- Report: #70690
Complaint Review: Wilhelmina - Trans Continental - New York City New York
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Wilhelmina - Trans Continental
300 Park Avenue South New York City, 10010 New York, U.S.A.
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212-473-0700 / 1253
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Wilhelmina & Trans Continental Media Shuffle ripoff Pearlman sues Defrawy, Anthony Toma, Mickie Parris while Dieter Esch fires Ray Lata and Deidre Kilmartin in Criminal Cover Up, many paid to keep their mouth shut New York City New York
*Author of original report: This Reader has done the homework: Impressive list further explained. Pearlman lawsuit is an acknowledgement that the amount of fraud involved is close to $100 million and as accurately portrayed
*UPDATE Employee: (Michael) Joel Zwebner is lying about me. Lou Pearlman's perversion: hides cameras in his house so he can "watch" his boys get naked unwittingly; Alec Defrawy does their dirty work
*UPDATE Employee: My name? I was never involved with it.
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Don't Include Me WIth The Miscreants
Despite the lawsuits flying back and forth between Wilhelmina and Trans Continental, Dieter Esch and Louis J. Pearlman remain joined in their commitment to save their own hides and the hides of anyone who can help them. Dieter Esch fired Ray Lata and Deidre Kilmartin from Wilhelmina because they got them into the Defrawy scam with Cortes, the financial architects of this scheme. Meanwhile, Pearlman sued those involved in screwing up so badly by not keeping out of the media.
Lou admits that their criminal background made no difference to him if they bring in the bucks. What he cares about is the negative press. That is when he had to take action. What thinking people in the press should be asking is why Pearlman is not suing those people involved closely in the scam or were officers in the company like the following: Mohamed Hadid, Rafiah Kashmiri, Cortes Randell, Neil Eric Mauskapf, Anthony Ruben, Michael Zwebner, Roger Serrero, Geoffrey Button, Tom Weinard, Paul Glover, Richard Walk, Jeremy Schuster, Herbert Becker. Many of these people got paid hefty severance packages to keep their mouth shut. How ethical is that?
In fact, Pearlman should sue Jeffrey Kranzdorf who should have advised him properly as to what he was getting into. They didn't exercise due diligence before the deal was signed and therefore were negligent. They all knew, that is the bottom line. Further, they all discussed how to get out of this when they made tons of money. Pearlman was going to rescind the deal all along! Why should Pearlman prosper from his involvement in the conspiracy.
In addition to Trans Continental connection to the Wilhelmina scam, they are also linked to Talent Network, which is linking a bunch of former Wilhelmina Scouting Network franchises, such as Blue Moon Modeling, which were the franchises owned by John Esposito and Alexandra Latuk. Esposito has ties to organized crime in Connecticut and Rhode Island and the operations which run illegal liquor. This operation funds the corruption of judges and lawyers in that area.
Here is another interesting tidbit...
This was on TCT site for all of about 10 minutes
"Louis J. Pearlman Rescinds Deal With Model Scouting Company Move Follows $100 Million Lawsuit Against Former Associates
ORLANDO, October 31, 2003 -- Pop music impresario Louis J. Pearlman announced today that he has formally rescinded the Agreement under which he had gained control of Options Talent Group, and that he has taken back the name of his company, Trans Continental. This move follows the lawsuit he filed against former associates of the model scouting company in which one of his companies acquired a stake last year.
Pearlman decided to formally rescind the merger agreement with Options Talent Group because he felt that he had been duped by certain individuals into getting involved with the company and allowing it to use the Trans Continental name. Pearlman first became acquainted with Options when his company hired a number of its models for a music video he was producing over a year ago.
Pearlman's decision to cancel the transaction follows his filing of a lawsuit on October 10, 2003 in the Circuit Court of Orange County, Florida against several individuals who acted on behalf of and as representatives of Options Talent Group in connection with the now-unwound stock acquisition.
The lawsuit alleges that certain of Options' franchisees, founders and consultants engaged in, among other things, deceptive and unfair business practices, trademark infringement, and defamation causing damages to Pearlman of at least $100 million. Pearlman lent his corporate identity, "Trans Continental," to Options and entered into agreements under which he lent the company several million dollars.
"We are now out of the scouting business, a practice I never advocated or approved of," said Pearlman. "I believed that lending my creative touch and business leadership to Options would have taken that company to the next level," said Pearlman. "Unfortunately, some of the people who were involved in that business deliberately disregarded the policies we instituted and were intentionally, maliciously and knowingly less than candid with me and my representatives before I put millions of dollars in it and allowed it to use the Trans Continental name, one which has been associated with phenomenal success over the past decade.
"Although we have rescinded the agreement with the model scouting company, I remain firmly committed to the concept of a web-based talent database, and believe in the value of the Internet and other emerging technologies as a means of promoting new and dynamic talent in the areas of music and acting as well as modeling," said Pearlman. "We shall do everything that we can to maintain our commitment to the existing models, musicians and actors who have shown faith in us by posting their profiles on the web database."
Sparticus
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Wilhelmina
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Emodel
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Trans Continental Talent AKA Options Talent
Lou admits that their criminal background made no difference to him if they bring in the bucks. What he cares about is the negative press. That is when he had to take action. What thinking people in the press should be asking is why Pearlman is not suing those people involved closely in the scam or were officers in the company like the following: Mohamed Hadid, Rafiah Kashmiri, Cortes Randell, Neil Eric Mauskapf, Anthony Ruben, Michael Zwebner, Roger Serrero, Geoffrey Button, Tom Weinard, Paul Glover, Richard Walk, Jeremy Schuster, Herbert Becker. Many of these people got paid hefty severance packages to keep their mouth shut. How ethical is that?
In fact, Pearlman should sue Jeffrey Kranzdorf who should have advised him properly as to what he was getting into. They didn't exercise due diligence before the deal was signed and therefore were negligent. They all knew, that is the bottom line. Further, they all discussed how to get out of this when they made tons of money. Pearlman was going to rescind the deal all along! Why should Pearlman prosper from his involvement in the conspiracy.
In addition to Trans Continental connection to the Wilhelmina scam, they are also linked to Talent Network, which is linking a bunch of former Wilhelmina Scouting Network franchises, such as Blue Moon Modeling, which were the franchises owned by John Esposito and Alexandra Latuk. Esposito has ties to organized crime in Connecticut and Rhode Island and the operations which run illegal liquor. This operation funds the corruption of judges and lawyers in that area.
Here is another interesting tidbit...
This was on TCT site for all of about 10 minutes
"Louis J. Pearlman Rescinds Deal With Model Scouting Company Move Follows $100 Million Lawsuit Against Former Associates
ORLANDO, October 31, 2003 -- Pop music impresario Louis J. Pearlman announced today that he has formally rescinded the Agreement under which he had gained control of Options Talent Group, and that he has taken back the name of his company, Trans Continental. This move follows the lawsuit he filed against former associates of the model scouting company in which one of his companies acquired a stake last year.
Pearlman decided to formally rescind the merger agreement with Options Talent Group because he felt that he had been duped by certain individuals into getting involved with the company and allowing it to use the Trans Continental name. Pearlman first became acquainted with Options when his company hired a number of its models for a music video he was producing over a year ago.
Pearlman's decision to cancel the transaction follows his filing of a lawsuit on October 10, 2003 in the Circuit Court of Orange County, Florida against several individuals who acted on behalf of and as representatives of Options Talent Group in connection with the now-unwound stock acquisition.
The lawsuit alleges that certain of Options' franchisees, founders and consultants engaged in, among other things, deceptive and unfair business practices, trademark infringement, and defamation causing damages to Pearlman of at least $100 million. Pearlman lent his corporate identity, "Trans Continental," to Options and entered into agreements under which he lent the company several million dollars.
"We are now out of the scouting business, a practice I never advocated or approved of," said Pearlman. "I believed that lending my creative touch and business leadership to Options would have taken that company to the next level," said Pearlman. "Unfortunately, some of the people who were involved in that business deliberately disregarded the policies we instituted and were intentionally, maliciously and knowingly less than candid with me and my representatives before I put millions of dollars in it and allowed it to use the Trans Continental name, one which has been associated with phenomenal success over the past decade.
"Although we have rescinded the agreement with the model scouting company, I remain firmly committed to the concept of a web-based talent database, and believe in the value of the Internet and other emerging technologies as a means of promoting new and dynamic talent in the areas of music and acting as well as modeling," said Pearlman. "We shall do everything that we can to maintain our commitment to the existing models, musicians and actors who have shown faith in us by posting their profiles on the web database."
Sparticus
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Wilhelmina
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Emodel
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Trans Continental Talent AKA Options Talent
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Jeremy
Long Beach,California,
U.S.A.
Don't Include Me WIth The Miscreants
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, April 09, 2006
" ... What thinking people in the press should be asking is why Pearlman is not suing those people involved closely in the scam or were officers in the company like the following: Mohamed Hadid, Rafiah Kashmiri, Cortes Randell, Neil Eric Mauskapf, Anthony Ruben, Michael Zwebner, Roger Serrero, Geoffrey Button, Tom Weinard, Paul Glover, Richard Walk, Jeremy Schuster, Herbert Becker. Many of these people got paid hefty severance packages to keep their mouth shut. How ethical is that?" I not involved with Transcontinental or most of the others named; I departed Sector Communications after it failed to pay me. I wish I had a severance package - but it would not have mattered, since I wasn't being paid what I was owed, anyway. My fee claim is the subject of a lawsuit filed in Central District Court in the County of Los Angeles.
Dude
Miami,Florida,
U.S.A.
(Michael) Joel Zwebner is lying about me. Lou Pearlman's perversion: hides cameras in his house so he can "watch" his boys get naked unwittingly; Alec Defrawy does their dirty work
#3UPDATE Employee
Tue, April 19, 2005
I am Billy, the male prostitute who exposed Zwebner's use of company funds to pay for gay sex and provided his phone bill to prove it. It has been hilarious to watch him wear his yamalka like all the time. I never saw his yamalka once while he was "doing" me.
Joel is such a phony. He brags about being able to make people feel sorry for him by falling out of his wheelchair at just the right moment. He laughs about it. It makes me sick to see someone who is able to manipulate others so well, also take advantage of his handicap. He tells others, all the time, that he can read people so well that he knows just when to say the right thing. That is how he manipulates judges, especially female judges.
It is not funny, however, to read all his lies on Yahoo! about me. One of the things about Zwebner is that when he is caught and really in trouble he starts making up lies and claims to be the victim. In keeping with this tactic, he blames others for doing the same thing he does every day of his life. For the record, I am not in police custody as Zwebner claims, but that is not why I am writing. However, it does serve to link Zwebner and Pearlman together not only in business but also in their freakiness. I do them both. (I would love to listen in on their business meeting.)
Here is the reason I am writing. I am mad at how just because Pearlman is filthy rich he feels he can do what he wants and get freaky at the expense of others without their knowledge. I am friends with a guy who put in Pearlman's hidden security cameras. Every bathroom and every bedroom is monitored and recorded. I will try to get a copy of that work order to display here.
Herbert Becker
LA,California,
U.S.A.
My name? I was never involved with it.
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, August 24, 2004
why is my name associated with these people or this company? I was never involved with it.
Frank Torelli - Investigative Reporter
Toronto,Ontario,
Canada
This Reader has done the homework: Impressive list further explained. Pearlman lawsuit is an acknowledgement that the amount of fraud involved is close to $100 million and as accurately portrayed
#5Author of original report
Sat, November 01, 2003
The Florida State Attorney General is investigating TCTE, which is Trans Continental Talent, publicly-traded. Additionally, I would hope that the SEC is also investigating this organized crime conglomerate. It was once known as Sector Communications (SECT) and that is how Cortes got involved. It is interesting to note that the Pearlman lawsuit is an acknowledgement that the amount of fraud involved is close to $100 million and as accurately portrayed, does not include the Randell's.
For background, contrary to some reports, Pearlman is NOT the chief executive of this company. Mohamed Hadid was the former Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, prior to the Pearlman deal and also not named in the suit.
John Daly is a paid advisor and has taken significant fees from the franchisees, allegedly in lieu of services rendered.
Mark Van Waggoner, a Salt Lake City attorney, who received significant amounts TCTE shares for legal services and allegedly his testimony on occasion. In addition to Mark Van Waggoner, Alexander Walker Jr.'s son, Alexander Walker III, acted as General Counsel to TCTE.
The Walker's use a transfer agent, Nevada Agency & Trust, which they own. Nevada Agency & Trust has also been used as the transfer agent by TCTE.
All of the above-named individuals are significant business associates of Michael Zwebner. Zwebner was also a former Director and the individual in charge of Investor Relations for TCTE/SECT.
We are given to understand that all the above are under investigation by a variety of governmental organizations and that Alex Walker has already begun plea bargaining to save himself. Once these individuals smell betrayal, I predict they will turn on each other very quickly. Even if we don't learn much very soon, I believe the government will turn up a veritable treasure trove of information.
