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Tri Energy, was a business enterprise run by Henry Uliomereyon Jones, better known as Dr. Henry Jones, a record producer in Marina del Rey, California running MIG Records (later renamed Global Village Records) and Marina Investors Group Inc. Jones with two of his main associates, Arthur Simburg, a former marketing representative for sporting-goods manufacturer and Robert Jennings, an associate pastor at the New Life Fellowship Church in Perris, California〔(Bloomberg: Mormons Become Victims in $50 Million Scam to Sell Gold Bullion )〕 were convicted of running a fraudulent Ponzi scheme operation and affinity fraud through Tri Energy, involving defrauding over 735 people of $50 million, resulting in several court actions both civil and criminal cases, and imprisonment of the three Tri Energy associates. ==History== Tri Energy was involved in: *A coal mine venture in four coal mines in Kentucky which Tri Energy claimed were profitable and that would potentially produce a reported 99.3% emissions-free coal. In fact there were only two mines, and neither was profitable. *A so-called international "gold deal" for transfer of gold from Israel to Luxembourg to United Arab Emirates through the help of an unnamed Saudi Arabian prince. Gold involved was 20,000 metric tons of bullion, twice as much gold as the entire U.S. reserves. The schemes promised to potential investors astronomical returns in a short period (reaching 100% in just 60 days). Other schemes included a plan to ship Congolese uranium via a diplomatic pouch, and a project to develop hydroelectric power in Sierra Leone. Kim Flanigan, a Mormon who owned a furniture store, blew the whistle when she heard her own widowed mother and her aunt were involved as both participants and recruiters for a classic get-rich-quick scheme that had already ensnared hundreds of people. Flanigan called state and federal officials.〔(MSNBC: Daughter turns mom in for Ponzi scheme )〕 The authorities considered Flanigan's mother and aunts more as victims. But they launched extensive investigations that would eventually bring down the $50 million Ponzi scheme and put its three ringleaders in federal prison. SEC introduced many tapes, transcripts and summaries of sessions conducted by the ringleaders from early 2004 to early 2005. They showed Simburg leading the meetings, with Jennings speaking about the coal mine project and Jones offering updates on the gold transaction. The three also talked about the common religious beliefs that held the group of investors together. Simburg and Jennings say they were conned by Jones. They together reportedly took about $1 million of the $32.6 million raised from February 2002 to January 2006, less than one-twentieth of what went to Jones. The SEC says the scam went back to the 1990s and brought in at least $50 million. During the four-year period covered by the federal indictment, almost $8 million was paid back to investors, including some who received commissions for bringing in new money, prosecutors say. Simburg took $589,000 for his own use, including salary and expenses. Jennings, took $386,000, which he shared with his father-in-law. Another $3.39 million was spent on the coal mine, a muddy hole in the ground with broken equipment, about two dozen employees and output that generated just $117,825 in revenue over 2 1/2 years. About two-thirds of the money raised by Tri Energy went to Jones, prosecutors say. And $21 million went to his two entertainment companies, MIG Records and Marina Investors Group.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tri Energy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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