American arrested in Bangkok over multi-million dollar US property scam

[Jonathan Fairfield]

THAI IMMIGRATION BUREAU ARREST

American arrested in Bangkok over multi-million dollar US property scam

Joseph Arsenault: image supplied

BANGKOK:-- Joseph Arsenault, an American national and resident of New York, has been arrested in Bangkok for his involvement in a telemarketing scam, which netted fraudsters more than US$20 million from 290 victims in the US and Canada.

Arsenault, who was charged with rape and drug possession in 2007 and previously had a failed career as an actor, was one of 16 individuals involved in the scam to be charged in the United States in November 2014.

The scam involved the gang making unsolicited calls to addresses across 46 states in the US and in Canada, where they claimed they were able to be able to sell property located in Detroit at knockdown prices, which could then be resold to foreign investors and venture capitalists for big profits.

However, despite victims being led to believe that the purchase of property was a profitable way of buying and flipping homes in Detroit, the whole thing was a scam. There were no profits and each property purchased was transferred to a holding company controlled by the fraudsters. Some victims went onto ‘invest’ in multiple homes with the fraudsters.

The FBI has described how gang members frequently changed their names to avoid arrest and being tracked down by people who had invested in the property scam.

In November the gang were charged with operating a fraudulent telemarketing scheme, along with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

Speaking of the scam, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said:

“This nationwide telemarketing fraud not only caused millions of dollars in losses to victims of the scheme, but it also contributed to blight in Detroit neighborhoods.

“Thousands of homes were left to fall into decay as a result of these individuals using Detroit real estate as a commodity to accomplish their fraud.”

Special Agent Paul M. Abbate also commented on the case saying: “The perpetrators in this case stole millions of dollars from hundreds of victims.

“However, they did more than steal money—their greed and fraud compounded the proliferation of vacant homes left for ruin in far too many Detroit neighborhoods. The FBI is committed to rooting out and bringing to justice those who would commit crimes of this nature and act against the interests of our communities.”

Another member of the gang, Gregory Swarn fled to Thailand using a fake passport shortly after being charged.

However, the FBI, along with the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) located Swarn in Thailand last year and were able to deport him back to the United States.

At the time of his arrest, Swarn was on the DSS Most Wanted List.

Another member of the gang, and a known associate of Swarm, is Erez Arsoni, who is also thought to have fled overseas, however, it is not known if he is in Thailand currently.

-- 2015-03-10

[clockman]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

[Costas2008]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

May be they haven't realised yet, that this Government has made the police to be serious and move their asses to apprehend them.

Eventually they will learn........

[Eddy B]

He just has one of those faces you would like to punch..................sneaky, oily looking bugger, plus he has more hair than me.

[Stump]

Few years in a Thai prison will wipe the smile off his face!

[reenatinnakor]

Too many boiler room scumbags like this in SE Asia. There should be the death penalty for people that deliberately and knowingly cheat others money.

[Suradit69]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

Obviously they find it easy to leave the US undetected by US law enforcement agencies or US immigrations ... or they know who to slip a little tea money to become "invisible" to US authorities. The same apparently applies to European "entrepreneurs" and those farang police.

Once again it's up to Thai police to do the work of farang police & immigrations.

[Fookhaht]

Too many boiler room scumbags like this in SE Asia. There should be the death penalty for people that deliberately and knowingly cheat others money.

O.T.T.

(Over the Top)

[lopburi3]

http://www.state.gov/m/ds/dssmw/fugitivelist/226330.htm

Erez Arsoni

[shotover]

Arsenault was operating his tele-marketing scam from call centers in the USA. Is there any indication he was trying similar call center scams using Bangkok as a base?

Swarn fled the USA using a fake passport, with the name.Kwame Rasheed Jackson

http://www.fbi.gov/detroit/press-releases/2014/sixteen-people-charged-in-nationwide-telemarketing-scheme-that-involved-thousands-of-homes-in-detroit

Edited March 10, 2015 by shotover

[Briggsy]

Was Arsenault operating his tele-marketing scam from Bangkok, or the USA?

I would imagine both, first the latter and then the former. Bangkok has something of a reputation as a safe haven for boiler room scammers.

[klauskunkel]

Few years in a Thai prison will wipe the smile off his face!

...as well as the double-chin!

[Thorgal]

He was an actor in 'Orgazmo' and 'Play it till the bone'.

He played his role even after release of movies and ended up convicted for rape...

[JimmyTheMook]

now known as: Joe Ass Assault in Bang Kwan

I knew that $18,000 Detroit mansion was too good to be true.

[Seelow]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

I would take a wild guess and suggest it is because, especially if you have a few $, there is absolutely no real rule of law.

Fair?

[abitmiffed]

Too many boiler room scumbags like this in SE Asia. There should be the death penalty for people that deliberately and knowingly cheat others money.

Lol then there would no one left in this country.

[wwest5829]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

Obviously they find it easy to leave the US undetected by US law enforcement agencies or US immigrations ... or they know who to slip a little tea money to become "invisible" to US authorities. The same apparently applies to European "entrepreneurs" and those farang police.

Once again it's up to Thai police to do the work of farang police & immigrations.

Oh, please come home with me in September and let me film your slipping some " tea money" to the Kentucky State Police. It would be a good instructional video.

[mjakob007]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

Obviously they find it easy to leave the US undetected by US law enforcement agencies or US immigrations ... or they know who to slip a little tea money to become "invisible" to US authorities. The same apparently applies to European "entrepreneurs" and those farang police.

Once again it's up to Thai police to do the work of farang police & immigrations.

There is another bunch who call themselves Kito Corp and claim they are based in Japan.

they try to sell you shares in companies to which they have inside information.

funny that, they ask for funds to be transfered to taiwan for trades done in Japan.

When you dont budge, the same dude calls you on different names and sends you biz cards for different people.

but he struggles to change his voice.... with change in names

[x5david]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

Obviously they find it easy to leave the US undetected by US law enforcement agencies or US immigrations ... or they know who to slip a little tea money to become "invisible" to US authorities. The same apparently applies to European "entrepreneurs" and those farang police.

Once again it's up to Thai police to do the work of farang police & immigrations.

Hardly...if you read the story they left under assumed names and fake passports. Presumably if they had used their real identity they would not have evaded US justice...

[Bignose]

Now surely the name of "Kwame Rasheed Jackson" would raise some questions when leaving the US?

It doesn't sound like an American name?

[JLCrab]

The modus operandi of many of these schemes is to get hold of the names of older persons with a bit of money and who are desperately lonely and will stay on the phone with anyone who is willing some to spend time with them.

[barry51]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

If i had a large sum of money acquired illegally I'd be off to a country with no extradition treaty.

[Pib]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

Obviously they find it easy to leave the US undetected by US law enforcement agencies or US immigrations ... or they know who to slip a little tea money to become "invisible" to US authorities. The same apparently applies to European "entrepreneurs" and those farang police.

Once again it's up to Thai police to do the work of farang police & immigrations.

That's a laugh...that is, the Thai police doing the job of farang police.

I doubt the Thai police knew who or where the guy was until they got the arrest request from the U.S. Embassy with the U.S. agencies listed below identifying the crimes he's wanted for and his location in Thailand. Summary: here you go Thai police....all the info you need on this guy...please go arrest him so he can be deported/extradited back to the U.S.

However, the FBI, along with the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) located Swarn in Thailand last year and were able to deport him back to the United States.

Edited March 10, 2015 by Pib

[lifeincnx]

Hopefully he'll call a junior suite at the Bangkok Hilton home.

[fireblade919]

http://www.state.gov/m/ds/dssmw/fugitivelist/226330.htm

Erez Arsoni

would you look at that pimps face ,a picture tells a thousand words

[mettech]

Good thing he got cut hope he had time for a massage complete one before he gets the one from thai jail.

[Wat dee]

Now surely the name of "Kwame Rasheed Jackson" would raise some questions when leaving the US?

It doesn't sound like an American name?

Meoquanee that's American name!

[Robby nz]

Now surely the name of "Kwame Rasheed Jackson" would raise some questions when leaving the US?

It doesn't sound like an American name?

But then neither does Barack Obama.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

I always wonder why these criminals. Make there homes in Thailand? sic

May be they haven't realised yet, that this Government has made the police to be serious and move their asses to apprehend them.

Eventually they will learn........

If you read the article you will see that this junta have nothing to do with this guy being arrested, he was found by the DSS after he crossed into Thailand pass your junta's immigration officers and staying among your junta's police officers. Can you please supply us with the statistics to indicate that under the junta more foreign crimminals have been caught, if not I will take your post as junta cheering. Be happy man be happy.

[reptile91602]

The Thai imigration police are payed very decent money for the return of any expat of which their country wants them back. The incentive is good so it works.