h e MK Group i n an o f f i c i a l SEC

    e n f o r c e m e n t m a t t e r b e a r i n g SEC F i l e # B-2507. As p a r t o f i t s

    e n f o r c e m e n t a u t h o r i t y , t h e SEC s e r v e d a sUbpoena f o r r e c o r d s upon

    t h e MK Group. I n December 2010 and J a n u a r y 2011, th e SEC

    conduc ted an e n f o r c e m e n t - d i r e c t e d r ev iew o f t h e MK Group and

    r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s as p a r t o f i t s o f f i c i a l e n f o r c e m e n t

    i n v e s t i g a t i o n . I n o r a b o u t e a r l y J a n u a r y 2011, t h e CHS caused

    t h e F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t Ve r i f i c a t i o n L e t t e r t o be prov ided t o th e

    SEC, i n f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y .

    10. On o r a b o u t J a n u a r y 14 , 2011, t h e SEC f i l e d t h e SEC

    A c t i o n . The SEC a l l e g e d , among o t h e r c h a rg e s , t h a t i n v e s t o r

    funds were m i s a p p r o p r i a t e d from STLF and t h e MK VZ Fund. Th e SEC

    s o u g h t , among o t h e r r e m e d i e s , an i n j u n c t i o n and an a cc ou nt in g o f

    i n v e s t o r funds . Subsequen t t o t h e f i l i n g o f t h e SEC A c t i o n , t h e

    c o u r t a p p o i n t e d , and s o u g h t i n p u t from, b u s i n e s s a d v i s e r s and a

    r e c e i v e r t o a s c e r t a i n t h e a s s e t s and l i a b i l i t i e s o f th e hedge

    6 \~

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    funds a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e MK Group, among o th e r t a sk s.

    The Scheme t o Def raud and t h e C o n s p i r a c y

    11 . I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e F B I ' s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , t h e CHS,

    t h r o u g h c o u n s e l , r e q u e s t e d an o p p o r t u n i t y t o meet w i t h t h e FB I

    an d th e U.S. A t t o r n e y ' s O ff i c e f o r t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o n n e c t i c u t .

    The CHS h as s i n c e begun p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e government

    r e l a t i n g t o i t s i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Th e CHS h as a d m i t t e d , among o t h e r

    t h i n g s , t o engag ing i n a scheme and a r t i f i c e t o d e f r a u d i n v e s t o r s

    and c r e d i t o r s o f t h e Funds and r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s , and c o n s p i r i n g

    w i t h o t h e r s , i n c l u d i n g GUILLEN and t h e Middleman, t o o bs t r u ct

    j u s t i c e , t o o b s t r u ct an SEC i n v e s t i g a t i o n and t o d e f r a u d t h e SEC.

    The CHS h a s p r o v i d e d a s u b s t a n t i a l amount o f i n f o r m a t i o n , n o t a l l

    o f which i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h i s a f f id a v i t. R a t h e r, t h is a f f id a v i t

    i n s u p p o r t o f a c r i m i n a l compla in t a g a i n s t GUILLEN s e t s f o r t h

    o n l y t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h p r o b a b l e c a u s e i n

    s u p p o r t o f t h e two-coun t c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t GUILLEN.

    12 . A ccord in g t o t h e CHS, one o f t h e p r i n c i p a l g o a l s o f t h e

    scheme t h e CHS engaged i n was t o d i s g u i s e t h e f a c t t h a t Funds and

    r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s t h e CHS managed and a d v i s e d have o u t s t a n d i n g

    l i a b i l i t i e s t h a t g r e a t l y exceed t h e c u r r e n t v a lu e o f t h e i r

    a s s e t s , e x p o s i n g i n v e s t o r s and c re d i t o r s t o t h e r i s k o f s U f f e r i n g

    l o s s e s p o t e n t i a l l y as h ig h a s hundreds o f m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s .

    13. The CHS h as a d v i s e d , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t t h e f r a u d

    t ook p l a c e from i n o r a b o u t 2006 t o i n o r a b o u t Februa ry 2011.

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    The CHS h as adv i s ed t h a t , a s p a r t o f t h e f r a u d , t h e CHS, among

    o t h e r t h i n g s : (a ) u s e d some o f t h e money p rov id ed by new

    i n v e s t o r s t o p a y o u t r e t u r n s t o o t h e r i n v e s t o r s ; and (b ) c r e a t e d

    c e r t a i n f r a u d u l e n t documents t o mis l ead and dece ive c e r t a i n

    i n v e s t o r s and t h e SEC a b o u t t h e e x i s t e n c e and e x t e n t o f th e

    a s s e t s o f t h e Funds and r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s .

    The Conspi racy t o Obs t ruc t and t h e O b s t r u c t i o n o f t h e SEC

    14. Dur ing 2010, i n an e f f o r t t o f o r e s t a l l d i s c o v e r y o f th e

    h o l e i n t h e a s s e t s o f t h e hedge funds t h e CHS ad v is ed , th e CHS

    a gr eed w ith GUILLEN, th e Middleman and o t h e r s t o f a b ri c a t e

    hundreds o f m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s o f a s s e t s p u r p o r t e d l y h e l d by

    STLF.

    1 5 . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e CHS has adv i sed t h a t th e CHS, GUILLEN

    and t h e Middleman a g reed t o c r e a t e t h e F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t

    Ve r if ic a t i o n L e t t e r t h a t f a ls e l y r e p r e s e n t e d t h a t th e STLF had a t

    l e a s t $275 m i l l i o n i n c r e d i t s a s a r e s u l t o f o u t s t a n d i n g l oans .

    Th e l e t t e r , which I have rev iewed , was on t h e accoun t i n g f i r m ' s

    l e t t e r h e a d . The CHS sought t o c r e a t e t h i s f a l s e document i n an

    e f f o r t t o m is l ea d and de f r aud i n v e s t o r s and anyone q u e s t i o n i n g

    t h e v a l u e o f STLF's a s s e t s , and t h en sought t o u se i t t o convince

    t h e SEC, among o t h e r s , t h a t STLF had a d e q u a t e c a p i t a l t o p r o t e c t

    i t s i n v e s t o r s . I n o r a b o u t e a r l y J an ua ry 2011, t h e CHS caused

    t h i s l e t t e r t o be p r o v i d e d t o t h e SEC i n f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h e

    consp i r acy t o o b s tr uc t.

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    s e p a r a t e l e t t e r t h e CHS had c r e a t e d r e q u e s t i n g a r ev iew o f t h e

    bogus l o a n s by GUILLEN, t o be s u p p l i e d t o t h e SEC. The l a t t e r

    l e t t e r was c r e a t e d by th e CHS on STLF l e t t e r h e a d and b a c k d a t e d so

    t h a t i t p u r p o r t e d t o be a r e q u e s t from him t o t h e a c c o u n t a n t f o r

    a v e r i f i c a t i o n o f o u t s t a n d i n g r e c e i v a b l e s o f t h e STLF.

    19. T h e r e a f t e r , on o r a b o u t J a n u a r y 10 , 2011, t h e SEC

    c o n t a c t e d GUILLEN i n an e f f o r t t o t r y t o c on fi rm w he th er t h e

    a s s e t s l i s t e d i n t h e F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t Ve r if ic a t i o n L e t te r were

    r e a l . Accord ing t o t h e SEC, a t t h e t ime o f t h e c a l l , GUILLEN was

    v a c a t i o n i n g i n Miami, F l o r i d a . The CHS has a d v i s e d t h a t , when

    GUILLEN l e a r n e d o f t h e SEC's i nvo lvemen t , he had e x p r e s s e d t o t h e

    CHS h i s c o n c e r n a b o u t d ea lin g w it h t h e SEC, g i v e n t h a t h i s

    a c c o u n t i n g f i rm was c on ne cte d w it h a l a r g e i n t e r n a t i o n a l

    a c c o u n t i n g f i r m . N e v e r t h e l e s s , when t h e SEC c o n t a c t e d GUILLEN,

    GUILLEN made f u r t h e r f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s c o n f i r m i n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o f

    t h e l o a n p o r t f o l i o r e f e r e n c e d i n t h e F i c t i t i o u s A s s e t

    Ve r i f ic a t i o n L e t t e r , when he w e l l knew t h a t no such a s s e t s

    e x i s t e d .

    20. During h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e SEC, GUILLEN t o l d th e

    SEC t h a t he wa s i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e CHS by t h e Middleman, whom

    GUILLEN knew because o f t h e Midd leman ' s p r i o r work a t a f i n a n c i a l

    i n s t i t u t i o n i n Venezue la . GUILLEN t o l d t h e SEC t h a t t h e CHS and

    he had spoken abou t t h e CHS's d e s i r e f o r GUILLEN t o per fo rm

    c e r t a i n a g r e e d upon s e r v ic e s t o v e r i f y th e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e

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    l o a n s . GUILLEN t o l d t h e SEC t h a t t h e Middleman had p rov ided him

    wi th t h e l i s t o f companies i n t h e l o a n p o r t f o l i o , which l i s t

    i n c l u d e d t h e company a d d r e s s e s and t h e amount o f e a c h l o an .

    GUILLEN f u r t h e r a d v i s ed t h e SEC t h a t he had spoken t o a l l t h e

    companies t h a t had o u t s t a n d i n g l o a n s w i t h th e CHS's group and

    t h a t he was w ai t in g f o r t h e i r r e sponse s t o conf i rm th e l o a n s .

    GUILLEN t o l d t h e SEC t h a t he had r e c e i v e d s e v e r a l i n fo rma l

    l e t t e r s and s e v e r a l loan agreements . GUILLEN t o l d th e SEC t h a t ,

    f o r example , one company i n t h e l o an p o r t f o l i o t h a t had a $5 6

    m i l l i o n l o a n b a l a n ce had n ot p ro vid ed him wi th documents , b u t

    t h a t he had conf i rmed t h e lo an b ala nc e by t e l ephone . He f u r t h e r

    a d v i s e d t h e SEC t h a t none o f t h e c om pa nie s h ad i n d i c a t e d t h a t

    t h e r e wa s n o t a l o an agreement . GUILLEN a l s o t o l d t h e SEC t h a t

    he had s t a r t e d c o n t a c t i n g th e companies i n Sep tember o r October

    2010. Accord ing t o t h e SEC, GUILLEN was unable a t th e t ime o f

    t h e i n t e r v i e w t o p rov i d e any names o f any pe r sons a t t h e

    companies wi th whom he had spoken a b o u t t h e l o a n s , b u t i n d i c a t e d

    he would do so a t a l a t e r d a t e .

    21. I n f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h i s c o n s p i r a c y t o o b s t r u c t , on o r

    a b o u t J a nua ry 12, 2011, t h e Middleman s e n t an e m a i l message t o

    t h e CHS g i v i n g t h e CHS i n s t r u c t i o n s on where t o wire money t h a t

    was p a r t o f t h e payo ff f o r t h e F i c t i t i o u s A sse t Ve r i f i c a t i o n

    L e t t e r . Th e e m a i l sought payment o f $1 .9 m i l l i o n t o an a c c o u n t

    a t Bank o f America i n th e name o f an e n t i t y c a l l e d JEISLO Real

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    E s t a t e I nve s t men t s LLC ("JEISLO") . A p r e l i m i n a r y d r a f t

    t r a n s l a t i o n o f th e e m a i l i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e Middleman adv i sed t h e

    CHS t h a t t h e Middleman was work ing on a p ro po sa l i nv ol vi ng a r e a l

    e s t a t e m a t t e r , and t h a t t h e i nve s tm en t would be r e f l e c t e d as

    t h a t . The p r e l i m i n a r y d r a f t t r a n s l a t i o n r e f l e c t s t h a t th e

    Middleman p r o v i d e d t h e bank a c c o u n t d e t a i l s , i n c l u di n g th e

    a ccoun t number, t h e name o f JEISLO, and t h e add re s s o f JEISLO,

    which t h e ema i l r e f l e c t s wa s 1872 NW 139 Av , Pembroke Pines , FL

    33028. The p r e l i m i n a r y d r a f t t r a n s l a t i o n a l s o r e f l e c t s t h a t the

    ema i l n o t e s a t th e end t h a t t h e r ea son f o r t h e t r a n s fe r r e l a te d

    t o a f i n a n c i n g agreement SECTION 8 p r o j e c t .

    22. The CHS has adv i s ed , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t the CHS

    d i d n o t a c t u a l l y have a l oan p o r tf o l i o i n Venezue la wi th a l i s t

    o f companies and d i d n o t p r e p a r e a l i s t o f such l o ans f o r

    GUILLEN. Ra the r, as GUILLEN adv i sed t h e SEC, I have p robab l e

    caus e t o b e l i e v e , and do b e l i e v e t h a t t h e Middleman, a fo rmer

    banke r i n Venezue la , c r e a t e d t h e l i s t o f such f i c t i t i o u s l o a ns

    and t hen f u r n i s h e d th e l i s t t o GUILLEN.

    23. Accord ing t o t h e CHS, t h e cove r s t o r y i n th e

    Middleman ' s e m a i l i s com ple t e l y f a l s e as t h e CHS has admi t t ed

    t h a t t h e r e was no r e a l e s t a te f i n a n c i n g o r r e a l e s t a te d e a l o f

    any k i n d be tween t h e CHS and t h e Middleman o r JEISLO. R a the r,

    t h e CHS ha s adv i sed t h a t t h e r e q u e s t f o r t h e $1 .9 m i l l i o n was

    p a r t i a l payment o f t h e more t han $3 m i l l i o n t h e CHS agreed t o pay

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    t o have o t h e r s c r e a t e and f r a u d u l e n t l y s u b s t a n t i a t e t h e phony

    STLF a s s e t s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e F i c t i t i o u s Ass e t Ve r i f i c a t i o n

    L e t t e r .

    24. The CHS has admi t t ed t h a t i n o r d e r t o c a r r y ou t t h e

    consp i r acy, payments needed t o be made. The CHS h as adv i s ed t h a t

    t h e CHS r e q u e s t e d t h a t a t h i r d p a r t y make t h e payment . The CHS

    h a s a l s o a d v i s e d t h a t t h e CHS unde r s t oo d t h a t t h e t h i r d p a r t y

    made t h i s payment from an a c c o u n t i n S w i t z e r l a n d . Th e CHS h as

    a l s o r e p o r t e d t h a t th e CHS u nd e r s tood t h a t t h e t h i r d p a r t y made

    two payments , one f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y $1 m i l l i o n and th e second f o r

    a p p r o x ima t e ly $250 ,000 .

    25. Th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n shows t h a t JEISLO i s a F l o r i d a e n t i t y

    w i t h a n add re s s l i s t e d as 1872 NW 139th Ave. , Pembroke Pines , FL

    33028. The l i s t e d owner o f JEISLO i s a woman whose i n i t i a l s a r e

    B.B. The add re s s l i s t e d f o r JEISLO i s t h e home a d d r e s s o f B.B.

    Th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a l s o r e v e a l s t h a t B.B. i s t h e w i f e o f t h e

    Middleman, and t h a t t h e Middleman ha s been l i v i n g a t t h e add re s s

    l i s t e d f o r JEISLO s i n c e ap p rox ima te ly 2009.

    26. I have rev iewed bank r e c o r d s f o r an a c c o u n t a t Bank o f

    America h e l d i n t h e name o f "JEISLO R e a l E s t a t e Inves tment LLC"

    and e n d i n g i n 9422 ("JEISLO Account #1" ) . The r eco rds r e f l e c t

    t h a t t h e a c c o u n t wa s opened by B.B. i n o u r a bo ut F eb ru ary 2010.

    Th e add re s s on t h e a c c o u n t s t a t e m e n t s f o r JEISLO i s 1872 NW 139 t h

    Ave. , Pembroke Pines , FL 33028-2839.

    13

    The bank r eco rds f o r t h i s

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    a ccoun t f u r t h e r r e f l e c t t h a t , on o r a b o u t J an ua ry 24, 2011, t h i s

    JEISLO a c c o u n t r e c e i v e d a wire t r a n s f e r o f $1 ,000 ,000 from an

    o r i g i n a t i n g bank i n Geneva, Swi t ze r l and . The bank r eco rds

    r e l a t i n g t o t h i s incoming w i r e c o n t a i n t h e f o l l owing n o t a t i o n :

    "Or ig t o Benef i n f o : LOAN FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT." The

    r e c o r d s f u r t h e r r e f l e c t t h a t , by t h e end o f t h e f o l l owing day,

    J a n u a r y 25, 2011, app r ox i ma te ly $996,500 wa s t r a n s f e r r e d o u t o f

    t h i s accoun t .

    27. The bank r eco rds f u r t h e r r e f l e c t t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y

    $750,000 o f t h e money r e f e r e n c e d i n t h e preced ing pa rag raph wa s

    t r a n s f e r r e d on J a n u a r y 24, 2011 from JEISLO Accoun t #1 t o ano the r

    Bank o f America a c c o u n t i n t h e name o f "JEISLO R e a l E s t a t e

    I n v e s t m e n t LLC" and end ing i n 7068 ("JEISLO Account # 2 " ) . JEISLO

    Account #2 a l s o h as a m a i l i n g add re s s on t h e s t a t emen t o f 1872 NW

    139 t h Ave. , Pembroke P i n e s FL 33028-2839. Accoun t i n f o r m a t i o n

    a v a i l a b l e t o d a t e s u g g e s t s t h a t t h i s a c c o u n t was opened on o r

    a b o u t J an u a ry 13, 2011, th e day a f t e r t h e Middleman s e n t t h e

    a b o v e - r e f e r e n c e d e m a i l t o t h e CHS s eek ing payment o f th e $1 .9

    m i l l i o n . J u s t p r i o r t o th e t r a n s f e r o f $750,000 i n t o JEISLO

    Account #2 from JEISLO A ccount #1, t h e b a l a n c e o f JEISLO Account

    #2 was app rox im a te ly $100. M oreover, t h e r e c o r d s r e f l e c t t h a t ,

    on J a nua r y 26, 2011, a wire t r a n s f e r o f app rox im a te ly $338,000

    was s e n t from t h i s a c c o u n t t o an a c c o u n t a t Wachovia Bank. I n

    a d d i t i o n , on J anua r y 25, 2011 and J anua ry 31, 2011, r e s p e c t i v e l y,

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    $50,000 and $20,000 were w i r e d from JEISLO Account #2 back i n t o

    t o JEISLO A ccount #1. The FBI i s c o n t i n u i n g t o i n v e s t i g a t e where

    t h i s money went .

    28. I have rev iewed p r e l i m i n a r y d r a f t t r a n s l a t i o n s o f

    v a r i o u s c o n s e n s u a l l y r e c o rde d phone c a l l s and o t h e r

    communica t ions i n v o l v i n g t h e CHS, GUILLEN a n d / o r t h e Middleman.

    Those summaries i n c l u d e d i s c u s s i o n s r e l a t i n g t o t h e F i c t i t i o u s

    A ss e t Ve r i f ic a t i o n L e t te r . I n sum and subs t ance , p a r t o f t h e

    d i s c u s s i o n s concern t h e CHS and t h e Middleman a n d / o r th e CHS,

    GUILLEN and t h e Middleman p lann ing t o make su re t h a t t hey t e l l a

    c o n s i st e n t s to r y t o t h e SEC and t h e r e c e i v e r . They a l s o d i s c u s s

    th e need t o comple te t h e s u p p o r t i n g d oc um e nt atio n s o t h a t th e

    companies t h a t supposed ly have o u t s t a n d i n g l o ans t o STLF w i l l

    s u p p o r t t h e s t o r y i f c o n t a c t e d by t h e SEC o r t h e r e c e i v e r .

    29. Based on t h e f o rgo ing , t h e r e i s probab le c a u s e t o

    b e l i e v e , and I do b e l i e v e , t h a t JUAN CARLOS GUILLEN ZERPA

    c o n s p i r e d t o o b s t r u c t an o f f i c i a l SEC p r o c e e d i n g , t o o b s t r u c t

    j u s t i c e and t o de f r aud , among o t h e r s , t h e SEC, i n v i o l a t i o n o f 18

    U.S .C . 371, and commi t t ed , and knowingly a i d e d and a b e t t e d t h e

    commiss ion o f , the cr ime o f o b s t r u c t i o n o f an o f f i c i a l

    proceed ing , i n v i o l a t i o n o f 18 U.S .C . 1512 and 2.

    Acc o rd i n g ly, I r e q u e s t t h a t a war ran t i s s u e f o r t h e a r r e s t o f

    JUAN CARLOS GUILLEN ZERPA on such cha rges .

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    30 . As n o t e d above , t h e c r i m i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s ongo ing .

    A c c o r d i n g l y, t h e u n d e r s i g n e d r e q u e s t s t h a t t h i s A f f i d a v i t and t h e

    accompanying Compla in t , a s w e l l a s any A r r e s t Warran t , be s e a l e d

    i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f a v o i d i n g compromis ing t h e ongo ing

    i n v e s t i g a t i o n , u n t i l f u r t h e r o r d e r o f t h e Cour t .

    S u b s c r i b e d and sworn t o b e f o r e me on t h e 2nd day o f March2011 , a t B r i d g e p o r t , C o n n e c t i c u t .

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