Day: March 25, 2023

Follow the money – Part 5

Ian HunterLeave a comment

Peter took David for ice cream then took him home, he let him play video games on the TV.  Melissa arrived soon after and asked Peter why he had not answered her texts all day. He made sure David was out of earshot and explained everything that had happened.

This is outrageous said Melissa, you have to complain to the police about being treated this way

They are the police said David and I had my attorney verify that the search warrant was valid, this must all be a big mistake on their part. Lets go out to dinner tonight and I will meet my attorney tomorrow to sort all this out

Thank goodness we have a long private driveway said Melissa, hopefully the neighbors did not see all this going on

Peter learned that he FBI had also raided his office at the same time they raided his home and taken away files and computers.  His staff had all been sent home and told to say nothing about the raid.  

He met with his attorney the next day who had set up a meeting at the FBI office in Washington DC later that day

There were three FBI officers present at the meeting with Peter and his attorney, all very senior and deadly serious They started with an opening speech

We have reason to believe you are closely connected with an an international money laundering organization who have been purchasing commercial real estate.  Our enquiries have shown that you have purchased 7 properties which had previously been owned by Russian mafia criminals who used a series of shell companies to avoid them being traced.  All of those 7 properties you bought were sold by a company owned by an individual called Mike Mason.  He sold you those properties at bargain prices and you made huge profits when you eventually sold them on.  It will be much easier for you if you just tell us your connection to Mike Mason. 

The attorney said look Peter you have not been arrested and there is no need to answer these questions.

I have nothing to hide said Peter.  I have no idea who Mike Mason is and I certainly have not done any business with him.  Please tell me which properties you are referring to

The agents passed him papers and Mike looked at them before replying Yes I did buy these but I only dealt with a broker, I never had any dealings with the previous owners.  That’s not unusual in commercial real estate transactions, its also my business model to buy properties below market value when owners want a quick sale

The FBI agents kept pushing hard for Peter to confirm he had a business relationship with Mike Mason.  Peter insisted that nothing of the kind had ever existed

OK said the senior FBI agent, we have teams scanning all your phones, computers, texts, social media and business files.  If you have had any contact with Mike Mason then they will find it and you could be in big trouble.

You are wasting your time but have at it said Peter when can I have my stuff back? 

We should find something within few days, we will contact you for a follow up meeting

I look forward to it said Peter

Later that week peter’s attorney called to say the FBI wanted another meeting

This time it was with more senior members of the FBI who started out by offering an apology for all the inconvenience that had caused Peter, his company and his family. 

Our analysis of all the data has not revealed any connection between you and Mike Mason, it was a hunch that our agents could prove otherwise but they were wrong and we humbly apologize. Please understand that the indications were so string that we had to seize your data as part of our investigation. 

Peter accepted their apologies and asked if the matter was now closed

We will return all of your property immediately but we do have on favor for to ask of you

What is that? asked Peter

The FBI agent handed Peter a paper 

Your calendar shows a meeting with a broker later this month to discuss the potential purchase of this hotel in Miami

That’s correct said Peter so what favor do you want exactly?

We believe that property is being sold by Mike Mason, we want you to tell the broker that you have questions about the property and want to meet with the current owner Mike Mason, tell him its a deal breaker if he cannot get Mike Mason to your meeting

Peter’s attorney said you do not have to do this, there is no need to put yourself in danger

The FBI pushed harder 

Our agents will be inside the building and they will arrest Mike Mason before he gets to the meeting room.  All you have to do is make that call and show up, of course you will be wearing a wire so we can monitor what the broker says

OK said Peter, I will do it because people like Mike Mason give commercial real estate a bad name and they deserve to be put in jail

Follow the money -Part 4

Ian HunterLeave a comment

Peter Dawson pulled up into the driveway of his home in Potomac in the suburbs of Washington DC. He was greeted by his youngest ten year old son David who raced out of the house to greet him shouting Daddy Daddy your home!

Peter gave him a big hug and said I missed you so much but its Friday evening and we will have the whole weekend so what would you like to do on Saturday?

Can we go fishing please please shouted David

Of course we can now lets go inside and see what Mom has prepared for dinner

Peter’s wife Melissa was in the kitchen preparing dinner, she gave him a big hug and kiss and asked how the trip had been

Oh it was all the usual stuff visiting properties and crunching numbers to determine if it was worth investing and I picked up a few bargains

That’s great said Melissa  dinner will be ready soon so go change and relax.

It was just the three of them for dinner, their other two children were at college

Daddy is taking me fishing on Saturday announced David

That will be nice said Mellisa, remember to be back in time for dinner with the Lawsons and don’t forget we have that charity lunch on Sunday after church

Peter was a very successful businessman in commercial real estate.  He was born in the DC area and went to Harvard, returning to DC to marry is high school sweetheart Melissa.  After working a few years for a property development company he branched out on his own and set up Peter Dawson Properties. He had an instinct for buying commercial properties at the right price and making sure they were properly managed.  Once acquired he would set about increasing the level of occupancy which pushed up the revenue stream and increased the value when he sold it.  Although extremely wealthy, he did not live an extravagant lifestyle. He was a tee-totaler, regular church goer and on many boards where he donated large amounts of money to charitable causes.  He was very active in the local chamber of commerce and a life long Rotarian. He was a typical clean cut middle aged businessman, always dressed smart and liked by all who met him. His business grew even quicker when he invited private investors to help finance his property acquisitions. This cut down his borrowing costs and allowed him to buy much larger hotels and multi use facilities.  His investors did well, usually getting double figure percentage returns.  He never had to advertise for investors, they all came to him through personal recommendations of other investors.  

After a busy weekend at home with his family it was time for Peter to go to work on Monday Morning.  They all had breakfast together and discussed  their plans for the day.  Peter was excited because it was audition time for the school play and he wanted to have a speaking role.   I hope to get a big part he said excitedly and promise me you will both come to the play

Of course we will said Melissa, Daddy will mark the date in his calendar and make sure he has no business travel that week.  Peter smiled, although he travelled extensively he always managed to be home for important events with his kids.

Melissa said she would be busy all day volunteering at church and asked Peter if he could pick up David from School.  

Of course I will said David, we might even stop for ice cream on the way home. 

Hurry up David its time for me to take you to school said Melissa, I’ll get the car ready

David gave Peter a long hug goodbye and he rushed out to the car.  Peter went up to his home office upstairs and made some calls.  His company office was downtown DC  and he usually waited for the morning commute to die down before driving there.  He called is office to check on things and all was running smoothly.  After an hour or so he was wrapping up and preparing to drive to work when there was a knock at the door.  He opened the door to see multiple vehicles in his driveway, one of the men standing at the door produced a badge which said FBI and said are you Peter Dawson?  

Yes I am said Peter what is going on here?

The FBI agent showed him a piece of paper We have a search warrant for these premises sir, are you willing to give us access? Otherwise we will have to use forced entry

Sure you can come in but what are you looking for and are you arresting me

I cannot say what we are looking for sir said the agent no you are not under arrest and we would appreciate you helping us with our enquiries

Peter had no idea what this was about and said he was calling his attorney

That’s fine sir but can you use your land line because we need to take your cell phone

By now the house was full oof agents photographing things, making notes and putting files and laptops into boxes

Peter talked to his attorney who asked him to get a copy of the search warrant and say nothing else to the agents until he got there

His attorney pulled up within twenty minutes and talked to the FBI agents.  He told Peter the search warrant was valid and he should politely comply with their requests to hand things over but make no comments.

The agents asked Peter to open his safe, they emptied the contents into a box.  Then they asked for the passwords to his cellphone and computer. Peter complied.

The search went on until mid afternoon when they took all the boxes out to their vans and drove off.  Peter just had enough time to rush to school to pick up David.