Freddy

To be fair to Dave, the employees in Spartanburg were told that someone who was jealous of Lou turned his name in to the FBI, so the meeting was just follow-up. Also two weeks after Spartanburg shut down, there was an email sent out saying remodeling was going on and that it would be opening back up. This was clearly a cover up so people wouldnt ask questions.

dave_walker

Stupidity? I knew I hadn't been paid in a handful of weeks, just like I knew that no one, including Steve, had been paid for a few weeks. And like everyone else I was told that the money was tied up with the Alan case and that money was being moved/made to pay us. I, like everyone else, was told that it was being worked on and I, like most of everyone else, believed it. But no, there was no sign that the whole bottom was about to fall out. I walked into work one day and there were moving vans at the back doors, everything was being cleared out. I asked what was going on and was told it was over, we were closing the office.

So you can go ahead and call me stupid, I've been called lots worse by far better people than the likes of you. Call me stupid for believing in my coworkers ability to get us back on track, call me stupid for believing in the dreams of not just one man but of a family, of a group of strangers brought together to try to make this crap hole of a world a better place. Just remember in doing so you not only call me stupid but a host of others, every person that worked at the Forex Project, everyone that was apart of The Giving Tree, everyone that was helped by the good that came from this, and every client that ever signed on the dotted line. Yeah I maybe stupid for not seeing it coming but I can still hold my head high, I still sleep the sleep of the just every night because I was apart of something that made a difference, however small, in someone else's life. For a short time I was apart of something great and that will stay with me. Unlike you I have chosen to learn from this, to take the good that it did and go on with my life. I hope that the clients will be able to get some of their money back, and I'm sorry for the loss of funds they have had but I really feel for the other employees, the ones that like me didn't see it coming. The ones like Shawn that have lost not only money and other worldly items in all of this but now have a rift with life long friends because of it and all you people can do is flame him for trying to help. The single mom that had just gotten an apartment and now worries how she is going to make her lease payment. The handful of other employees that believed with all their hearts like I did, that we were making a difference.

Yeah I'm ok with you calling me stupid if it makes you feel better.

dave_walker

I was unaware that the FBI had come to Chattanooga, I only learned of this from this forum. I know a lawyer did come by one day but it was about the already pending court case. As for the meeting in SC, they had not arrested Lou nor shut the business down. And you are correct, there have been published half truths and only one sided stories put out without doing any real investigative journalism.

getaclue

Here is the latest skinny from the FBI..... of the 40 or so million that Lou took in never more than 5 million was ever placed in a trading account... Looks like he was definately conning us all from the begining..

Some need to be careful as there is a thing called slander and some are getting close to crossing that line.

As for most employees.. I can tell you we knew nothing other than a court case had funds tied up for a few weeks. And the first I heard about any FBI raid, and I have my sources, was in the article the other day.

As for Steve J. I don't think that he was in on it but I also can't understand why he hasn't been proactive in contacting the investors the brought in.

As for tomorrow... don't get your hopes up because as I understand it there is not that much out there to collect. The only bright side is that if Lou doesn't show he will be in contempt of court and a warrant will more than likely be issued.

One last thing... anyone that is still giving Lou the benefit of the doubt needs to give it up.... he is dirty and needs to be brought down.. if you have knowlege of where he may be or what he is up to contact the local FBI right away.

Retired

For the benefit of those of us who are unable to attend the bankruptcy proceedings today, will some of you that do attend, please give us an update on what happened? If a trustee(s) were appointed, how they can help us, who was called to testify, etc.

Chattgirl

Dave- Thank you so much for your information. It's good to hear it from someone who was there and not the media. Retired, I know one person that was called to testify and will post what I know after I speak to them.

Adam J Morgan

Messenger, read the entire post. I don't want anyone to be confused, when I say family, I mean my ENTIRE family. You can sit and speculate all you want, but until you have some proof, don't ask me any stupid questions. And use a little respect in you speculations. I don't know anything that is not posted on this blog. Some of you people think there is some kind of big conspiracy going on.....well i sure as hell don't see it. And don't sit there and tell me not to do anything crazy, I know first hand how hateful words can turn into harmful actions when you have a large group of people like this, I'm just trying to squash the disrespectful chatter coming in my direction before I have to get involved. I don't think anyone wants to take it to that level.

hope

Regarding Steve Johnson not being a part of it....I have a hard time believing that.

My story is that I received my first phone call from Steve Johnson mid April. I was told to Mail check to his home address (of course he did not tell me it was his home address at the time). Next that he needed the checks in his hand before he would mail out any contracts (documents) regarding prom. note for me to look over and we would decide how to set up as part of my account was to be set up for my toddler son. I also told him that I would have to transfer money to the account. He told me no checks would be cashed until an account was created and I had looked at and signed documents.

The 29th of April I called and spoke to Todd before I went to mail my checks. He confirmed the address and made sure I Made the check out to Luis Rivas. After mailing I called trying to confirm receipt as I was very nervous to mail checks in this huge amount to someone so far away and with nothing in hand. I gave it a week and no answer at the main number and Steve's phone said he was out of town please call the office. And of course the office was not answering and that was the 9th of May.

So I decided I had better put a stop payment on the checks ...and of course the bank told me that the were paid on the 8th of May.

I left multiple voice mails for Steve Johnson who has never responded, he never sent out the documents he stated he would and of course did not return my money if things shut down and he could not issue me a promissory note. So this situation screams fraud and deception not to mention felony theft in my situation with Steve Johnson and Todd working together for at least my situation is seems.

Steve Johnson has had ample time to correct this and make it right. Bank of America says the checks were deposited to a personal account that has now been closed. I spoke with the FBI and I think they will be able to give me the name on the account where he deposited the money and my banks fraud department is working on it as well.

But Steve Johnson has a lot to answer for in my opinion.

hope

Regarding Steve Johnson not being a part of it....I have a hard time believing that.

My story is that I received my first phone call from Steve Johnson mid April. I was told to Mail check to his home address (of course he did not tell me it was his home address at the time). Next that he needed the checks in his hand before he would mail out any contracts (documents) regarding prom. note for me to look over and we would decide how to set up as part of my account was to be set up for my toddler son. I also told him that I would have to transfer money to the account. He told me no checks would be cashed until an account was created and I had looked at and signed documents.

The 29th of April I called and spoke to Todd before I went to mail my checks. He confirmed the address and made sure I Made the check out to Luis Rivas. After mailing I called trying to confirm receipt as I was very nervous to mail checks in this huge amount to someone so far away and with nothing in hand. I gave it a week and no answer at the main number and Steve's phone said he was out of town please call the office. And of course the office was not answering and that was the 9th of May.

So I decided I had better put a stop payment on the checks ...and of course the bank told me that the were paid on the 8th of May.

I left multiple voice mails for Steve Johnson who has never responded, he never sent out the documents he stated he would and of course did not return my money if things shut down and he could not issue me a promissory note. So this situation screams fraud and deception not to mention felony theft in my situation with Steve Johnson and Todd working together for at least my situation is seems.

Steve Johnson has had ample time to correct this and make it right. Bank of America says the checks were deposited to a personal account that has now been closed. I spoke with the FBI and I think they will be able to give me the name on the account where he deposited the money and my banks fraud department is working on it as well.

But Steve Johnson has a lot to answer for in my opinion including what did he do with my money if no promissory note was in play, why did he have people mail checks to his home address, why did he instruct investors in March and April to make checks out to Luis Rivas personally rather than the Forex Project.

Facts are not slanderous and these are the facts which appear to be criminal to me.

Chattgirl

Court is over, came on to post what happened, but it's already on the chattanoogan website,
click link below to read what happened: (although in court the FBI total was approx 30 million, not 10 as the article states)

6/6/2008 - Bankruptcy Judge Appoints Trustee To Aid Luis Rivas Creditors - Breaking News - Chattanoogan.com