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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Mundy Township business owner accused of large marijuana growing operation, fraud
US Speedo.JPG
Harry Brink, owner of Mundy Township's US Speedo, is facing roughly two dozen federal charges related to a large-scale marijuana growing operation and fraud. (Gary Ridley | MLive.com)
Print Gary Ridley | gridley@mlive.com By Gary Ridley | gridley@mlive.com
on May 29, 2014 at 6:00 PM, updated May 29, 2014
Authorities say they discovered more than 330 marijuana plants growing inside of this facility at 6079 Birch Drive in Mundy Township. State records show the building is owned by Brink Ventures, which lists Harry Brink as its agent.
Gary Ridley | MLive.com
MUNDY TOWNSHIP, MI -- A Mundy Township business owner is facing roughly two dozen federal charges after officials claim he was involved in a conspiracy to obtain fraudulent loans to buy high-end vehicles for resale and running a large illegal marijuana growing operation.
Harry Brink, owner of US Speedo, was arraigned May 12 on 19 counts of bank fraud and four counts of wire fraud after he and six others were indicted in Flint U.S. District Court.
Brink declined to comment on the allegations, forwarding questions to his attorney Michael Manley who could not be reached for comment.
Brink was allegedly the president of Millennium Auto Group, which is accused of selling the ill-gotten vehicles out of its facility at 6050 Birch Drive in Mundy Township. US Speedo, which manufactures and distributed speedometer parts, is also located at the Birch Drive facility.
Prosecutors allege the other suspects would obtain money by getting banks to finance the purchase of high-end automobiles -- including Corvettes, Range Rovers and BMWs -- by falsifying loan applications from straw buyers.
The other suspects would then allegedly sell the vehicles to Millennium Auto Group after filing forged lien releases and failing to pay off the straw buyers' loans, according to court records.
Federal prosecutors allege Brink was aware the vehicles were purchased fraudulently and even directed straw buyers to purchase certain vehicles.
Court records show Brink was released May 12 on $50,000 unsecured bond, but he was soon back in court after federal prosecutors claim he violated the terms of his bond by operating an illegal marijuana growing operation out of a commercial building near the US Speedo facility.
An affidavit filed Wednesday, May 28, in Flint U.S. District Court by the Flint Area Narcotics Group said Mundy Township police received tips about a possible marijuana growing operation at 6079 Birch Drive.
State records show the facility is owned by Brink Ventures, which lists Harry Brink as its agent.
FANG agents drove through the facility's parking lot May 14 and smelled a strong odor of fresh marijuana coming from the south side of the building, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit claims that the agents observed three large commercial air conditioners running on the building's roof, despite the outside air temperature being only 50 degrees. The affidavit claims the air conditioner usage is consistent with a marijuana growing operation due to the amount of heat grow lights put out.
FANG executed a federal search warrant at the facility May 20. The affidavit claims agents discovered a large marijuana growing operation that contained more than 330 marijuana plants.
The affidavit claims that Brink and two others had medical marijuana "caretaker" cards. Michigan law allows designated medical marijuana caregivers to grow up to 12 marijuana plants for up to five patients each.
Authorities say in the affidavit that the number of plants found in the facility exceeded what is allowed under the state's medical marijuana law and that the facility appeared to be a for-profit marijuana growing operation.
FANG claims that it also recovered documents related to the marijuana operation in Brink's office at US Speedo.
Court records show federal authorities sought to revoke Brink's bond in the fraud case because the marijuana operation violated the terms of his release.
"He was told by his pretrial services officer that marijuana use was not allowed while on bond," federal prosecutors wrote in a May 22 motion to revoke Brink's bond. "(Brink) could very easily assume if smoking a joint of marijuana was prohibited, he probably should not grow 332 marijuana plants."
Brink's bail was modified Wednesday, May 28, and he was released. The bail revocation hearing is scheduled to continue June 5.
A preliminary exam is scheduled for June 5 in the marijuana case. |
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Fri May 30, 2014 5:46 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Fri May 30, 2014 5:59 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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After pulling the federal court records, the real story should have been abut the bank fraud involving the acquisition, document falsification and sale of these luxury autos.
The federal case is 4:14 CR 20236 mag , USA vs McFadden, et al.
Those indicted include:
Harry Brink Pres. Millennium Auto group (MAG)
Thomas Scott McFadden Vice pres. MAG
Etienne Brewster (sole signatory of bank account, sole owner DBA Millennium Group)
John Billings owner JB & Associates Tax Service (DBA only, not registered with the state- one of two owners of Vegas Luxury Rides Miami)
John Green in car sales Southeast Michigan- Boyland Nissan and Golling Pontiac
Also an uncharged co-conspirator DD, who claimed to run a car leasing company-Vegas luxury cars. He encouraged others to purchase cars for the alleged car leasing company, which actually provides no such service.
Harlon Gibbs an associate of DD who assisted in the recruiting and operation of the fraudulent purchase of autos.
Randy Bullock an associate of DD who provided straw buyers from Texas
(note: there is a company, Vegas luxury Rides, that exists and is not involved in these schemes)
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:31 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 3:36 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The financial institutions named in the indictments as having been defrauded:
Fifth Third Bank
Genisys Credit Union
Peoples Trust Credit Union
BMW Bank of North America
Michigan School and Government Credit Union
Ypsilanti Area Credit Union
JP Morgan Chase Bank NA
GMAC
US Bank
Bank of America
Capital One |
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 3:47 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The indictment alleges the above named individuals engaged in a conspiracy between October 2005 and August 3,2009 to commit bank fraud by executing and attempting to execute a scheme to defraud financial institutions and obtain money, funds and property from these financial institutions by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. representations and promises.
This scheme was carried out by inducing these financial institutions to finance the purchase of mainly high end autos by the use of fraudulent applications of straw buyers. These applications included false addresses, employment and financial information.
These purchasers usually financed 100% or nearly 100% of the total purchase price, The conspirators took possession of the vehicles and used fraudulent means to clear the titles with documents alleging the liens were paid. The vehicles were then resold. |
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:02 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The straw buyers were promised a one time payment and residual monthly payments for the purchase of these autos. The reality was that little or no payments were made and no monthly payments were made.
Brewster is alleged to have created false documents as to insurance, employment and income on the loan applications. False references were also provided.
The straw buyers were persuaded to attempt multiple purchases of automobiles within a short time, usually in southeast Michigan. This was because the conspirators wanted the purchases to occur before the new loans could show up n a credit report.
John green helped at the two dealerships he was working for and the straw buyers were directed to seek him out for the purchases.
No payments were ever made on the loans and all of them ended in default. |
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:16 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Brewster also used fraudulent appointment of agent form to appoint himself as the agent of the straw buyer. The vehicles were then sold to the members of the conspiracy . However the straw buyer never received any money.
Brink was alleged to have directed which cars were to be purchased. The cars were then resold through E Bay, auctions and outside the United States.
Straw buyers had to declare bankruptcy because of the large amount of debt they incurred.
McFadden and Brink allegedly were also involved in the identity theft of Margie Hubbard. An individual impersonating Hubbard purchased a 2009 Infinity QX59 and a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette from Boyland Nissan. |
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:30 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Other straw buyers named in the indictment include Ronald Hopson, Mohammed Al Fadawi, Kevin Polite and Anthony Harris. In Texas straw buyer Jeff Curtis was recruited by Bullock to purchase a Cadillac Escalade and a BMW. |
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:36 pm |
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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
After pulling the federal court records, the real story should have been abut the bank fraud involving the acquisition, document falsification and sale of these luxury autos.
The federal case is 4:14 CR 20236 mag , USA vs McFadden, et al.
Those indicted include:
* * *
John Billings owner JB & Associates Tax Service (DBA only, not registered with the state- one of two owners of Vegas Luxury Rides Miami)
Is this the same Billings as Mays tried to use for witness here:
quote:
Johnny Billings of Flint, the second witness Mays called in his defense against five misdemeanor charges in Flint District Court, was asked one question before claiming his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, leaving a seven-member jury to wonder what his answer might have been.
Neither Billings nor Mays would answer questions from MLive-The Flint Journal about who was driving a vehicle that had been loaned to Mays in the early morning hours of Nov. 30.
Source: http://www.flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=74147#74147
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Wed Jun 04, 2014 6:46 pm |
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