Lawsuit claims Harvey Whittemore embezzled millions of dollars from former business partners
http://www.rgj.com/article/20120127...illions-dollars-from-former-business-partners
The former business partners of Harvey Whittemore, a well-known Nevada lobbyist, land-developer, businessman and lawyer, filed a civil lawsuit Friday claiming he embezzled millions of dollars from the Wingfield company they ran together and misappropriated corporate funds and assets.
The suit, filed in Clark County District Court by lawyers for the Wingfield Nevada Group Holding Company, claims that Whittemores Wingfield partners, Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno Jr., confronted Whittemore in 2010 about numerous discrepancies they found in the Wingfield financial books in 2010, and Whittemore prepared himself a written confession admitting the alleged crimes.
The suit also names Annette Whittemore, his wife, and The Lakeshore House Limited Partnership.
Acting as a manger of Wingfield, Whittemore has admitted and confessed to engaging in over 20 different financial transactions designed to deplete Wingfield of its assets for the sole purposes of enhancing and promoting Whittemores financial condition and to further his standing in the political community of Nevada, the suit said.
These allegations are false, the Whittemores said in an email. We will take any and all steps necessary to preserve the reputation for integrity that we have built in this state for over 40 years.
Kent Robison, one of the Wingfield lawyers, said in an email that the allegations have been reported to the Reno Police Department.
Sgt. Dave Macaulay, head of the RPD Financial Crimes unit, said he received a copy of the lawsuit, and said they will review its allegations to determine whether they should investigate to see if there was criminal activity involved.
The suit demands that Whittemore return the millions of dollars he allegedly stole and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as legal fees and court costs.
According to the lawsuit, Whittemore and Thomas Seeno executed an operating agreement for Wingfield in 2005, and Whittemore, was made manager.From February of 2007 through 2009, Whittemore exercised complete control over the financial books and records of Wingfield which control he misused and abused, the suit said.
They amended the agreement in 2009, adding Albert Seeno Jr. as a manager, and adding a stipulation that all expenditures over $5,000 mus have unanimous consent of all three of the managers, the suit said.
In May 2010, the Seenos started noticing problems in the financial records, specifically, there were concerns about amounts charged to Wingfield accounts, material items not disclosed, debts that were written off, undervalued of liabilities and a number of other expenditures that had not received approval from nor been disclosed to the Seenos, the suit said.
In September 2010, the Seenos confronted Whittemore, but they quickly learned their suspicions, while well founded, had not even scratched the surface of Whittemores fraud, deception and malfeasance, the suit said.
Whittemore allegedly wrote a confession on Sept. 16, 2010, admitting a list of inappropriate transactions, the suit said.
The alleged confession said he embezzled Wingfield money for personal meals, entertainment and endeavors, and used the Wingfield aircraft for improper and unauthorized personal, family and political use.
Whittemore allegedly admitted using Wingfield funds to maintain and repair his homes in Reno, Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. He also allegedly diverted company funds to buy or lease vehicles for himself and his family, the suit said.
The suit said he used the Wingfield-owned Red Hawk golf Course in Sparks to cater a multitude of extravagant, non-company related private parties, family dinners and other family events as well as political and campaign fundraisers.
One such event, the suit said, was his daughters wedding, that cost Wingfield about $200,000.The suit also claims that Whittemore used company funds for box seats at the Reno Aces games, for private parties, political fundraisers and to benefit his company Whittemore Peterson Institute.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20120127...illions-dollars-from-former-business-partners
The former business partners of Harvey Whittemore, a well-known Nevada lobbyist, land-developer, businessman and lawyer, filed a civil lawsuit Friday claiming he embezzled millions of dollars from the Wingfield company they ran together and misappropriated corporate funds and assets.
The suit, filed in Clark County District Court by lawyers for the Wingfield Nevada Group Holding Company, claims that Whittemores Wingfield partners, Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno Jr., confronted Whittemore in 2010 about numerous discrepancies they found in the Wingfield financial books in 2010, and Whittemore prepared himself a written confession admitting the alleged crimes.
The suit also names Annette Whittemore, his wife, and The Lakeshore House Limited Partnership.
Acting as a manger of Wingfield, Whittemore has admitted and confessed to engaging in over 20 different financial transactions designed to deplete Wingfield of its assets for the sole purposes of enhancing and promoting Whittemores financial condition and to further his standing in the political community of Nevada, the suit said.
These allegations are false, the Whittemores said in an email. We will take any and all steps necessary to preserve the reputation for integrity that we have built in this state for over 40 years.
Kent Robison, one of the Wingfield lawyers, said in an email that the allegations have been reported to the Reno Police Department.
Sgt. Dave Macaulay, head of the RPD Financial Crimes unit, said he received a copy of the lawsuit, and said they will review its allegations to determine whether they should investigate to see if there was criminal activity involved.
The suit demands that Whittemore return the millions of dollars he allegedly stole and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as legal fees and court costs.
According to the lawsuit, Whittemore and Thomas Seeno executed an operating agreement for Wingfield in 2005, and Whittemore, was made manager.From February of 2007 through 2009, Whittemore exercised complete control over the financial books and records of Wingfield which control he misused and abused, the suit said.
They amended the agreement in 2009, adding Albert Seeno Jr. as a manager, and adding a stipulation that all expenditures over $5,000 mus have unanimous consent of all three of the managers, the suit said.
In May 2010, the Seenos started noticing problems in the financial records, specifically, there were concerns about amounts charged to Wingfield accounts, material items not disclosed, debts that were written off, undervalued of liabilities and a number of other expenditures that had not received approval from nor been disclosed to the Seenos, the suit said.
In September 2010, the Seenos confronted Whittemore, but they quickly learned their suspicions, while well founded, had not even scratched the surface of Whittemores fraud, deception and malfeasance, the suit said.
Whittemore allegedly wrote a confession on Sept. 16, 2010, admitting a list of inappropriate transactions, the suit said.
The alleged confession said he embezzled Wingfield money for personal meals, entertainment and endeavors, and used the Wingfield aircraft for improper and unauthorized personal, family and political use.
Whittemore allegedly admitted using Wingfield funds to maintain and repair his homes in Reno, Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. He also allegedly diverted company funds to buy or lease vehicles for himself and his family, the suit said.
The suit said he used the Wingfield-owned Red Hawk golf Course in Sparks to cater a multitude of extravagant, non-company related private parties, family dinners and other family events as well as political and campaign fundraisers.
One such event, the suit said, was his daughters wedding, that cost Wingfield about $200,000.The suit also claims that Whittemore used company funds for box seats at the Reno Aces games, for private parties, political fundraisers and to benefit his company Whittemore Peterson Institute.