www.pglewis.com/newsletter/dec2004/dec2004casehighlight -
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Published on: 12/1/2004
Last Visited: 3/1/2007
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THE LYING CHEATING STEALING PARTNER(CASE EXAMPLE - All names and identities are fictitious)
Robert and Rhonda are 50/50 partners of R&R Recruiting, a very successful personnel recruiting company.The couple had been married for almost a year before deciding to launch the company, which now boasted sales of just over $8 million.Their loyal relationship both in and out of the office was something they were proud of.But when a client tipped off Rhonda that Robert was stealing from her, their beautiful relationship turned ugly.The client informed that Robert had devised an elaborate scheme to embezzle from his trusting business partner who just happened to also be his wife.
Robert had concocted a rather brilliant marketing idea, one which he told Rhonda would vastly increase their revenue.Once implemented, he was absolutely correct.Their business model was to place consultants within major corporations for an agreed upon fee, and then send a "commission" to the hiring agent.What Robert failed to explain to Rhonda was that he was the eventual recipient of most of the commission.
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But Robert assured her that there was no risk and that paying a large commission virtually guaranteed future business.
Rhonda was shocked to get an e-mail from Susan Smith terminating their agreement and stating, "Robert is a lying, cheating, stealing #@&*$!"
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On a hunch, Rhonda decided to perform an analysis on the computer system Robert used in his office.The results of the analysis were so startling to Rhonda that she went home, packed her things, moved out, and called an attorney.
PG Lewis & Associates was able to discover that Robert checked an online brokerage account about 20 times each day.Residual Internet evidence left on the PC indicated that the account was worth nearly $4 million dollars.What shocked Rhonda was that she had no idea about this account.
Further analysis found a hidden e-mail account that Robert used to communicate to clients, and at least two competitors.The e-mail messages indicated that Robert was having an affair with women from several client accounts, and the two competitors.In addition to being unfaithful to his wife, he was blackmailing his many girlfriends.In the case of Susan Smith of ABC, Robert demanded that she pay him $50,000 of the $75,000 commission paid to her by R&R or he would tell Susan's husband about their affair, and tell ABC that she was stealing from them.
Additional evidence demonstrated that Robert was selling client lists and consultant information to the competitors in exchange for cash and passionate companionship.Robert was using R&R to fund his many extravagant romances, all to the blind eye of his faithful business partner and wife.
In the end, data forensics clearly revealed who Robert was cheating with, what and how he was stealing, and where the money was going.PG Lewis presented a 400 page report outlining his entire scam including his intent to abandon R&R and Rhonda once his slush account reached $5 million.
Robert and Rhonda are no longer partners in R&R, and no longer partners in marriage.Rhonda admits that she suspected something long ago, but was afraid of falsely accusing her husband.Data forensics brought the truth to the surface, and stopped the lying, cheating, stealing partner dead in his tracks.* This story is based on an actual case example serviced by PG Lewis & Associates.More case examples may be found on our website at www.pglewis.com.
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