Ina Scher of Davis & Gilbert Behind Attacks of Whistleblowers International

 Scher Threatens Media to Take Down Content About Tax Cheat Client, John C. Howe

Whistleblowers International (WBI) has uncovered the identity of the party behind the attacks on WBI’s media publications.  That person is Ina Scher,  partner with the New York law firm of Davis & Gilbert.

Ms. Scher has been hired by tax cheat John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners to attack WBI and coerce media outlets to remove WBI’s articles  and other published content focused on the tax and securities fraud investigations against John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners.  Mr. Howe lives in Westport, Connecticut.

In a  recent WBI article, John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners Viciously Attack Whistleblowers International,   WBI asserted that Mr. Howe has taken actions to “coerce, threaten and intimidate several U.S. media outlets, forcing them to remove WBI's blogs, press releases and other content pertaining to Mr. Howe's alleged frauds.” 

WBI’s interest in  Mr. Howe is based on two separate and independent whistleblowers who have come forward against Mr. Howe,  Old Hill Partners, and other individuals and entities affiliated with Mr. Howe.

WBI has previously reported on the first whistleblower, an American, who has accused Mr. Howe, Old Hill Partners and other entities of committing U.S. tax and securities fraud. The whistleblower filed  claims with the IRS and SEC against Mr. Howe, Old Hill Partners and their related funds.  That same whistleblower has also accused Mr. Howe of retaliating against him by forcing the whistleblower into bankruptcy and harassing and intimidating him and his family inside the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.  

Recently,  the second whistleblower contacted WBI and  announced that he is preparing   whistleblower filings against Mr. Howe,  several former and present officers and employees of Mr. Howe's companies, and others.   The second whistleblower alleges that Mr. Howe and his colleagues and affiliates committed U.S. tax fraud, “siphoned” investor funds for Mr. Howe's personal benefit, and overcharged those same investors exorbitant management fees.

WBI also conducted investigations into the history of Mr. Howe’s acts of aggression against others.  Those investigations have revealed that Mr. Howe has been involved in numerous lawsuits over the past decade including being a defendant in the Marc Dreier $400 million fraud case,  and another case in which Mr. Howe filed a lawsuit against a company using false information.   The New York Post has also reported that Mr. Howe shifting client investment funds into his own personal account, a severe violation of securities laws.

In October 2014, several e-media organizations contacted WBI and informed it that they were removing  WBI's blogs, press releases and articles from their web sites, based on  threats they had received from Mr. Howe’s “agent.”   Mr. Howe's agent took actions to discredit WBI by informing  the media organizations that WBI's press releases contained false and libelous statements about Mr. Howe and Old Hill Partners.   WBI has now learned that Mr. Howe’s agent is none other than, Ina Scher, partner of Davis & Gilbert.

One media outlet told WBI that Mr. Howe's agent "threatened them with litigation if they did not immediate remove from their web sites all WBI press releases referencing Mr. Howe and Old Hill Partners,"  regardless of whether they were true.

WBI now has in its possession  a letter that Ina Scher sent to one media organization making disparaging comments about WBI, and threatening litigation if they did not remove all articles about Mr .Howe and Old Hill Partners.

“WBI is exploring its legal options against Ms. Scher, Davis & Gilbert and John Howe.  They must be held accountable for their actions." says John Bune, a WBI correspondent.

In the meantime,  WBI has moved its U.S. blog to operations outside the United States and is reissuing its recent blogs, press releases and articles to a larger volume of media outlets.  "The move allows us to continue to service our U.S. customers out of reach and attack of Howe and his attorneys," says WBI's John Stratenberg. 

"We will not let a wealthy and corrupt hedge fund bully like Mr. Howe prevent us from distributing the truth about those brave whistleblowers who have the courage to come forward against Mr. Howe," says John Bune, a WBI correspondent.