Bankruptcy Complaint Against Alan Spiegel & Steven Spiegel of 26MGMT LLC
Bankruptcy Complaint Against Alan Spiegel & Steven Spiegel of 26MGMT LLC
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Chapter 7
Case No. 13-45519 (NHL)
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
and expects to discover more as the case continues to develop. The Trustees discoveries
include, inter alia, the following:
(i)
Larry Grunfeld, a former associate of the Debtor, has accused the Debtor of
forging his and his wifes signature on various transfer document and essentially
stealing a cooperative apartment in Miami Beach, Florida;
(ii)
(iii)
Arnold Young, an elderly man living in New Jersey, has accused the Debtor of
forging his signature on various loan guaranty documents resulting in significant
litigation, potential liability and legal fees;
(iv)
Yocheved Segal, the Debtors wife, claims to be the Debtors biggest victim
and that the Debtor has forged her signature on numerous documents, including
two mortgages placed on their home;
(v)
The Debtor routinely used his wifes notary stamp to acknowledge the signatures
of third parties, even though she has not been a licensed notary public since in or
around 1981;
(vi)
Abraham Hoschander, the Debtors prior counsel, claims that the Debtor stole a
check made payable to him and intended for his escrow account and then
endorsed and cashed it;
(vii)
David Grossman has accused the Debtor of selling Mr. Grossman the Debtors
membership interest in an LLC and then selling the LLCs interest in real
property without authority and unbeknownst to Mr. Grossman, and then retaining
and dissipating the proceeds of the sale;
(viii) The Debtor testified that he defrauded his own mother, who is 91-years-old, by
having her unknowingly mortgage her home for the Debtors benefit. The Debtor
further testified that he defended the resulting foreclosure litigation without his
mothers knowledge and forged her name on an affidavit and then forged his
wifes signature as the purported notary to his mothers signature; and
(ix)
The Debtor transferred property owned by his wholly-owned LLC after filing for
bankruptcy without disclosing it to the Trustee or the Court, and then spent the
proceeds before the transfer was discovered.
The Trustee believes that the foregoing constitute only a partial list of the Debtors
misdeeds and that the continued investigation of the Debtors financial affairs will result in the
3
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
discovery of significant, additional schemes and victims of those schemes. The purpose of the
instant proceeding is to recover transfers that are presumptively intentionally fraudulent,
constructively fraudulent, preferential and/or unauthorized post-petition, and to redistribute the
recovered funds pro-rata to all of the Debtors creditors and victims.
INTRODUCTION
1.
On September 10, 2013 (the Petition Date), the Debtor filed a voluntary petition
for relief under chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code).
2.
On October 15, 2013, Mr. OConnell presided over the initial meeting of creditors
held pursuant to section 341(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, where he duly qualified and is
consequently serving as permanent trustee of the Debtors estate by virtue of section 702(d) of
the Bankruptcy Code.
BASIS FOR RELIEF
4.
sections 502(d), 541, 542(a), 544(a), 548, 549, 550 and/or 551 of the Bankruptcy Code, and N.Y.
Debtor and Creditor Law 273, 274, 275, 276 and/or 276-a.
JURISDICTION
5.
Debtor, Case No. 13-45519 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2013) (the Bankruptcy Case), which is
pending under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
Eastern District of New York before the Honorable Nancy Hershey Lord (the or this Court or
Bankruptcy Court).
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
6.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
This Court has jurisdiction over the adversary proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
157 and 1334, Administrative Order No. 264 titled In the Matter of The Referral of Matters
to the Bankruptcy Judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New
York (Weinstein, C.J.), dated August 28, 1986, and Administrative Order No. 601 of the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Amon, C.J.), dated December 5,
2012.
7.
This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. 157(b)(2)(A), (B), (E), (F), (H) and
(O). Plaintiff consents to the entry of final orders or judgments by the Bankruptcy Court with
respect to all matters and claims raised by this Complaint.
8.
proceeding arises in a case under the Bankruptcy Code pending in this district.
PARTIES
9.
this district established by the United States Trustee pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 586(a)(1). The
Trustee is the duly appointed permanent chapter 7 trustee of the Debtors estate and is
empowered to bring this action. The Trustee maintains an office for the conduct of business at
150-12 14th Avenue, Whitestone, New York 11357.
10.
LLC, 909 East 29th Street, Suite 5A, Brooklyn, New York 11210.
12.
26MGMT LLC, 909 East 29th Street, Suite 5A, Brooklyn, New York 11210.
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
While traveling in Austria, the Debtor filed this bankruptcy case on the Petition
Date in order to stay the foreclosure sale of his shares and lease related to a cooperative
apartment located at 4720 Pinetree Drive, Unit #15, Miami Beach, Florida (the Miami Coop).
14.
Immediately after the filing, the Debtor generally refused to provide documents or
information regarding his financial condition to the Trustee. On October 10, 2013, the Trustee
filed a motion to compel the Debtor to perform his duties under the Bankruptcy Code and turn
over all books and records regarding the Debtors financial affairs to the Trustee [Docket No.
15].
15.
Debtor to file schedules, a statement of financial affairs and turn over all books and records by
December 23, 2013 [Docket No. 37].
16.
On December 23, 2013, the Debtor filed his original bankruptcy schedules and
statement of financial affairs wherein he refused to answer questions and make the disclosures
required therein pursuant to his rights against self-incrimination granted by the Fifth Amendment
of the United States Constitution (privilege referred to generally herein as the Fifth
Amendment) [Docket Nos. 41, 42 and 43].
17.
On January 23, 2014, the Debtor and his spouse, Yocheved Segal (Ms. Segal),
appeared at the office of the Trustees counsel for examinations pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule
2004. At their examinations, Ms. Segal refused to answer any questions pursuant to the Fifth
Amendment and the Debtor refused to answer most, but not all, questions for the same reason.
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
18.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
On March 6, 2014, the Trustee filed a motion to compel the Debtor and Ms. Segal
to produce books, records and documents and to hold them in contempt for failing to do so
[Docket No. 66]. Ms. Segal ultimately relented and agreed to produce document but then
claimed that she did not possess a single documents related to her or her husbands financial
affairs. On May 31, 2015, after fifteen months of delays and numerous opportunities provided
by the Bankruptcy Court to respond to the Trustees motion, the Debtor also conceded and stated
as follows in an email to Trustees counsel:
Although an argument could be made that some of the documents are privileged, I
elect not to claim the privilege as it relates to those requested Documents and
hope to have everything on the list to you, by Friday the next.
....
I will, G-d willing, have the requested Documents at your office by 5:00 PM on
June 5th, 2015.
19.
Finally, on June 16, 2015, the Debtor produced a scant three hundred forty (340)
pages of documents, which he claimed was the entirety of documents related to his financial
affairs.
20.
Due in large part to the Debtors failure to cooperate and supply information, on
July 31, 2015, the Court entered a memorandum decision and order directing the Debtor to
surrender his electronic devices for imaging by the Trustee and establishing a protocol for the
Trustees use of those images (the Imaging Order) [Docket No. 260].
21.
When the Debtor produced his electronic devices in accordance with the Imaging
Order, he had encrypted his personal computer making it impossible to fulfill the Imaging Order.
On August 14, 2015, the Court entered a subsequent order enforcing the Imaging Order [Docket
No. 265].
22.
The images of the Debtors devices were finally obtained August 11, 2015. When
searched, the following was discovered from the Debtors electronic devices: (i) the Debtor
7
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
purchased and installed encryption software from Symantec on August 6, 2015, just seven days
after the Court entered the Imaging Order; (ii) the Debtor used at least three different USB
storage devices on August 10, 2015, which he failed to turn over; (iii) there were numerous visits
to Dropbox, Google Docs, Google Drive, Gmail, Yahoo! and AOL, although no documents or
other material were produced from those sites; (iv) Microsoft Outlook was configured to receive
email but contained no data indicating that the emails had subsequently been deleted and
destroyed; and (v) Microsoft Windows appeared to have been upgraded, which often destroys
important and relevant metadata and other information.
23.
The Debtor has invoked his Fifth Amendment rights routinely during this
proceeding when it has been convenient to do so. The only explanation provided by the Debtor
for invoking his Fifth Amendment rights was given at a September 4, 2014 hearing where he
stated that he did not have to give the Court a roadmap of possible scenarios, but that he had a
fear of incriminating himself for tax evasion, and also a possibility of insider trading.
Transcript, Sept. 4, 2014, p.67, LL. 9-10, 6-7 and 19-20, respectively.
B. Counsel Changes
24.
filed the petition on behalf of the Debtor. The Debtor later accused Maximov of incompetence
in filing the bankruptcy petition.
25.
On February 21, 2014, Maximov filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court
seeking to withdraw as counsel to the Debtor claiming that [t]he Debtor [was] refusing to
follow Maximovs legal advice, and was filing papers without consulting Maximov [Docket
No. 64]. On June 20, 2014, the Court entered an order approving Maximovs withdrawal
[Docket No. 89].
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
26.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
On January 30, 2014, after spending four and one-half months in bankruptcy, the
Debtor filed a motion to dismiss his Bankruptcy Case (the Dismissal Motion) [Docket No. 54].
The Debtor cited mistake and confusion as the primary reasons in support of dismissal and stated
further that [the Trustee] is on a witch hunt and a fishing expedition to try to get [the Debtor] to
violate [his] religious principles and . . . rights to freedom of association, and that the Trustee
is also interfering with [the Debtors] relationship with [his] wife by dragging her into the case.
. . Id.
28.
the Bankruptcy Court entered a decision denying the Dismissal Motion (the Dismissal
Decision) [Docket No. 188; reported at 527 B.R. 85]. In denying the Dismissal Motion, the
Bankruptcy Court found, among other things, that the Debtors refusal to cooperate with the
Trustee and reticence to make full disclosures to the Court, which already have burdened the
estate with significant administrative costs, do not constitute cause for dismissal, and [the
Debtor] has operated in bad faith, and allowing him to voluntarily dismiss the case at this time
would be improper. Id.
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
29.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
On March 20, 2015, the Debtor timely filed a notice of appeal of the Dismissal
Decision and related order to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New
York [Docketed at 15-cv-01525-KAM]. The Debtor has done nothing to prosecute his appeal
and to date, has not filed a statement of issues on appeal, designation of record on appeal or brief
of the issues.
D. Bankruptcy Crime 432 West 162nd Street
30.
On the Petition Date, the Debtor owned 432 West 162 Street Acquisition, LLC
(432 West LLC), which owned real property at 432 West 162nd Street, New York, New York
(432 West). This was not disclosed by the Debtor to the Trustee or the Bankruptcy Court in
his schedules or otherwise.
31.
Unbeknownst to the Trustee, 432 West LLC sold 432 West on January 21, 2014,
On July 10, 2014, the Trustees counsel performed a routine litigation search on
the Debtor and discovered an action titled NRT New York LLC, d/b/a The Corcoran Group
(Corcoran) v. Herman Segal, Index No. 650322/2014 (N.Y.S. Sup. Ct.), wherein Corcoran
alleged that it had been retained by the Debtor to locate a buyer for 432 West which Corcoran
had done, but that the Debtor failed to pay half the agreed upon commission.
33.
Had the Debtor not signed the Corcoran commission agreement in his individual
name, the Trustee may never have discovered the 432 West post-petition transfer.
34.
While much of the proceeds of the 432 West sale were used to pay mortgages
against 432 West, a significant amount was used by the Debtor or paid to affiliates of the Debtor
as follows:
10
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
$109,131.38 was wired to the Debtors company, Centurion Omega LLC, which was
dissipated by the Debtor in various ways including over $50,000 in cash ATM
withdrawals, and over $20,000 to American Express on third party accounts.
35.
In an effort to discover the foregoing, the Trustee served a subpoena upon David
Fleischmann, counsel to 432 West. According to Mr. Fleischmann, the Debtor informed him
that if he provided any documents or information to the Trustee, the Debtor would report Mr.
Fleischmann to the disciplinary committee for violating, among other things, the attorney-client
privilege.
36.
The Debtor has issued similar threats to other former attorneys including
The Debtor knowingly and fraudulently concealed 432 West LLC and 432 West
On December 16, 2013, the Trustee commenced adversary proceeding no. 13-
01545 against the Debtor seeking a denial of the Debtors discharge for, among other reasons,
the Debtors failure to make necessary disclosures, turnover documents and cooperate with the
Trustee. On January 17, 2014, the Debtor answered the complaint [13-1545 Docket No. 6].
39.
Upon learning of the 432 West post-petition transfer, the Trustee moved for
authority to amend his discharge complaint to include allegations regarding the 432 West
transfer and on November 5, 2014, the Trustee filed an amended complaint [13-1545 Docket No.
21].
11
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
40.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
The Debtor failed to file an answer to the amended complaint and on January 6,
2015, the Trustee moved for the entry of a default judgment against the Debtor [13-1545 Docket
No. 26]. At the January 29, 2015 hearing on the Trustees motion, the Debtor did not object and
stated in response to the motion [o]h, thats fine, I have no objection to that, and I dont find
myself under the Courts jurisdiction and under this bankruptcy. Transcript at p.34, LL.17-21.
Accordingly, on January 31, 2015, the Court entered an order and judgment denying the
Debtors discharge [13-1545 Docket Nos. 32 & 33].
II. The Debtors Financial Affairs Complex and Secretive
41.
The Debtor has not produced a single document related to his financial accounts.
The only explanation provided by the Debtor for not retaining even a single bank statement is
that [e]very few weeks, piles of papers would get tossed out by my secretary or by the cleaning
staff, and every time my office moved, papers didnt. See Letter from Debtor to Trustees
Counsel, June 12, 2015.
42.
Thus far, the Trustee has identified forty-two (42) bank accounts that the Debtor
has owned, used and/or controlled over the six (6) year period preceding the Petition Date as set
forth on the following chart:
Account Holder
Centurion Omega LLC
Herman Segal
The Chana Pollak 2004A
IRREV LIT
Chana Weider Trust No.#1
Toby Rothman Trust #3
Lilly Segal or Herman
Segal POA
Lilly Segal or Herman
Segal POA
Lilly Segal or Herman
Segal POA
Lilly Segal or Herman
Segal POA
Debtor Relationship
Wholly-Owned LLC
Debtor
Debtor Signatory
Financial Institution
Bank of America
Bank of America
North Fork Bank, n/k/a
Capital One
Capital One
Account No.
********0962
********4512
********0496
********6402
********1753
Debtor Signatory
Trustee
Debtor Signatory
Trustee
Debtor Signatory
and
Debtor Signatory
Power of Attorney
Debtor Signatory
Power of Attorney
Debtor Signatory
Power of Attorney
with
********1901
with
********8965
with
********3565
and
12
********6410
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Debtor-Owned LLC
Debtor Signatory
Trustee
and
********0698
********6652
with
********7785
and
********5665
and
********9335
and
********8282
and
********9405
Debtor Signatory
********1456
Debtor Signatory
********5507
and
********4267
********9405
Signatory
and
********2169
Debtor Signatory
Trustee
Debtor Signatory
and
********6566
********6929
Debtor Signatory
********9172
Debtor Signatory
Debtor Signatory
Debtor Signatory
********7604
********8008
********0103
Debtor Signatory
Debtor Signatory
********0764
********0772
Debtor Signatory
********9831
Joint Account
********2880
********2898
********2467
********3316
********5147
Debtor Signatory
********6590
Debtor Signatory
********7075
Debtor
Trustee
Signatory
Debtor Signatory
Debtor Signatory
Trustee
Debtor
Trustee
Debtor
Debtor Signatory
Trustee
Debtor
Debtor Signatory
and
13
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Herman Segal
Delta Magazine Group
LLC
Herman Segal DBA
Exclusive Cleaners
Herman Segal
Herman Segal
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Debtor
Debtor Signatory
Santander Bank
Santander Bank
********7912
********3725
Debtor
Santander Bank
********8497
Debtor
Debtor
Signature Bank
Meyers Associates, L.P.
********1078
********1809
The Debtor routinely transferred funds in, out and amongst the Debtor Accounts.
The Debtor heavily used his elderly mothers personal bank accounts over which he had a power
of attorney, sometimes moving over $500k in and out of the accounts over a 30-day period.
44.
Most of the Transfers made by the Debtor make little sense without the benefit of
the Debtors explanations and testimony, which the Debtor will not provide invoking the Fifth
Amendment. To the Trustees knowledge, there are no written explanations or support for an
overwhelming majority of the transfers made by the Debtor to, from and amongst the Debtor
Accounts.
III. Pre-Petition Fraudulent Activity and Schemes
45.
Even without the Debtors testimony or earnest document production, the Trustee
has uncovered myriad incidents of the Debtors frauds and forgery, or alleged frauds and forgery.
A. Real Property
1. 4115 Quentin and the Israeli Mortgages
46.
In or around 2001, Shlomo Kolp (Kolp) and the Debtor entered into an
agreement pursuant to which Kolp would obtain title to the property at 4115 Quentin Road (also
including 4113 Quentin Road), Brooklyn, New York (the Brooklyn Property) and grant certain
mortgages against the Property, and the Debtor would fund the purchase of the Property and
maintain the mortgages granted thereon. At all times after Kolps acquisition of the Property, the
Property was occupied by the Debtor and not by Kolp.
14
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
47.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
By deed dated August 1, 2001, Kolp obtained title to the Property in fee simple
Funding Ltd. in the maximum principal amount of $640,000 (the First Mortgage), and on
December 3, 2002, Kolp granted a mortgage against the Property to Fleet National Bank in the
maximum principal amount of $250,000 (the Second Mortgage).
49.
purporting to grant a mortgage in the Property to Avigdor Landesman and Eleizer Silber as
trustees in the principal amount of $500,000 (the First Israeli Mortgage). Kolp held title to
the Property when the Debtor granted the First Israeli Mortgage against the Property.
50.
On or around August 9, 2005, Kolp transferred title of the Property to the Segals
as tenants by the entireties for stated consideration of $10.00. Upon information and belief, the
holders of the First Mortgage and Second Mortgage, as may have been amended, were
completely unaware that title to the Property was transferred from Kolp to the Segals.
51.
the Debtors computer provided some explanation for the mysterious relationship between the
Debtor and Kolp as follows:
On approximately August 1, 2001, my wife and I purchased the above referenced
house [the Brooklyn Property] as our primary residence. Because I did not have
the full purchase price of $800,000 for the acquisition, I needed a mortgage. As
my credit was not good enough to obtain a mortgage, I was able to persuade Mr.
Shlomo Kolp, who at the time was a good friend of mine, and had excellent
credit, to allow me to use his name as the name buyer as a so called
strawman. As I had been Mr. Kolps attorney, and since he was a recent
immigrant, I was able to convince him that there was nothing illegal, immoral, nor
unethical regarding this transaction.
*******
15
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
In about August of 2005, Mr. Kolp began having marital issues, and his wife,
Mrs. Ettie Kolp began threatening Mr. Kolp that she was going to go after my
house as Marital assets, (even though she knew that the house did not belong to
Mr. Kolp), unless he gave in to her demands regarding the custody of the
children. We therefore transferred the house to my wife and myself, reflecting the
reality of the ownership as it truly was from the inception.
52.
On March 11, 2008, the Debtor and his wife, Ms. Segal (collectively, the
Segals) each executed a mortgage document purporting to grant a mortgage in the Property to
Landesman and Silber in the principal amount of $300,000 (the Second Israeli Mortgage). Ms.
Segal testified that she never signed the Second Israeli Mortgage and was completely unware of
the existence of the First or Second Israeli Mortgage until the Trustee brought it to her attention
in 2014.
54.
On August 25, 2009, the Segals each executed a mortgage document purporting to
grant a mortgage in the Property to Kleinfeld and Green in the principal amount of $400,000 (the
Third Israeli Mortgage). As with the Second Israeli Mortgage, Ms. Segal testified that she
never signed the Third Israeli Mortgage and was completely unware of the existence of the First,
Second or Third Israeli Mortgage until the Trustee brought it to her attention in 2014.
55.
Kleinfeld in the principal amount of $393,600, requiring repayment in four equal installments of
$98,400 due on June 1, September 1 and December 1, 2012, and March 1, 2013 (the Kleinfeld
Note).
56.
New York State Supreme Court, Kings Count (see Kleinfeld v. Segal, Index No. 500930/2014
(N.Y. Sup. Ct.)), to collect on the Kleinfeld Note.
16
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
57.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
January 14, 2014, wherein she testified, among other things, that:
I was advised that [Debtor] was an expert in trading in the stock markets.
[Debtor] promised me a ten-percent return on my investment and assured me that
I would receive one-percent of my investment as a dividend every month to pay
for my bills and medications.
*****
[Debtor] provided no detailed information with respect to the type of loan I was
making or where my money would be invested, nor did I receive anything in
writing. However, I trusted [Debtor] completely because he was so highly
regarded by his then-business partner, who assured me that Defendant handled his
and his familys money for years, resulting in great profits.
******
For a few months, [Debtor] paid me some dividends on the Loan [of $400,000].
However, in the Spring of 2010, his then-business partner succumbed to bone
marrow cancer and died, and subsequently, [Debtor] ceased making payments to
me altogether.
Kleinfeld Affidavit.
58.
OConnell v. Shlomo Kolp, et al., Adv. Pro. No. 14-1140 (NHL), seeking a determination of the
extent, validity and priority of all liens, claims and encumbrances against the Brooklyn Property
and authority to liquidate the Brooklyn Property for the benefit of the estate and its creditors.
That adversary proceeding is ongoing. However, both the Debtor and Kolp have defaulted and
default judgments have been entered against them divesting them of any interest in the Brooklyn
Property and directing their vacatur of such property.
2. The Miami Coop Alleged Theft of a Cooperative Apartment
59.
On or around August 8, 2008, The Esquire House of M.B., Inc. (the Esquire
House), the cooperative association in connection with the Miami Coop, issued the shares in the
17
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Miami Coop to the Debtor. The certificate was executed by Grant N. Epstein and Amanda R.
Roziar as the President and Secretary of the Esquire House, respectively (the Debtor Coop
Certificate).
60.
The Debtor Coop Certificate was properly and promptly recorded with the Dade
County Clerk on August 26, 2008 under CFN 2008R0693250, Book 26538, Pgs. 0013-14. The
Debtor Coop Certificate has been freely and publicly available on the Dade County Clerks
website since at or around the date of its recording.
61.
The Debtor filed his bankruptcy petition in order to stay the judicial sale of the
Miami Coop by the Esquire House which was owed significant sums in back dues. On October
24, 2013, the Trustee filed a motion for authority to sell the Miami Coop [Docket No. 20], and
on February 5, 2015, the Court entered an order authorizing the Trustee to sell the Miami Coop
[Docket No. 55].
62.
The Debtor tried routinely to frustrate and delay the sale of the Miami Coop.
Among other things, the Debtor authorized his assistant, Darylann Demino (Demino) and her
boyfriend, Luis Leon, to live in the Miami Coop rent-free in order to frustrate the Trustees sale.
Most significantly, in or around October 2014, eight months after the Courts entry of an order
authorizing the Trustees sale of the Miami Coop, but before the Trustee could consummate the
sale, the Debtor informed Larry Grunfeld (Grunfeld) of the bankruptcy and sale order.
63.
Upon information and belief, Grunfeld has had a business relationship and
friendship with the Debtor since the early 1990s where the two met in prison. Grunfeld and the
Debtor did multiple real estate transactions together wherein the Debtor would hold a power of
attorney for Grunfeld and commit Grunfeld to various transactions with Grunfelds knowledge
and consent.
18
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
64.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Trustee captioned Grunfeld v. OConnell, et al., Adv. Pro. No. 14-1224 (NHL) wherein Grunfeld
alleged that the Debtor stole the Miami Coop by forging Grunfelds name on certain transfer
documents dating back to 2004 and 2008 (the Grunfeld Adversary Proceeding).
65.
Grunfeld further alleged that the notaries that acknowledged his signatures on the
transfer documents, Ms. Segal and Robert Steinherz (Steinherz), did so fraudulently.
Yocheved Segal has testified that it is not her signature on the document, that she never
witnessed Grunfelds signature and that she has not been a licensed notary since 1981. Steinherz
has testified that he did in fact witness Grunfeld sign the relevant transfer document.
66.
The Grunfeld Adversary Proceeding is currently ongoing and the sale of the
Miami Coop has been delayed pending completion thereof. In the meantime, Demino and her
boyfriend continue to occupy the Miami Coop without paying rent.
3. Parkway Starlight Alleged Theft of Real Estate
67.
On or around September 20, 2011, DLJ Mortgage Capital, Inc. sold the real
property at 1171 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York (the Parkway Property) to Parkway
Starlight LLC (Parkway Starlight), an entity owned and controlled by the Debtor, for stated
consideration of $170,000.
68.
On or around January 15, 2013, the Debtor through Parkway Starlight sold the
Property to Methlyn Green for stated consideration of $750,000, over four (4) times what
Parkway Starlight purchased it for just over one (1) year prior. The Debtor executed the deed as
President of Parkway Starlight.
69.
On or around April 14, 2015, an action was commenced in New York State
Supreme Court for the County of Kings captioned Parkway Starlight, LLC v. Methlyn Green and
19
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Emigrant Funding Corp., Index No. 504381/2015 (the Parkway Action), by filing a complaint
(the Parkway Complaint).
70.
On January 19, 2012, the Debtor sold his membership interest in Parkway Starlight to
David Grossman for $450,000, and the Debtor was granted an option to purchase the
ownership interest in Parkway Starlight on or before July 19, 2012 for $510,000;
The Debtor never exercised his option to redeem the interest in Parkway Starlight by
July 19, 2012;
When the Debtor committed Parkway Starlight to the sale of the Parkway Property to
Methlyn Green on January 15, 2013, he had no right to do so pursuant to the prior
sale to David Grossman and that accordingly, the Debtors actions were fraudulent;
The Debtor fraudulently retained the proceeds of the sale of the Parkway Property to
Methlyn Green; and
On November 12, 2014, David Grossman sold and assigned his membership interest
in Parkway Starlight to Ravenwood Holding, LLC.
71.
Abraham Hoschander claims that his signatures were forged in connection with
The Parkway Action is ongoing before the State Court and is unresolved as of the
On January 25, 2011, Eagle Park Holding, LLC (Eagle Park) was formed by the
Debtor by the filing of a certificate of formation with the New York State Department of State.
74.
On January 25, 2011, Eagle Park acquired the real property known as 2179 East
33rd Street, Brooklyn, New York (the Eagle Park Property) from Charisse A. Mobilia as
surviving tenant by the entirety of James Mobilia for stated consideration of $366,500.
20
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
75.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Upon information and belief, the Debtor entered into a lending transaction with
Harry Einhorn (Einhorn) either at the time Eagle Park acquired the Eagle Park Property or
afterward. In order to provide Einhorn with security for repayment of the loan, the Debtor
transferred a one-hundred (100%) percent membership interest in Eagle Park (the Eagle Park
Interest).
76.
In or around August 15, 2013, the Debtor borrowed $275,000 from Galpern (the
Galpern Loan). At or around the same time, Einhorn transferred the Eagle Park Interest to
Galpern to secure the Debtors repayment of the loan from Galpern.
77.
In connection with the Galpern Loan, Eagle Park and the Debtor entered into a
lease (the Eagle Park Lease), pursuant to which the Debtor was required to pay rent and the
Debtor was granted a purchase option allowing the Debtors re-purchase of the Eagle Park
Interest for a stated price within a year.
78.
In or around March 1, 2014, the Debtor stopped paying the rent due under the
Eagle Park Lease and Eagle Park commenced a non-payment and eviction proceeding captioned:
Eagle Park Holding LLC v. Herman Segal, L&T Index No. 4519/2014 in Kings County
Landlord-Tenant Court (defined above as the L&T Court). Eagle Park subsequently learned that
the Debtor was a debtor in bankruptcy and that the eviction of the tenants was stayed.
79.
On October 16, 2015, Eagle Park made a motion with this Court for relief from
the automatic stay so that it could proceed with the eviction action [Docket No. 124]. Upon
inspection of the motion and underlying documents, the Trustee discovered the Eagle Park Lease
and the purchase option.
80.
between the Trustee, Galpern and Eagle Park, pursuant to which Eagle Park is required to sell the
21
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Eagle Park Property and remit all net proceeds to the Trustee for the benefit of the Debtors
estate [Docket No. 142]. The settlement between the Trustee, Eagle Park and Galpern was
approved by the Court by order dated February 3, 2015 (the Eagle Park Sale Order) [Docket
No. 171].
81.
Pursuant to the Eagle Park Sale Order and related orders, Eagle Park continued its
efforts to evict the tenants of the Eagle Park Property so that the property could be sold.
82.
On June 29, 2015, Victoria Prestino (Prestino) and Roderick Reyes (Reyes)
commenced an adversary proceeding in this Court captioned Prestino & Reyes v. OConnell, et
al., Adv. Pro. No. 15-1076 (NHL), pursuant to which Prestino and Reyes allege that:
After transferring the Eagle Park Interest to Galpern, the Debtor transferred the real
membership interest in Eagle Park to an individual named Dominick Racigliano
(Racigliano) in exchange for $80,000;
On May 31, 2015, Prestino granted Reyes, her boyfriend and co-occupant of the
Parkway Property, a life estate in the Parkway Property; and
Based on the foregoing, Prestino, and not Galpern, is the true owner of Eagle Park
and the Eagle Park Property.
83.
Subsequent depositions of Prestino and Reyes on July 31, 2015, revealed that: (i)
Prestino still has not paid anything to Racigliano for his purported interest in Eagle Park; (ii)
neither Prestino nor Reyes have ever met Racigliano and that in fact, they relied entirely on the
Debtor to negotiate the transactions and create and transmit the relevant transfer and life estate
documents; (iii) Prestino and Reyes did not have attorneys in connection with their negotiation or
entry into any of the transactions on May 31, 2015; (iv) the Debtor introduced Prestino and
Reyes to their attorneys, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC (the Bronstein Firm), and that
they had no written retainer with the Bronstein Firm and had not paid the Bronstein Firm
22
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
anything to date; and (v) nobody had informed Prestino or Reyes that the Bronstein Firm was
simultaneously representing the Debtors mother in a case where the Debtor had admitted to
defrauding his 91-year-old mother and forging her and his wifes signatures (as described
below).
84.
The disputes between the Trustee, Prestino, Reyes, Racigliano, Eagle Park and
Lilly Segal is the Debtors 91-year-old mother. Lilly Segal is the title owner of
1257 and 1257A 59th Street Brooklyn, New York (the Lilly Segal Property) and has lived in
1257A 59th Street since it was built by her husband in or around 1978.
86.
In or around 2009, Lilly Segal granted a mortgage against the Lilly Segal Property
in connection with a loan taken from FOT Managers or its predecessor in interest.
FOT
Manager, Lilly Segal, the Debtor and others have been involved in a foreclosure action over the
Lilly Segal Property since 2010 captioned FOT Mangers v. Independent Planning Assoc., Inc., et
al., Index No. 15110/2010 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., Kings Cty.) (the FOT Managers Litigation).
87.
On July 9, 2015, the Debtor submitted an affidavit in connection with the FOT
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
When Abraham Hoschander needed information I alone gave it to him, and when
he needed an affidavit from my mother for the case, I forged my mothers name
on the affidavit without telling her about it, and I forged my wifes notarization on
the forged affidavit using my wifes old notary stamp.
88.
Lilly Segal further alleged in connection with the FOT Managers Litigation that
[she] is an innocent victim as she did not take a loan, and all activity was done by her son
Herman who took advantage of his elderly mother. Lilly Segal Application July 9, 2015, 5.
89.
Lilly Segal is represented in the FOT Managers Litigation by the Bronstein Firm,
the same firm that represents Prestino and Reyes in their litigation against the Trustee.
B. Life Insurance STOLI Transactions and Life Insurance Trusts
90.
policies and life insurance trusts. In the past six years, the Debtor transferred not less than $2
million to over six (6) life insurance companies from accounts owned and/or controlled by the
Debtor (the Life Insurance Transfers). The Debtor has not produced a single document to
explain the purpose of the Life Insurance Transfers or any ultimate source of their funding.
91.
Upon information and belief, most of the Life Insurance Transfers were made on
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
*
25
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Under New York Law, as well as the long-standing public policy recognized by
New York courts, it is illegal for anyone to procure, or cause to be procured, a life
insurance policy on an insured for the benefit of an outside investor who does not
have an insurable interest in the insured. To conceal the real policyholders lack
of insurable interest from the insurer, as well as to induce the insureds
application, investors establish an irrevocable trust solely to hold the target
insurance policy. The trust is established around the time that the insured submits
his application, and is named as the owner and beneficiary of the policy with the
beneficiary being entitled to the death benefits payable under the policy. The
beneficiary of the trust is typically disclosed to the insurer and designed as the
insured or a family member. Once the policy is issued, the insured transfers the
beneficial interest in the policy to an outside investor in exchange for a significant
lump sum payment.
Phoenix Life Ins. v. Irwin Levinson Ins. Tr. II, 2009 New York Slip Op. 30383.
94.
Just from documents produced by JPMorgan Chase bank, the Trustee has
identified numerous life insurance trusts in which the Debtor serves as trustee or otherwise owns
or controls the trusts bank accounts. Such trusts identified are in the names of: (i) Regina
Graus, (ii) Fay Klein, (iii) Magda Huss, (iv) Joseph Katzenstein, (v) Chana Pollak, (vi) Toby
Rothman, (vii) Yehida Rothman, (viii) David Rottenstein, (ix) RP Trust, (x) Josef Saks, and (xi)
Chana Weider.
95.
The Trustee believes that most, if not all, of the Life Insurance Transfers
constitute avoidable fraudulent conveyances because: (i) they were made in furtherance of the
Debtors ongoing Ponzi scheme; (ii) they were made in furtherance of illegal STOLI transactions
on policies that are void, voidable or subject to rescission by the respective life insurance
company by virtue of the illegality of the transactions; and/or (iii) the Debtor received no benefit
in exchange for such transfers.
1. The Arnold Young Transactions
96.
The only STOLI transaction to which the Trustee has significant insight is that
with Arnold Young because it resulted in significant litigation before this Court and the U.S.
26
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
District Courts for the District of New Jersey and Southern District of New York. See Apliko,
LLC v. Arnold Young, Case No. 13-cv-4948 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 17, 2013); Principal Life Insur. Co.
v. Arnold Young, Herman Segal, et al., Case No. 14-cv-00198 (D.N.J. Jan. 10, 2014); Arnold
Young v. Herman Segal, Case No. 14-cv-01997 (D.N.J. Mar. 31, 2014); Arnold Young v.
Herman Segal, Adv. Pro. No. 14-1122 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. Sept. 4, 2014).
97.
According to Arnold Young, in or around May 2008, the Debtor induced him to
participate in STOLI transactions and unbeknownst to Mr. Young, the Debtor financed the
premiums on the policy through a loan by third party HM Ruby Fund, L.P. (HM Ruby).
98.
In or around July 17, 2013, Apliko, LLC, the assignee of the loan extended by
HM Ruby, commenced an action against Arnold Young to collect on a guaranty Mr. Young
provided to HM Ruby on the loan obligations. According to Mr. Young, his signatures on the
guaranty and loan documents were forged by the Debtor.
99.
The transactions involving Mr. Young resulted in not less than four pieces of
litigation, including: (i) Apliko, LLC against Arnold Young seeking to collect on a loan
guaranty; (ii) Arnold Young against the Debtor in District Court seeking a judgment on account
of the Debtors fraudulent conduct; (iii) Principal Life Insurance Company against Arnold
Young, the Debtor and other parties seeking, among other things, a declaration that the life
insurance policy is void ab initio because it is part of an unlawful STOLI transaction; and (iv)
Arnold Young against the Debtor seeking a declaration that all claims Mr. Young has against the
Debtor are non-dischargeable as a result of the Debtors fraudulent conduct.
C. Specific Instances of Forgery and Fraud
100.
Although the Trustees investigation has been limited and hampered by the
Debtors refusal to turn over documents and cooperate, the Trustee has identified numerous
27
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
instances where the Debtor has, upon information and belief, forged various signatures. The
Trustee has further identified numerous other examples of where third parties have accused the
Debtor of forging signatures.
1. Lilly Segal
101.
mothers signature on legal papers as well as his wifes signature as the notary public witness to
his mothers signature.
102.
The Debtor has, upon information and belief, falsified powers of attorney
documents wherein his mother has purportedly granted him power of attorney to commit her to
various transactions.
103.
Moreover, the Debtor has maintained not less than four bank accounts in the last
six (6) years in his mothers name where he has been a signatory with power of attorney
(collectively, the Mothers Accounts). The Debtor has used his Mothers Accounts to move
millions of dollars for purposes wholly unrelated to the care of his elderly mother. By way of
example:
In April and May, 2008, the Debtor deposited funds from an unknown source into
Mothers Account at Chase (***1753) and then moved over $300,000 to his own
Chase account (***7785);
In June and July, 2008, the Debtor deposited funds from an unknown source into
Mothers Account at Chase (***1753) and then moved $100,000 to his account at
Signature Bank (***3576) and $31,000 to Omega Small Capitals account at Chase
(***6365);
In July and August 2008, the Debtor deposited $398,000 from the Gerald Brauser
Life Ins Trust into his Mothers Account at Chase (***1753); and
In August 2008, the Debtor deposited over $516,000 from unknown sources into
Mothers Account at Chase (***1753) and moved it back out to accounts he owned or
controlled at Signature Bank.
28
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Transactions like the foregoing continued through 2009 when they ended suddenly for reasons
unbeknownst to the Trustee.
2. Yocheved Segal
104.
The Trustee has identified the Debtors wifes, Yocheved Segals, a/k/a Yocheved
Signatures of Larry Grunfeld, dated May 26, 1998 and April 18, 2002, in connection
with powers of attorney granted by Grunfeld to the Debtor;
Signatures of Larry Grunfeld, dated January 19, 2004 and February 2, 2004, in
connection with the Miami Coop;
Signature of Arnold Young, dated April 1, 2008, in connection with the Arnold
Young transactions;
Signature of William J. Segal, dated August 1, 2008, in connection with certain loan
documents; and
Signature of Jeffrey Kret, dated September 2, 2008, in connection with the Arnold
Young transactions.
105.
documents and she has not been a notary public since 1981. Yocheved Segal further testified
that her signature on the following documents is not her own, and that she is unaware of the
documents existence until recently:
The Second Israeli Mortgage against the Brooklyn Property executed on March 11,
2008 (signature witnessed by Jason Beyer and acknowledged by notary Robert
Steinherz);
29
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
The Third Israeli Mortgage against the Brooklyn Property executed on August 25,
2009 (signature witnessed by Arthur Silver and acknowledged by notary Nachum
Salzman); and
106.
Upon information and belief, the Debtor has maintained his wifes old notary
stamp and used it to acknowledge the signatures of third parties, both real and forged, on legal
documents for at least fifteen years.
3. Abraham Hoschander
107.
their interests until the two had a falling out. According to Hoschander, the Debtor forged his
signature on at least the following documents:
an agreement dated January 19, 2012 between the Debtor and David Grossman
pursuant to which Abraham Hoschander will pay all claims if any against Parkway
Starlight, LLC so that the LLC is delivered free and clear of any liens.
4. Robert Steinherz
108.
Debtor did most banking for himself, his various companies and life insurance trusts until
sometime in or around 2010. According to Steinherz, he met the Debtor in or around 2004 while
employed at Chase.
109.
Steinherz is a licensed notary public in the State of New York. Steinherz is the
acknowledging notary public of the signatures of: (i) the Debtor and Yocheved Segal on a certain
mortgage of the Brooklyn Property granted on March 3, 2008; (ii) Larry Grunfeld on a certain
affidavit regarding the request for replacement share certificates in the Miami Coop dated May
30
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
15, 2008; and (iii) Larry Grunfeld and Tina Witt on a certain assignment of proprietary lease for
the Miami Coop dated July 9, 2008.
110.
Grunfeld, Tina Witt and Ms. Segal claim that their signature was forged on each
of the foregoing documents and that they never signed anything in the presence of Steinherz.
Steinherz testified that he acknowledged each of their signatures in their presence and reviewed
their drivers license or other acceptable identification before doing so.
D. Stock Trading and Alleged Ponzi Schemes
111.
Very little is known about the Debtors stock and option trading activities. Upon
information and belief, the Debtor professed to be an expert in the markets and offered
investment services to certain individuals, including the holders of the First, Second and Third
Israeli Mortgages, or their predecessors in interest. As stated above, Annette Kleinfeld testified
that she was told that the Debtor was an expert in trading stocks. When Ms. Kleinfeld failed to
get recourse against the Debtor, she accused the Debtor of operating some kind of Ponzi
scheme.
112.
On or around March 19, 2013, the Debtor executed an agreement and schedules
thereto pursuant to which he was permitted to trade stock options through clearing house Sterne
Agee. According to those documents signed by the Debtor, on March 19, 2013, six months prior
to the Petition Date, the Debtor had annual income of $500,000, total net worth excluding his
residence of $10 million, and liquid net worth of $3 million. Upon information and belief, none
of the foregoing statements were true or alternatively, none of the Debtors assets have been
disclosed to the Trustee.
113.
From what little information the Trustee has, the Debtor appears to have
transferred over $2.1 million to now bankrupt Penson Financial Services since 2008, more than
31
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
$1.5 million of which was to an account in his wifes name, and over $100,000 to Sterne Agee in
the year prior to the Petition Date. It is unclear at this time how the funds were invested or
withdrawn.
E. Bankruptcy Abuses
114.
The Debtor has orchestrated various bad faith voluntary and involuntary
bankruptcy filings since the pendency of this Bankruptcy Case in order to stay foreclosures of
property of his or his family members in which he has an interest.
115.
On March 13, 2014, the Debtor orchestrated the filing of a chapter 11 petition by
Utica Brooklyn Acquisition Corp. in this Court (Case No. 14-41127; Stong, J.) That case was
dismissed on May 28, 2014.
116.
On July 17, 2014, the Debtor orchestrated the filing of an involuntary chapter 7
petition against Utica Brooklyn Acquisition Corp. in this Court (Case No. 14-43647; Stong, J.)
by Mayer Orgel. Mr. Orgel never appeared to prosecute the case and it was dismissed on
February 20, 2015.
117.
On January 29, 2015, the Debtor orchestrated the filing of a second involuntary
chapter 7 petition against Utica Brooklyn Acquisition Corp. in this Court (Case No. 15-40376;
Stong, J.) by his assistant and friend, Darlyann Demino, a/k/a Rene Demino. That case was
dismissed almost immediately on February 23, 2015.
118.
petition against his mother, Lilly Segal, in this Court (Case No. 14-45032; Stong, J.) by Paul
Rohe, in order to stay a foreclosure sale on his mothers property. Mr. Rohe never appeared to
prosecute the case and it was dismissed on January 8, 2015.
32
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
119.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
chapter 7 petition against his mother, Lilly Segal, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern
District of Florida (Case No. 15-14101; Mark, J.) by Demino. That case was dismissed on May
15, 2015, with the following finding:
The Court finds that the Involuntary Bankruptcy filing was a sham, made
in bad faith, and likely orchestrated by the Alleged Debtors son, Herman
Segal, to frustrate the foreclosure efforts of FOT Managers.
IV. Facts Specific to the Instant Case
120.
Prior to the Petition Date, the Debtor made the following transfers to Alan
Spiegel:
Transferor
Detroit Six LLC
Detroit Six LLC
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Account
Chase*4267
Chase*4267
Chase*4267
Amount
$ 13,360.00
$ 3,000.00
$ 1,100.00
Chase *5151
x-fer
9/19/2008
$ 2,290.00
Chase *5151
x-fer
10/3/2008
$ 310.00
Chase *5151
x-fer
10/7/2008
$ 525.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
10/7/2008
10/24/2008
$ 150.00
$ 500.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
x-fer
10/28/2008
12/15/2008
12/16/2008
$ 575.00
$ 4,000.00
$ 4,000.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
2/9/2009
2/17/2009
$ 350.00
$ 25,000.00
Chase *5151
x-fer
2/19/2009
$ 890.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
2/27/2009
4/6/2009
$ 1,000.00
$ 20,000.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
4/6/2009
4/7/2009
$ 500.00
$ 5,000.00
33
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Chase *5151
x-fer
4/20/2009
$ 22,500.00
Chase *5151
x-fer
4/20/2009
$ 22,500.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
5/4/2009
5/19/2009
$ 500.00
$ 7,500.00
Chase*7785
x-fer
11/20/2009 $ 20,000.00
TOTAL $155,550.00
Prior to the Petition Date, the Debtor made the following transfers to Steven
Spiegel:
Transferor
Herman Segal
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
Detroit Six LLC
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Centurion Settlements
ltd.
Detroit Six LLC
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
Lilly Segal/H. Segal
POA
Herman or Yocheved
Segal
49 Vernon Ave LLC
1257 Pacific Street
LLC
208 Lefferts Place LLC
49 Vernon Ave LLC
Account
Sig *1078
Check
No.
Date
465 12/31/2007
Amount
$ 2,392.42
Chase*7785
Chase*4267
Chase*4267
8724
1002
x-fer
$ 102,000.00
$ 13,360.00
$ 3,000.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
9/22/2008
10/24/2008
$ 413.00
$ 6,000.00
Chase *5151
Chase*4267
x-fer
x-fer
11/13/2008
1/26/2009
$ 60,000.00
$ 2,000.00
Chase*7785
x-fer
3/17/2009
$ 3,750.00
Chase*7785
x-fer
6/24/2009
$ 11,600.00
Chase*7785
x-fer
8/7/2009
$ 45,000.00
Chase*7785
x-fer
9/17/2009
$ 10,000.00
Chase*1753
X-fer
9/21/2009
$ 2,400.00
Chase*7785
Chase*7604
x-fer
x-fer
10/28/2009
11/9/2009
$ 2,000.00
$ 400.00
Chase*8008
Chase*7075
Chase*7604
X-fer
x-fer
x-fer
11/9/2009
11/9/2009
2/5/2010
$ 400.00
$ 400.00
$ 2,500.00
34
1/25/2008
5/29/2008
7/15/2008
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Chase*8008
x-fer
2/16/2010
$ 3,495.18
Chase*8008
x-fer
3/1/2010
$ 500.00
Chase*8008
x-fer
3/17/2010
$ 140.70
Chase*8008
x-fer
9/21/2010 $ 1,000.00
TOTAL $272,751.30
On August 27, 2015, the Debtor testified in proceedings before the Bankruptcy
Court with respect to the Defendants placement of various forms of spyware on the Debtors
computer devices and the alleged theft of millions of dollars as follows:
Q: What was the purpose of installing the encryption software?
A: To add a layer of testimony to my hard drive.
Q: Please explain that.
A: There is a question of when documents are produced under subpoena, whether
those documents by the mere production, if the Fifth Amendment protects you
from producing them depending on authentication and depending on the act of
production itself, having a password thats not written down adds a letter of
testimony to the production. That was one reason why I installed it.
Q: What was the other reason?
A: There was this fear thatMr. Stevens was going to have the marshals come to
my home and take my computer, in which case none of my Fifth Amendment
rights would protect me because I would no longer have that drive. It would all be
in the hands of the government. So I wanted a layer of protection on that. And,
additionally, Ive also had people who have been looking into my computers and
stealing information from me.
Q: Whos been looking into you computers and stealing information?
A: The people I did business with.
Q: Who?
A: Various peoples.
35
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Q: Who?
A: I dont want to accuse people, but former partners of mine, friends of mine.
Q: What are their names?
A: I feel uncomfortable gossip mongering and mentioning peoples names or
THE COURT: Why dont I--- Ill make it easier for you. Ill direct you to answer
that question because that was not something that would, as far as I can see, in
any wayin any possible way deal with a violation of your rights. And, in fact, if
somebody is doing that, then Mr. Stevens might want to speak to them. So
THE WITNESS: No. There was Halan (ph) Spiegel that was doing that. He was
putting
THE COURT: How are you spelling Spiegel, S-P-I-E-G-E-L?
THE WITNESS: Yes. He was putting the monitoring software on my email. He
was logging into my email from other sources, and when he was physically in my
room he was going on the computer and copying things or putting in some type of
trace software that he could see what keys I tapped on my keyboard. That was on
individual.
BY MR. STEVENS:
Q: Who else?
A: His brother Steven Spiegel.
Q: And who else?
A: Well, I didnt want my wife to see some of the things that I had on the
computer. I didntI had a sort of a business break with my son. So I didnt
want him to see certain things on my computer.
Q: Anybody else?
A: No one specific other than them, but just anyone who is passing through.
*****
Q: Did you do anything to protect your computer from Mr. Spiegel prior to that
point?
A: Just passwords.
36
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Q: Why did Mr. Spiegel allegedly access your computer in the way that you said?
A: He was stealing from me and by accessing my computer he would find out
certain deals that were there. He was able to steal things by having information.
Q: What did Mr. Spiegel steal from you?
A: Primarily information, but also specific deals and money, of course.
Q: Mr. Spiegel stole money from you?
A: Yes.
Q: When and how much?
A: I dont know how much, but I would estimate in the millions of dollars.
Q: How did he steal it from you?
A: I would plead the fifth on that.
Q: Have you demanded that Mr. Spiegel return any money to you?
A: I have.
Q: when did you make the demand?
A: Several times over the past few years.
Q: Any of those times in writing?
A: No.
Q: Whens the last time you saw Mr. Spiegel?
A: I dont recall.
Q: When was the last time you made a demand for money from Mr. Spiegel?
A: About a year ago.
Q: What was his response?
A: That he didnt owe me any money.
Q: Have you ever sued Mr. Spiegel?
37
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
A: No.
Q: Have you ever filed a claim against Mr. Spiegel in a Rabbinical Court?
A: No.
Q: Do you have any documentation regarding that alleged theft?
A: I dont know if I have specific documents documenting thefts, but obviously
various things that hes done that add up to substantial amount of theft.
Q: Why havent you sued him?
A: There are unfortunately certain reasons why I wont sue him, religious being
some of them because they would probably lead to criminal indictments against
him.
Transcript of August 27, 2015 hearing.
123.
The Alan Spiegel Direct Transfers, the Steven Spiegel Direct Transfers, together
with all other money or property transferred by the Debtor to the Defendants in the last six (6)
years, including the millions of dollars that the Debtor alleges the Defendants have stolen, are
collectively referred to herein as the Fraudulent Transfers.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
Constructive Fraudulent Conveyances
11 U.S.C. 544(a) and (b), 548(a)(1)(B) and 550,
and N.Y. Debtor and Creditor Law 273-275
(Against Alan Spiegel and Steven Spiegel)
124.
Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation set forth in paragraphs 1
The Debtor had an interest in the funds and property transferred by the Fraudulent
Transfers.
126.
All the Fraudulent Transfers were made by the Debtor within six (6) years of the
Petition Date.
38
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
127.
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Upon information and belief, the Debtor did not receive fair consideration or
There are creditors that hold unsecured claims against the Debtor allowable under
section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, that were creditors at the time the Debtor made all of the
Fraudulent Transfers.
129.
At the time each of the Fraudulent Transfers was made, the Debtor was: (i)
insolvent or became insolvent as a result of making such Fraudulent Transfer; and/or (ii) engaged
or was about to engage in a business or transaction for which the property remaining in his hands
was an unreasonably small capital; and/or (iii) intended or believed that he would incur debts
beyond its ability to pay as they matured.
130.
Based upon the foregoing, the Trustee is entitled to a judgment against each
Defendant avoiding each of the Fraudulent Transfers received by such Defendant as a fraudulent
conveyance and directing the Defendant to return each respective Fraudulent Transfer or the
value thereof to the Trustee.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
Intentional Fraudulent Conveyance
11 U.S.C. 544(a) and (b), 548(a)(1)(A) and 550, and N.Y. Debtor and Creditor Law 276
(Against Alan Spiegel and Steven Spiegel)
131.
Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation set forth in paragraphs 1
The Debtor had an interest in the funds and property transferred by the Fraudulent
Transfers.
133.
All the Fraudulent Transfers were made by the Debtor within six (6) years of the
Petition Date.
134.
The Debtor has refused to cooperate in this proceeding and has invoked his Fifth
39
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Amendment right not to testify to salient questions regarding his financial affairs, including
questions about the validity and purpose of Fraudulent Transfers.
135.
At the time each of the Fraudulent Transfers was made, the Debtor was engaged
According to Annette Kleinfeld, the Debtor was/is operating some kind of Ponzi
scheme.1
137.
According to Arnold Young, the Debtor forged his name on loan documents and
According to Grunfeld, the Debtor forged his signature on documents going back
According to the Debtors own testimony, he defrauded his own mother, Lilly
The Debtor has refused to testify on most topics or produce any documents in this
proceeding for an alleged fear that answers to certain questions could implicate him in tax
evasion and a possibility of insider trading.2
141.
The Debtor made each of the Fraudulent Transfers with actual intent to hinder,
Defendant lacked good faith in accepting the Fraudulent Transfers because the
circumstances of the transfers would put a reasonable person on inquiry of the Debtors
1
2
40
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
fraudulent purpose and a diligent inquiry would have discovered the fraudulent purpose.
143.
the Debtor had no written business plan, prospectus, performance evaluation, or other
documentation demonstrating a legitimate business enterprise;
the Debtor had been convicted by a jury of his peers of two counts of conspiracy in the
second degree in connection with the planned murder of the Debtors late brothers
father-in-law
and
brother-in-law
(available
on
the
internet
at
http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19910513_0045949.NY.ht
m/qx);
the Debtor was involved in litigation with his late-brothers ex-wife and her family
wherein he was accused of forging the plaintiffs signature, firing three bullets into a
picture on the wall of [plaintiffs] house, and telling the plaintiff that Im going to end
up doing crazy things like killing or taking you to court (see Shirley Segal and Erica
Amsel v. Herman Segal and Lilly Segal, 278 N.J. Super. 218, 650 A.2d 996 (1994);
available
on
the
internet
at
http://leagle.com/decision/1994496278NJSuper218_1478.xml/SEGAL%20v.%20SEGA
L);
the Debtor had been involved in litigation where the genuineness of his signature was at
issue (see Bell Harbor Washington Hotel, Inc., et al. v. Herman Segal, et al., Index No.
3175/2004 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Queens Cty., June 25, 2004; decision available on the internet
at
https://www.nycourts.gov/library/queens/PDF_files/BelleHarborWashingtonHotelJeffersonOmegaCorp.pdf); and
the Debtor was disbarred by the New York State Bar Association (available on the
internet at http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorney/AttorneyDetails?attorneyId=5413071).
144.
Any one or more of the foregoing red flags put the Defendant on inquiry notice
of the Debtors fraudulent intent. The Defendant knew or should have known of this information
placing him/her/it objectively on alert that there was a problem with the Debtors business.
145.
There are creditors that hold unsecured claims against the Debtor allowable under
section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, that were creditors at the time the Debtor made all of the
Fraudulent Transfers.
146.
Based upon the foregoing, the Trustee is entitled to a judgment against each
41
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
Defendant avoiding each of the Fraudulent Transfers received by such Defendant as a fraudulent
conveyance and directing the Defendant to return each respective Fraudulent Transfer or the
value thereof to the Trustee.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
Attorneys Fees 11 U.S.C. 544(a) and (b), and N.Y. Debtor and Creditor Law 276-a
(Against Alan Spiegel and Steven Spiegel)
147.
Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation set forth in paragraphs 1
and received with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the
Debtor.
149.
Based upon the foregoing, the Trustee is entitled to a judgment against the
Defendants in the amount of the Trustees actual, necessary and reasonable attorneys fees
incurred in connection with the avoidance of the Fraudulent Transfers.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Objection to Claims - 11 U.S.C. 502(d)
(Against Alan Spiegel and Steven Spiegel)
150.
Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation set forth in paragraphs 1
152.
Based upon the foregoing, the Trustee is entitled to a judgment against the
Defendants expunging and disallowing any claims such holders may assert against the Debtors
estate unless and until the Fraudulent Transfers are returned to the Debtors estate.
42
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
153.
The Trustees investigation of the matters and issues raised in this Complaint have
been limited to what exists in the public record, what little the Debtor shared in connection with
certain hearings before this Court, the Trustees investigation of third parties and the Trustees
review of certain documents taken involuntarily from the Debtors electronic devices. The
Debtor has refused to cooperate and testify with respect to a vast majority of the transactions that
are the subject of this proceeding. Accordingly, the Trustee reserves his rights to amend or
supplement this proceeding timely upon the discovery of additional relevant information.
WHEREFORE, Trustee respectfully requests that a judgment or judgments be entered
against Defendant as follows:
a) Avoiding and directing the return of the Fraudulent Transfers as fraudulent transfers;
b) Awarding the Trustee reasonable attorneys fees and costs in connection with
obtaining the recovery of the Fraudulent Transfers;
c) Disallowing any claim of the Defendant unless and until all Fraudulent Transfers are
returned to the estate; and
43
Case 1-15-01137-nhl
Doc 1
Filed 09/09/15
d) granting such other and further relief as this Court deems just.
Dated: New York, New York
September 9, 2015
KLESTADT WINTERS JURELLER
SOUTHARD & STEVENS, LLP
44