Complaint Review: BLACKROSE SOLUTIONS - WINNIPEG Manitoba

I am so happy to read the "fat bandit" in Canada has been caught! I remember reading this story years ago and feeling so bad for all the victims of this terrible con artist!

http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4093476.html By Liz Rocca found nov 27/08 Watch the story LYNNWOOD - Lynnwood police say they have new hope of solving an old crime thanks to a KOMO 4 News story. A detective saw our report on a Canadian bank robber nicknamed "the fat bandit", and thought the man looked awfully familiar. Klaus Burlakow was the events planner for the Canadian city of Winnipeg. He's also known as a bank robber in Winnipeg. He admits to robbing seven. Police there suspect it's nine. In his robberies, he always wore the same hat and clothes. Canadian authorities nicknamed him "the Fat Bandit" for obvious reasons. KOMO 4 News first aired our story Sunday, and Lynnwood Detective Doug Teachworth was watching. "It was pretty apparent that we had some similarities here," he said. "And I even turned to my wife and said, 'I think that's our robber.' " The hold-up at a Lynnwood bank had gone unsolved since January. Any leads they had were exhausted, detectives said. Until our story. "The ski-type hat that's pulled all the way down to the eyes," said Det. Jerry Riener with Lynnwood Police. Detectives gave us this exclusive look at security tapes of the Lynnwood robbery. They called him "the doughboy". But since the clothing and mannerisms appear to match, police believe it was "the Fat Bandit." "He is a person of interest right now in several cases but we've got to see the video in those," Riener said. Police know Burlakow often stayed in Seattle, posing as a rich man at the Sorrento Hotel. "I do recall an instance of him arriving with a large wad of cash with a rubber band around it," said Jason Smith, the front office manager at the Sorrento. "His links to our robberies in Washington would have gone unnoticed had it not been for the story," Det. Teachworth said. And, because of our story, detectives now think they know where that money came from. Burlakow will be sentenced next week for the bank robberies in Winnipeg. He could get a sentence of up to 10 years, but Canadian law might only require him to serve two years.

Feb 15th, 2003 Winnipeg Police Service Media Release For Immediate Release BANK ROBBERY On Friday at approx. 2:00 pm, a lone male armed with a gun entered the Bank of Nova Scotia located at 528 Waterloo St.. He demanded cash and was given an un-disclosed sum. He then made his escape in a black Ford Expedition. A short time later police observed the vehicle near Taylor and Waverly and a pursuit was initiated. They continued after the vehicle as it left the City reaching speeds of 160 kms. The suspect eventually lost control of the truck near Starbuck, Manitoba, when it went into a ditch. He was subsequently arrested without incident. A 48 yr. old Winnipeg resident has been arrested and faces a number of robbery and firearm related charges. It has been determined that he is also responsible for eight further robberies that occurred in Winnipeg between December 5, 2002 and February 10, 2003. 02-11-05 (CIBC ATM) 2025 Corydon Ave. 02-11-06 (Scotia Bank) 1220 Pembina Hwy. 03-11-07 (TD Bank) 1460 Corydon Ave. 03-01-21 (CIBC) 3408 Roblin Blvd. 03-01-24 (Scotia Bank) 3055 Ness Ave. 03-02-05 (Cambrian C.U.) 1602 St. Marys 03-02-07 (Scotia Bank) 4910 Roblin Blvd. 03-02-10 (Scotia Bank) 1220 Pembina Hwy. 03-02-14 (Scotia Bank) 528 Waterloo St. Major Crime Unit is continuing the investigation. BANK ROBBERY UPDATE On Friday, February 14th, 2003, Winnipeg Police arrested a male suspect for the robbery of the Bank of Nova Scotia, located at 528 Waterloo Street. This male has been identified as: Klaus BURLAKOW, 48 years of age, of Winnipeg. He has been charged with the following offences Robbery Use Firearm X 9 Disguise With Intent X 9 Theft Under x 2 Flight Drive Dangerous. He has been detained in the Winnipeg Remand Centre. For further information contact Constable Bob Johnson Public InforInformation Officer Office: 986-3061 Fax: 986-7992 E-mail http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/press/2003/feb03/20030215.stm

Story Published: May 18, 2003 at 6:31 PM PST Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:02 AM PST KING COUNTY - A man pretending to be a millionaire in the Seattle area was getting his money by robbing banks in Canada. He stayed in the best hotels, rented expensive cars, even rented a house on Lake Union. Klaus Burlakow spent a year and half in Seattle pretending to be a rich Irish war hero. George Johnson owns the houseboat that Burlakow tried to rent. "He wrote me a check for $4,400 for the first and last month's rent and he wrote the previous tenant a $2,000 check for the hottub, both of which bounced. That was it. So, at that point, we just threw up our hands and said, this guy is impossible," explained Johnson. KOMO 4 News also talked to a Chehalis woman who says she knew Burlakow under a different name, Patrick Burke. They were going to start an events planning business together. She's shocked by what's happened and doesn't want to be identified but says he acted the part of a soft spoken Irishman who survived the war in Northern Ireland. The woman says Burlakow told her and others that he was a multi-millionaire. But that was never the case. In reality, Burlakow was the senior events planner for the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba for 28 years. He hob-knobbed with royalty, but then quit his job last year. Police say that's when Burlakow turned to a life of crime. Burlakow liked staying at the Sorrento Hotel when he was in Seattle. We're told he always made an impression on staff. He stayed in elegant suites costing more than $500.00 a night. He always paid his bills in cash. Burlakow was eventually caught and pleaded guilty last Thursday to robbing seven banks at gunpoint. Six in Winnepeg, and one in Vancouver. His crime spree began last November and police quickly dubbed him the 'Fat Bandit.' He wore a disguise, carried a gun, and robbed in plain daylight. "So, he came on as, he's very personable, he's a very good conversationalist. He's charming and he snowed us," says Johnson. He snowed a lot of people and for now, only Burlakow knows why he did what he did. He's not talking. The next chapter in this case comes this summer, when Burlakow is sentenced. He could get as much as 30 years in federal prison. http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4093051.html

Ex-serial bank robber gets a shot at a law-abiding life DATE: Aug 21, 12:08 PM By Mike McIntyre Winnipeg Free Press A long-time City of Winnipeg official who led a secret life as a serial bank robber has been given another shot at a legitimate lifestyle. Tim Collins who used to go by the name of Klaus Burlakow is trying to rebuild his tattered image by working as a fundraising manager and consultant for the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba. Collins, 54, is the project manager for Sam's Place, a new Elmwood bookstore and caf initiative by MCC set to open this fall. He has done both paid and volunteer consultant work with the organization, which represents more than 35,000 members from 200 provincial Mennonite churches. Spokesman Brad Reimer said his group has no problem working with Collins despite his checkered past. He has never hidden the fact of who he is or what he's done, Reimer said Wednesday. He admits some members have said they are uncomfortable with Collins' hiring, but denied any widespread backlash. It's an honour to work for people who care so much about other people. I'm thrilled to be part of a project that will fundamentally add to the quality of life in Elmwood, Collins said in a telephone interview. Collins made headlines in February 2003 when he was caught after a high-speed police chase through south Winnipeg after a River Heights bank was robbed at gunpoint. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in February 2004 after pleading guilty to seven bank robberies. During his crime rampage, he stole about $33,000, using plastic BB guns and air pistols to threaten tellers. The parole board described his case as a story of intrigue. In the end, you found yourself in over your head in a dangerous web of organized crime, debt, betrayal and danger, the board wrote in its September 2006 decision to grant Collins day parole. Collins has always claimed he became desperate for money he described a roller-coaster to hell in a jailhouse interview after a business partner who was involved in organized crime ran off with almost $200,000 of borrowed cash. That money was supposed to be a stake in his fledgling events-planning business in Seattle, Wash., Collins said. With the money gone, the West Coast organized-crime associates who loaned him some of the cash forced Collins to ferry laundered money and drugs between Canada and the United States to repay his debt, he said. Collins also said they threatened to harm his wife and two children if he didn't co-operate. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about what I did and how inexcusable it was, Burlakow told the Free Press. The fact is, I wasn't thinking straight. I was stressed beyond the breaking point. I was terrified for my family. But that's no excuse. Collins is credited with helping bring the 1999 Pan Am Games to Winnipeg and arranging downtown street parties for then-mayor Glen Murray. The MCC first met Collins while he was still behind bars. Reimer said Burlakow took advantage of MCC's prisoner visitation program and expressed interest in doing work for them upon his release. When he was released, within about a year it was brought to our attention that he had quite a few gifts and skills and had undergone changes in his life, Reimer said. He met with Collins for a long talk and agreed to place him on an advisory committee. That role eventually expanded and led to his appointment as project manager for the new bookstore, which is being run by MCC members and will raise funds for the organization. Collins does have some financial authority, but must approve all expenses with the board, Reimer said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Isn't it interesting! Or should I say sad. The MCC Mennonite Central Committee should know who they're dealing with, before they put their good name behind them. I wonder what the other members of the MCC Mennonite Central Committee would say. If they knew what others were saying about saying about what Klaus Burlakow/ Timothy M Collins has done to them...this paragon, this pillar of the community. Reformed my 'aunt fanny'. He's gone from robbimg banks to robbing people who have to rely on the legal system to get justice. WHAT A JOKE. He's got people snowed... and the list goes on. There are others who have responded to certain blogs out there about Klaus Burlakow/Timothy Collins. Google: catherine taylor (although it came up catherine tayor). Klaus Burlakow has also taken to blogging the site as the postee and they have responded with what els? THE TRUTH...you can't dispute truth!

Ex-serial bank robber gets a shot at a law-abiding life DATE: Aug 21, 12:08 PM By Mike McIntyre Winnipeg Free Press A long-time City of Winnipeg official who led a secret life as a serial bank robber has been given another shot at a legitimate lifestyle. Tim Collins who used to go by the name of Klaus Burlakow is trying to rebuild his tattered image by working as a fundraising manager and consultant for the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba. Collins, 54, is the project manager for Sam's Place, a new Elmwood bookstore and caf initiative by MCC set to open this fall. He has done both paid and volunteer consultant work with the organization, which represents more than 35,000 members from 200 provincial Mennonite churches. Spokesman Brad Reimer said his group has no problem working with Collins despite his checkered past. He has never hidden the fact of who he is or what he's done, Reimer said Wednesday. He admits some members have said they are uncomfortable with Collins' hiring, but denied any widespread backlash. It's an honour to work for people who care so much about other people. I'm thrilled to be part of a project that will fundamentally add to the quality of life in Elmwood, Collins said in a telephone interview. Collins made headlines in February 2003 when he was caught after a high-speed police chase through south Winnipeg after a River Heights bank was robbed at gunpoint. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in February 2004 after pleading guilty to seven bank robberies. During his crime rampage, he stole about $33,000, using plastic BB guns and air pistols to threaten tellers. The parole board described his case as a story of intrigue. In the end, you found yourself in over your head in a dangerous web of organized crime, debt, betrayal and danger, the board wrote in its September 2006 decision to grant Collins day parole. Collins has always claimed he became desperate for money he described a roller-coaster to hell in a jailhouse interview after a business partner who was involved in organized crime ran off with almost $200,000 of borrowed cash. That money was supposed to be a stake in his fledgling events-planning business in Seattle, Wash., Collins said. With the money gone, the West Coast organized-crime associates who loaned him some of the cash forced Collins to ferry laundered money and drugs between Canada and the United States to repay his debt, he said. Collins also said they threatened to harm his wife and two children if he didn't co-operate. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about what I did and how inexcusable it was, Burlakow told the Free Press. The fact is, I wasn't thinking straight. I was stressed beyond the breaking point. I was terrified for my family. But that's no excuse. Collins is credited with helping bring the 1999 Pan Am Games to Winnipeg and arranging downtown street parties for then-mayor Glen Murray. The MCC first met Collins while he was still behind bars. Reimer said Burlakow took advantage of MCC's prisoner visitation program and expressed interest in doing work for them upon his release. When he was released, within about a year it was brought to our attention that he had quite a few gifts and skills and had undergone changes in his life, Reimer said. He met with Collins for a long talk and agreed to place him on an advisory committee. That role eventually expanded and led to his appointment as project manager for the new bookstore, which is being run by MCC members and will raise funds for the organization. Collins does have some financial authority, but must approve all expenses with the board, Reimer said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Isn't it interesting! Or should I say sad. The MCC Mennonite Central Committee should know who they're dealing with, before they put their good name behind them. I wonder what the other members of the MCC Mennonite Central Committee would say. If they knew what others were saying about saying about what Klaus Burlakow/ Timothy M Collins has done to them...this paragon, this pillar of the community. Reformed my 'aunt fanny'. He's gone from robbimg banks to robbing people who have to rely on the legal system to get justice. WHAT A JOKE. He's got people snowed... and the list goes on. There are others who have responded to certain blogs out there about Klaus Burlakow/Timothy Collins. Google: catherine taylor (although it came up catherine tayor). Klaus Burlakow has also taken to blogging the site as the postee and they have responded with what els? THE TRUTH...you can't dispute truth!

Ex-serial bank robber gets a shot at a law-abiding life DATE: Aug 21, 12:08 PM By Mike McIntyre Winnipeg Free Press A long-time City of Winnipeg official who led a secret life as a serial bank robber has been given another shot at a legitimate lifestyle. Tim Collins who used to go by the name of Klaus Burlakow is trying to rebuild his tattered image by working as a fundraising manager and consultant for the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba. Collins, 54, is the project manager for Sam's Place, a new Elmwood bookstore and caf initiative by MCC set to open this fall. He has done both paid and volunteer consultant work with the organization, which represents more than 35,000 members from 200 provincial Mennonite churches. Spokesman Brad Reimer said his group has no problem working with Collins despite his checkered past. He has never hidden the fact of who he is or what he's done, Reimer said Wednesday. He admits some members have said they are uncomfortable with Collins' hiring, but denied any widespread backlash. It's an honour to work for people who care so much about other people. I'm thrilled to be part of a project that will fundamentally add to the quality of life in Elmwood, Collins said in a telephone interview. Collins made headlines in February 2003 when he was caught after a high-speed police chase through south Winnipeg after a River Heights bank was robbed at gunpoint. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in February 2004 after pleading guilty to seven bank robberies. During his crime rampage, he stole about $33,000, using plastic BB guns and air pistols to threaten tellers. The parole board described his case as a story of intrigue. In the end, you found yourself in over your head in a dangerous web of organized crime, debt, betrayal and danger, the board wrote in its September 2006 decision to grant Collins day parole. Collins has always claimed he became desperate for money he described a roller-coaster to hell in a jailhouse interview after a business partner who was involved in organized crime ran off with almost $200,000 of borrowed cash. That money was supposed to be a stake in his fledgling events-planning business in Seattle, Wash., Collins said. With the money gone, the West Coast organized-crime associates who loaned him some of the cash forced Collins to ferry laundered money and drugs between Canada and the United States to repay his debt, he said. Collins also said they threatened to harm his wife and two children if he didn't co-operate. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about what I did and how inexcusable it was, Burlakow told the Free Press. The fact is, I wasn't thinking straight. I was stressed beyond the breaking point. I was terrified for my family. But that's no excuse. Collins is credited with helping bring the 1999 Pan Am Games to Winnipeg and arranging downtown street parties for then-mayor Glen Murray. The MCC first met Collins while he was still behind bars. Reimer said Burlakow took advantage of MCC's prisoner visitation program and expressed interest in doing work for them upon his release. When he was released, within about a year it was brought to our attention that he had quite a few gifts and skills and had undergone changes in his life, Reimer said. He met with Collins for a long talk and agreed to place him on an advisory committee. That role eventually expanded and led to his appointment as project manager for the new bookstore, which is being run by MCC members and will raise funds for the organization. Collins does have some financial authority, but must approve all expenses with the board, Reimer said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Isn't it interesting! Or should I say sad. The MCC Mennonite Central Committee should know who they're dealing with, before they put their good name behind them. I wonder what the other members of the MCC Mennonite Central Committee would say. If they knew what others were saying about saying about what Klaus Burlakow/ Timothy M Collins has done to them...this paragon, this pillar of the community. Reformed my 'aunt fanny'. He's gone from robbimg banks to robbing people who have to rely on the legal system to get justice. WHAT A JOKE. He's got people snowed... and the list goes on. There are others who have responded to certain blogs out there about Klaus Burlakow/Timothy Collins. Google: catherine taylor (although it came up catherine tayor). Klaus Burlakow has also taken to blogging the site as the postee and they have responded with what els? THE TRUTH...you can't dispute truth!

The individuals making this claim have a reputation that is is far from lily white. Rosie and her husband approached this company and promised to pay for events management services. They had grandiose plans to run a professional rodeo. Subsequent investigation by the company has shown that this was their second attempt to mount such an event and that their last attempt had ended in disaster, leaving a string of unpaid debt. They signed one contract with the company and reneged on payment. They then again approached the company with promises of investments from a phantom "millionaire's investment group" headed by a person identified as Paulette Weibe. This investment group was said to be run out of Brazil and they even went so far as to show company reps a small bag of "diamonds" to prove that the investment capital existed. After soliciting hundreds of hours of work from the company, work that was squeezed out of the company by repeatedly promising to sign a professional services contract to pay for the work, Rosie finally came up with some money from her personal account. The investment money never materialized and the contract was never signed. Our company then found that Rosie had sued us in small claims court. This claim is now being appealed. The truth of the matter is that Rosie has apparently also found herself in trouble with Revenue Canada and has had all of her assets frozen. The debt she owes the taxpayers comes as a result of her playing fast and loose with her familiy's tax returns. Rosie and her crew are not to be trusted. If she approaches you with a plan to run a rodeo, open an equestrian center, or any other half baked scheme, run in the opposite direction!!!!!