Free Motion to Amend/Correct - District Court of California - California


File Size: 267.9 kB
Pages: 39
Date: April 24, 2008
File Format: PDF
State: California
Category: District Court of California
Author: unknown
Word Count: 10,608 Words, 65,549 Characters
Page Size: Letter (8 1/2" x 11")
URL

https://www.findforms.com/pdf_files/cand/195890/73-2.pdf

Download Motion to Amend/Correct - District Court of California ( 267.9 kB)


Preview Motion to Amend/Correct - District Court of California
Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 1 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES CORY A. BIRNBERG (SBN 105468) JOSEPH SALAMA, ESQ. (SBN 212225) BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES 703 Market Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94103 Telephone: (415) 398-1040 Facsimile: (415) 398-2001 Attorneys for Plaintiffs JOHN GIDDING, PIVOTAL, INC.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

26 27 28

) ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) DEREK ANDERSON, an individual; JOHN ) ) ZAPPETTINI, an individual; OLIVIER LEMAL, and individual; PLANTAGENET ) ) CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, a ) purported California corporation; ) PLANTAGENET CAPITAL AMERICA ) LLC, a purported Delaware corporation; PLANTAGENET CAPITAL FUND LP, a ) ) purported Cayman Island corporation; PLANTAGENET CAPITAL FUND LP II, a ) purported Cayman Island corporation; PLB ) HOLDINGS SA, a purported Luxembourg ) corporation; PLANTAGENET PARTNERS ) SA, a purported French corporation; SA ) SOCIETE CHAMPENOISE ) D'EXPLOITATION VINICOLE, a ) purported French corporation; SERGE ) HAUCHART, an individual; PATRICK ) RAULET, an individual; JEAN-FRANCOIS ) RAPENEAU, an individual; CHRISTOPHE ) RAPENEAU, an individual; SA ) COMPAGNIE DES VINS DU LEVANT, a ) purported French corporation; ) SAS LES CHAMPS RENIER, a purported ) French corporation; Marie-Claude Simon ) an individual; SCEA Chateau La Lagune; and ) DOES 1 through 100, inclusive, ) Defendants. ) ______________________________________ JOHN GIDDING, PIVOTAL, INC.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case No. C-7-04755-JW PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR: (1) RICO (U.S.C. 18 1962(c)); AND (2) CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT RICO (U.S.C. 18 1962(d)) Date: May 30, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Courtroom 2, 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, California

-1-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 2 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

1.

INTRODUCTION This Complaint alleges violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt

Organizations Act of 1970, Title IX of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, as amended, 18 U.S.C. Section 1962(c) and Section 1962(d) ("RICO"), and is brought by Plaintiffs Pivotal Inc. and John Gidding in connection with a scheme devised and conducted by defendants: Derek Anderson, John Zappettini, Plantagenet Capital Fund LP, Plantagenet Capital Fund LP II, Plantagenet Capital Management LLC, and Plantagenet Capital America LLC, (collectively "Plantagenet"); Serge Hauchart, Olivier Lemal, Plantagenet Partners SA, PLB Holdings SA, Patrick Raulet, Jean-Francois Rapeneau, Christophe Rapeneau, SCEA Chateau La Lagune, SA Societe Champenoise d'Exploitation Vinicole, SA Compagnie des Vins du Levant, SAS Les Champs Reniers, and Marie Claude Simon; each of whom participated, either directly or indirectly, in management of enterprise consisting of an association-in-fact of venturers in an international money laundering scheme, through a series of predicate acts including, mail fraud and wire fraud, under U.S.C. Section 1341, 1343, forgery, perjury, fraud upon court, extortion, and violations of a US Treaty, to obtain money and property, and to conspire to do so, all to the detriment of the plaintiffs. The predicate acts, at least two of them within the last ten years, amounted to a pattern of racketeering activity involving relativeness and continuity of the predicate acts. The relief sought includes treble damages arising from the fraud set forth herein, prejudgment interest, cost of investigation and suit, and attorneys fees. JURISDICTION 2. Jurisdiction is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sections 1331, 1337,

26 27 28

1349 because this matter involves allegations of illegal behavior arising under the laws of the United States, including violations of RICO, the practice of frauds upon the courts of

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-2-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 3 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

California, and violations of a Treaty of the United States. Furthermore, jurisdiction in this Court is proper pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sections 1964(a), 1964(c). PERSONAL JURISDICTION AND VENUE 3. Personal jurisdiction and venue are predicated upon 18 U.S.C. §1965(a),

because certain defendants reside, are found, have an agent, and transact affairs in Marin County and San Francisco, and the ends of justice require that other parties residing in other districts be brought before this Court. Venue is also proper in this Court pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1965(b) because, to the extent any defendant may reside outside of this District, the ends of justice require such defendant or defendants to be brought before the Court. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(3) because a defendant may be found in this district. Venue is also proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(d) because a foreign corporation may be sued in any district, and under 28 U.S.C. §1391(a) because a California corporation may be sued in any district within the state. Further, personal jurisdiction is predicated on the fact that the acts and occurrences in furtherance of the claims herein arose in, arise in and affect the State of California and commence within the State of California. NEW FACTS AND EVIDENCE 4. At all relevant times, during the week of February 11, 2008, the Plaintiffs

cooperated with a French criminal investigation in France seeking to indict the Defendants and their accomplices for money laundering and corruption. During this time period the French government and Plaintiffs put together more pieces of the money laundering scheme. /// ///

26 27 28

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-3-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 4 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

RELEVANT TIMES 5. In light of new facts and evidence, the Plaintiffs have moved to amend their first

amended complaint. The relevant times in this second amended complaint are from October 28, 1998, through the filing of this complaint. THE PARTIES 6. Plaintiff Pivotal Inc. ("Pivotal") is a corporation organized and existing under

the laws of the State of California. During relevant times, Pivotal had its principal place of business in North Hollywood, Glen Ellen, and San Francisco, California. 7. Plaintiff John Gidding ("Gidding"), during relevant times, has been a resident of

Pasadena and San Francisco, California, Gidding is a commissioned agent for French wineries and a director and shareholder of plaintiff Pivotal Inc. 8. Defendant SCEA Chateau Le Lagune ("Lagune") was or is a corporation

organized and existing under the laws of France. During relevant times, Lagune owned the wineries that produced Champagne Ayala and Champagne Montebello, and had its principal place of business in Ludon-Medoc and Ay, France. Prior to the relevant times, Lagune was controlled by the Ducellier and Rapeneau families. 9. Defendant SA Societe Champenoise d'Exploitation Vinicole ("SCEV") was or

is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of France. During relevant times, SCEV was the producer of Champagne LeBrun and had its principal place of business in Chalons and Reims, France. Prior to the relevant times, SCEV was controlled by the LeBrun family 10. Defendant Serge Hauchart ("Hauchart"), during relevant times, was or is a

26 27 28

resident of Paris, France. Prior to the relevant times, Hauchart was a high-ranking official in the French Treasury Department and the Treasurer of the Republican Party of France.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-4-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 5 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

11.

Defendant Olivier Lemal ("Lemal"), during relevant times, was or is a resident

of Saint Cloud, France. Prior to relevant times, Lemal was a business associate of Hauchart. 12. Defendant Derek Anderson ("Anderson"), during relevant times, was or is a

resident of Mill Valley, California. Prior to relevant times, Anderson founded the "Plantagenet Group". 13. Defendant John Zappettini ("Zappettini"), during some of the relative times,

was of is a resident of Atherton, California. Prior to relevant times, Zappettini was a business associate of Anderson. 14. Defendant Plantagenet Capital Fund LP (PCF-1), was or is a corporation

organized and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. During relevant times, PCF-1 had its principal place of business in San Francisco and Mill Valley California. PCF-1 was managed and controlled by Anderson and/or Patricia Love Anderson. 15. Defendant Plantagenet Capital Fund LP II ("PCF-2"), was or is a corporation

organized and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. During relevant times, PCF-2 had its principal place of business in San Francisco and Mill Valley California. PCF-2 was managed and controlled by Anderson and/or Patricia Love Anderson. 16. Defendant Plantagenet Capital America LLC ("PCA") was or is a corporation

organized and existing under the laws of Delaware. During relevant times, PCA had its principal place of business in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California. PCA was managed and controlled by Anderson. 17. Defendant Plantagenet Capital Management LLC ("PCM") was or is a

26 27 28

corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware. During relevant times, PCM had its principal places of business in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-5-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 6 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

PCM was managed and controlled by Anderson. 18. Defendant PLB Holdings SA ("PLB"), was or is a corporation organized and

existing under the laws of Luxembourg. During relevant times, PLB had its principal place of business in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California. PLB was controlled and managed by Anderson. 19. Defendant Plantagenet Partners SA ("PPSA") was or is a corporation organized

and existing under the laws of France. During relevant times, PPSA had its principal places of business in Paris, France, San Francisco, and Mill Valley, California. PPSA was managed and controlled by Anderson and Defendant Olivier Lemal. 20. Defendant Patrick Raulet ("Raulet"), during relevant times, was or is a resident

of Dole, France. Prior to relevant times, Raulet founded SA Raulet, an industrial bakery. 21. Defendant SA Compagnie des Vins du Levant ("Levant") was or is a

corporation organized and existing under the laws of France. During relevant times, Levant had its principal place of business in Paris, France. Levant was owned and directed by Raulet. 22. Defendant Jean-Francois Rapeneau, during relevant times, was or is a resident

of Bouzy, France. 23. Defendant Christophe Rapeneau, during relevant times, was or is a resident of

Blesmes, France. 24. Defendant SAS Les Champs Reniers ("Renier") was or is a corporation

organized and existing under the laws of France. During relevant times, Renier was managed by Christophe Rapeneau. 25. Defendant Marie-Claude Simon ("Simon") was or is a resident of Reims,

26 27 28

France. During the relevant times Simon was a practicing lawyer in Reims France, who
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-6-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 7 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

represented (1) the Plaintiff's against Champagne LeBrun (2) Serge Hauchart and the Schneiders Group LLC (a Washington DC corporation) against Champagne Bricout, and (3) Windstock & Importing Corp (a New York corporation) against Champagne Ayala. 26. Plaintiffs do not know the true names of Does 1 through 100, inclusive, and

thereby sues them by such fictitious names. Plaintiffs are informed and believe, that in doing the acts and things alleged in this complaint, the named defendants Does 1 through Does 100, inclusive, each of them, acted as the agents, joint venturers, or coconspirators, of each of the other defendants. PRELIMINARY ALLEGATIONS 27. Plaintiffs Pivotal and Gidding were the importers and agents for Champagne

Ayala, Champagne Montebello, and Champagne LeBrun. For over a decade the Plaintiffs and their employees visited these wineries in France and the owners of these wineries came to the United States to promote their products. As such the plaintiff's, their employees, and their clients all knew the various members of the Ducellier, Rapeneau, and LeBrun families. 28. In 1998, the Plaintiffs had contracts for the future delivery of Champagne Ayala

and Champagne Montebello and they placed these orders in advance. The anticipated profits on the Champagne Ayala and Montebello delivery contracts for the years 1999 and 2000 exceeded $1.3M annually. As a result of the importance of the US business, the owners of Defendant Ch. La Lagune, itself a winery in Bordeaux, confided their global export market to Gidding. Attached as Exhibit A to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of an article published in Figaro Magazine: "The Marriage of Bordeaux & Champagne - an American in Chateau d'Ay." Attached as Exhibit A-1 to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a translation of relevant portions of this article.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-7-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 8 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

29.

When the Plaintiffs sales of Champagne Ayala and Montebello outstripped the

available supply, Gidding gave an important part of the delivery contracts to Defendant SCEV. The anticipated profits on the Champagne LeBrun delivery contracts for the years 1999 and 2000 exceeded $500,000 annually 30. "Plantagenet" is funded from the Cayman Islands, controlled from California,

and composed of Defendants Anderson, Zappettini, PCF-1, PCF-2, PCA, and PCM. Plantagenet's "French" operations consisted of hiring Defendants Serge Hauchart, a convicted money launderer, and Olivier Lemal, and having them set up Plantagenet Partners SA in Paris to manage and distribute the profits generated by money laundering. PPSA's start-up was funded by the usurpation of the Plaintiff's commerce in Champagne LeBrun. When investigations in Paris on the money laundering threatened Plantagenet, Plantagenet closed up shop in Paris and went back to the Cayman Islands. Attached as Exhibit B to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of an article published in International News: "Former French minister indicted for Money Laundering". Attached as Exhibit C to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of a Plantagenet news release: "French Advisory Board Will Guide Investment Strategy". 31. Lemal, an "expert in company assessment and valuation", was assisting Raulet

in the sale of his industrial bakery, SA Raulet, to a US baking conglomerate, Earthgrains. Raulet was a native of Champagne and knew Defendants Jean-Francois and Christophe Rapeneau ("Rapeneaux"). The Rapeneaux controlled 40% of Lagune, and have known the LeBrun family for generations. Thus, by the summer of 1998, Plantagenet knew about the Plaintiff's commerce in Champagne LeBrun, Ayala, and Montebello. Attached as Exhibit D to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of an
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-8-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 9 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

article published in Eurofood: "Earthgrains acquires SA Raulet. Attached as Exhibit E to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of an article published in Union of Champagne: "Raulet acquires SCEV". Attached as Exhibit E-1 to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a translation of relevant portions of this article. 32. After the bakery sale was finalized (for an estimated $35,000,000), Raulet

intended to own SCEV, with the Rapeneaux as his silent partners, and to be PPSA's silent partner in another industrial bakery, SA Pain et Force. Attached as Exhibit F to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of Anderson's interview published in USA Today": "Avoiding French Taxes". Attached as Exhibit G to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of a Plantagenet news release: "Pain et Force is first investment for New European Fund". 33. The Defendants schemes revolved around three factors: Hauchart had cash to

launder, Raulet could get an offshore kickback on the bakery sale, and Plantagenet was set up in the Cayman Islands. When, in August 1998, the LeBrun family, under the guidance and supervision of the Raulet and Rapeneaux families, family ceded control of SCEV to Lemal and Hauchart, the Plaintiff's commerce in Champagnes Ayala, Montebello, and LeBrun, came under the control of the Defendants. 34. The scheme to repatriate Raulet's kickback and launder Hauchart's cash

required Anderson to set up a Luxembourg shell company, Defendant PLB Holdings SA (PLB is an acronym for "Plantagenet Le Brun"). The "kickback" shares, 80% of PLB's stock, were held by the Plantagenet Cayman entities, PCF-1 and PCF-2; and the "cash" shares, 20% of PLB's stock, were held by PCA, the Plantagenet Delaware entity that did not have an interest in PPSA. For the money launderer's purposes of "breaking the paper
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-9-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 10 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

trial", PPSA and PLB could not be subsidiaries of each other or subsidiaries of a parent company, as PPSA would sell what PLB had purchased. Attached as Exhibit H to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of a Plantagenet news release: "Plantagenet (PPSA) sells leading French Champagne producer to Levant". 35. The CHAMPAGNE Scheme: Plantagenet would use the cash and the kickback

to capitalize and finance PLB. PLB would purchase SCEV and then transfer 20% of SCEV shares to Lemal to be held for the Rapeneaux. After Raulet had used the proceeds of the bakery sale to set up and capitalize Defendant Compagnie des Vins du Levant, PLB would transfer 80% of the shares to Levant. Levant would pay PPSA, not PLB, the double for what PLB had paid for the shares of SCEV, and Lemal would transfer his 20% of SCEV to the Rapeneaux. a) The Defendants would cover up the money laundering by framing the

Plaintiffs for tax evasion of amounts that exactly corresponded to the sums of money being laundered. Further, the Defendants would reply upon corrupted Treasury officials to steal the documents that could reveal their criminal activity. Attached as Exhibit I to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of attorney Alice Seebach's letter to the French Fiscal Brigade. b) Defendant Marie-Claude Simon's blatant betrayal of her US clients

(Pivotal, Gidding, the Schneider's Group LLC, and Windstock & Import Corp.) gave the Prosecutor of the French Republic cause to join two criminal actions, the first for money laundering and corruption, and the second for fraud and receiving stolen goods. Attached as Exhibit J to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of the "Order to Join" issued by the French criminal court of Paris. 36. The BAKERY Scheme: PPSA would use Levant's override to purchase SA Pain -10-

26 27 28

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 11 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

et Force and go into business with SA Raulet. Afterwards, by one means or another, PPSA and/or SA Pain et Force, would return the laundered money to its French owners. 37. Sometime before August 1998, the Defendants, knowingly and intentionally,

entered into an agreement to pursue a money laundering scheme and conspired to use the wires and mails in the furtherance of said scheme. The purpose of the conspiracy was to the economic benefit of the Defendants, and the usurpation of the Plaintiffs commerce in Champagne LeBrun was necessary to fuel and perpetuate the Defendant's money laundering activity. While, the Defendants money laundering took place outside the United States, it was the use of the US mails and wires in furtherance of these schemes that proximately damaged the Plaintiffs.

ENTERPRISE 38. At all times material to this complaint the association-in-fact of the parties

involved in the CHAMPAGNE and BAKERY schemes, collectively, constitute an "enterprise" that has been, and continues to be, the beneficiaries of the aforementioned schemes, which enterprise was engaged in, and the activities of which affected, interstate and foreign commerce. The enterprise has been, and continues to be, controlled, exploited, and dominated, by the Defendants in the manner and means which are described herein. 39. In the events leading up to Hauchart's trial, and eventual conviction for money

laundering, the Defendants accused the Plaintiffs of crimes. The Plaintiff's fight to keep out of jail ultimately revealed the Defendant's money laundering schemes to the Prosecutor of the French Republic.

26 27 28

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-11-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 12 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

THE CHAMPAGNE SCHEME 40. The CHAMPAGNE Scheme was divided into three parts: (1) a scheme to

launder 18MF through the purchase and sale of the shares of SCEV; (2) a scheme to fund the money laundering operations with the proceeds of the Plaintiff's commerce in Champagne LeBrun; and (3) a scheme to frame the Plaintiffs for 18MF in back taxes by having Lagune issue fictitious tax exempt invoices in Gidding's name. 41. The French Penal Code, Articles 324-1 and 324-1, makes no distinction

between money laundered by criminals, politicians, or tax evaders, it is sufficient that the origin of the money is "unknown" for the act to be criminalized. The steps of the Defendant's scheme to launder 18MF are described by the Patriot Act, and can be visualized with the diagram attached to this complaint as Exhibit K. Attached as Exhibit K to this complaint and incorporated herein by reference is a true and correct copy of this diagram. (a) Placement: The aims of the launderer are to remove the cash or funds

from the location of acquisition so as to avoid detection from the authorities and to transform it into other asset forms. Hauchart acquired the shares of SCEV with cash and the promise of a 15MF payment. PLB was capitalized with 3MF in cash and financed with a deposit of 15MF. (b) Layering: The concealment or disguise of the ownership of the funds by

creating complex layers of financial transactions designed to disguise the audit trail and then to transform it into other asset forms. PLB used the 18MF to acquire the shares of SCEV, transferred 3MF of SCEV's shares (20%) to Lemal and 15MF of SCEV's shares (80%) to Levant. (c) Integration: The money is integrated into the legitimate economic and -12-

26 27 28

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 13 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

financial system and is assimilated with the other assets in the system. Levant paid PPSA 29MF for the 80% of shares of SCEV. PPSA used the override to purchase SA Pain et Force, and went into the bakery business with SA Raulet. PLB was liquidated and Levant and Lemal transferred their shares of SCEV to the Rapeneaux. 42. There are no authentic documents in a money laundering scheme and the

Defendants produced three forged contracts to "legitimize" the laundering of 18MF. (a) "Contract of Sale": showing that the LeBrun family sold 100% of the

shares of SCEV to PLB and PPSA. This document removes Hauchart from the transaction. (b) "Contract of Guaranty": showing that PLB and PPSA were the Guarantors

of the sale of 100% of SCEV to Levant. This document removes PLB's transfer of 20% of the shares of SCEV to Lemal. (c) "Covenant": showing that PPSA, as the seller of 100% of SCEV, was

entitled to receive 29MF from Levant. This document removes PLB from the transaction. A. Scheme to Launder 18MF Placement 43. 44. SCEV. 45. On or after December 28, 1999, Anderson placed 3MF with the ABN AMRO On or about August 19, 1998, PCM and Lemal incorporated PPSA in Paris. On or about December 18, 1998, Hauchart acquired control of the shares of

Bank of Luxembourg to capitalize PLB. The shareholders of PLB were PCF-1, PCF-2 and PCA; Anderson and Zappettini were the directors. 46. On or after December 28, 1998, Raulet deposited 15MF ($2,564,484) in the

26 27 28

ABN AMRO Bank of Luxembourg to finance the purchase of SCEV. 47. On January 19, 1999, PLB was incorporated, opened an account at the ABN -13-

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 14 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

AMRO Bank, and gained access to the 18MF. Layering 48. On or after January 19, 1999, Hauchart transferred 100% of the shares of SCEV

to PLB, and kept one share for himself. 49. On or around February 22, 1999, PLB paid for the shares of SCEV. Francois Le

Brun, announced to Gidding that he no longer owned SCEV and that Anderson did. 50. On or around March 15, 1999, PLB transferred 10% of the shares of SCEV to

Lemal, and another 10% on April 13, 1999 for a "sellers credit" bringing the total value of the shares to 3.1805MF. Anderson faxed the second transfer to PLB's lawyers in Marin County California. 51. Levant. Integration 52. 53. On or around March 2, 2000, Levant paid 29MF to PPSA. On or around March 2, 2000, PPSA purchased the shares of SA Pain et Force On or around March 2, 2000, PLB transferred its remaining 80% of SCEV to

and went into business with SA Raulet (the BAKERY Scheme). 54. On or about April 7, 2000, Zappettini liquidated PLB. PLB's assets and

liabilities were distributed to its shareholders PCF-1, PCF-2, and PCA. 55. On or about July 23, 2003, SA Financier ER, a Rapeneaux company, acquired

Levants 80%, Lemals 20%, and Hauchart's one share on SCEV. 56. On or around December 23, 2003, SA Financier ER transferred 100% of the

26 27 28

shares of SCEV to Reniers. /// ///
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-14-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 15 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

B. Scheme to Fund the Enterprise 57. On October 28, 1998, Zappettini telephoned Pivotal to acquire samples for the

agents who were replacing the Plaintiffs. 58. On or after October 28, 1998, Zappettini faxed the information he had gleaned

from Pivotal to Anderson and Lemal. 59. On or before December 21, 1998, Zapettini appointed Erica Valentine to replace

Gidding. Erica Valentine searched for an importer to replace Pivotal and mailed her findings to Zappetini. 60. On or about February 22, 1999, SCEV signed a contract with PPSA, giving

PPSA control over the distribution of Champagne LeBrun in the United States. 61. On or about February 25, 1999, Lemal sent Hauchart a memo with instructions

to breach Gidding's agency with SCEV. Lemal faxed this memo to Zappettini and to Dominion Wines and Erica Valentine, the agents who were replacing Pivotal. 62. On or about March 15, 1999, Erica Valentine faxed Pivotal the increased prices

and reduced quantities of their orders of Champagne LeBrun and, in so doing, breached SCEV's delivery contracts. 63. On or about May 25, 1999, Anderson mailed a letter to Gidding that confirmed

SCEV's breach of their delivery contracts. 64. On or about June 9, 1999, Anderson mailed a letter to Gidding stating: "while it

is true that Plantagenet has made an investment in Champagne LeBrun, under the arrangement we have with our French partners who originally identified the opportunity and performed the necessary due diligence and term sheet in order for us to invest, we have assigned operational responsibility to them". 65. On July 1, 1999, Plaintiff's filed suit in the Superior Court of California, County -15-

26 27 28

PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 16 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

of Los Angeles ("Los Angeles Court") against PCM and SCEV. The suit sought $1,327,243 in lost profits and prejudgment interest. 66. On or about April 7, 2000, Zappettini liquidated PLB for the benefit of its

shareholders PCF-1, PCF-2, and PCA. 67. On or about June 28, 2000, PCM produced a forged "Contract of Sale" as

exhibit "PNET 00131" before the Los Angeles Court. 68. On or around February 26, 2001, Anderson faxed Lemal and asked him to

secure a power of attorney from Raulet giving Anderson control of SCEV for the Los Angeles litigation. 69. On or around February 27, 2001, Raulet faxed a power of attorney to Anderson

and gave up control of the Los Angeles litigation. 70. On April 24, 2001, the Los Angeles court rejected PCM's and SCEV's motions

for summary judgment. 71. On May 2, 2001, the Plaintiffs moved to amend the complaint to add PPSA and

PLB as Does of PCM. At this moment, the litigation threatened PPSA. 72. On or about June 4, 2001, Anderson used Raulet's powers of attorney to replace

SCEV's lawyer with himself. Anderson is not a lawyer in any state and had no intention of finding a new lawyer for SCEV. 73. As previously stated, the Defendants produced three forged contracts to

legitimize PLB's purchase and PPSA's sale of the shares of SCEV. (¶42). In order to shield PPSA, the repository of the proceeds of the money laundering activity, the Defendants removed all mention of PPSA from the previously forged contracts. (a) The forged "Contract of Sale" showing that the LeBrun family sold SCEV

26 27 28

to PLB and PPSA was replaced by the "analysis of SCEV's share register" with no mention
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-16-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 17 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

of PPSA. (b) The forged "Contract of Guaranty" showing that PLB and PPSA were the

Guarantors of the sale of SCEV to Levant was altered, PPSA was cut out leaving only PLB. (c) The forged "Covenant" showing that PPSA was entitled to receive 29MF

from Levant was altered, PPSA was cut out and PLB was pasted in. 74. Between May 5-11, 2001, a copy of the forged Covenant was faxed back and

forth between the offices of PPSA and SCEV. PPSA was cut out of the Covenant, PLB was put in, and the signatures of Anderson and Raulet were forged. Plaintiffs allege that telephone calls between Anderson and Raulet were necessary to coordinate the altering of Covenant. 75. Plantagenet needed to settle PPSA out of the Los Angeles litigation and, at the

same time, needed to gather the signed drafts necessary to forge a settlement agreement without PPSA. Hartford, Plantagenet's insurer, was able to accomplish this by: (a) On or around September 10, 2001, Hartford faxed the Plaintiffs an offer to settle for PCM. The Plaintiffs accepted, signed and returned the initial offer. (b) On or around September 15, 2001, Hartford faxed the Plaintiffs an offer to

settle for PLB and PCM. The Plaintiffs accepted, signed and returned the second offer. (c) On or around September 20, 2001, Hartford faxed the Plaintiffs an offer to

settle for PPSA, PLB, PCM, Anderson and Zappettini. After the Plaintiffs accepted, signed and returned the third offer, Hartford accepted and signed their own agreement. The authentic Hartford Settlement agreement is dated September 20, and was signed by Hartford and Gidding on September 21, 2001. 76. On or about September 12, 2001, Anderson notified the court that he had

26 27 28

substituted himself for SCEV's lawyer on June 4, 2001 (¶72). The Plaintiff's, in order to
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-17-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 18 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

defend themselves against frauds on the parts of Anderson and Hartford, chose a French attorney, Defendant Marie-Claude Simon. The plaintiffs had Simon alert SCEV that they were no longer represented in the Los Angeles litigation. What the Plaintiffs did not know was that Simon worked closely with FIDAL, the law firm that represented SCEV and Lagune. 77. On or about September 24, 2001, a Contract of Guaranty was altered to remove

PPSA and faxed to Raulet. Plaintiffs allege that telephone calls between Anderson and Raulet were necessary to coordinate the altering of Contract of Guaranty. 78. On or about September 28, 2001, Anderson faxed Raulet to inform him that the

only Contract of Guaranty was his personal one. 79. On December 6, 2001, it was the courts decision to condemn SCEV to pay the

Plaintiffs $1,536,543 with 10% annual interest. SCEV did not appear in Court on December 3, 2001, the trial was postponed for a day and, as SCEV had previously waived a trial by jury, a three day court trial, with witnesses and expert testimony, has held. Anderson, SCEV's attorney of record, did not appear. 80. On or about January 7, 2002, Raulet mailed a letter to Anderson that confirmed

Anderson's personal Contract of Guaranty. 81. On or before January 30, 2002, Raulet sued PLB in Luxembourg to disguise his

15MF deposit as PLB's indemnification as stipulated in the altered Contract of Guaranty. The Luxembourg judgment indicates that Raulet based his claims upon a California judgment entered on December 3, 2001. There is no such judgment. The Plaintiffs allege that Anderson faxed a forged "December 3, 2001 Judgment" to Raulet. 82. On or around March 2002, Raulet conveyed SCEV's stocks of champagne to

26 27 28

SA Charles de Cazanove (Cazanove-A), a firm next to the Rapeneaux winery and owned by
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-18-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 19 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

Thierry Lombard. 83. On or around September 5, 2002, Simon, representing the Plaintiffs, filed a

demand in the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Chalons-en-Champagne ("Chalons Court") to have the California judgment validated in France. SCEV was represented by FIDAL. 84. On or about September 20, 2002, SCEV moved to retry the Los Angeles

litigation. In support of SCEV's motion, Raulet made a false declaration to the Superior Court of California. 85. On or about October 1, 2002, Deniza Kudish mailed copies of Raulet's

Declaration, a redacted copy of the altered Contract of Guaranty, Anderson's letter of September 200, and Raulet's letter of January 2002, to the Plaintiff's U.S. attorney, Alice Seebach ("Seebach"). 86. On or about May 12, 2003, Raulet, Levant, and SCEV, brought criminal charges

against the Plaintiffs, accusing them of signing a secret settlement agreement with PLB that was the proximate cause of SCEV not being represented at the close of the Los Angeles litigation. 87. On or about March 12, 2003, Simon's partner, Raphael Kroon, telephoned

Gidding and pretended that the Chalons Court was compelling the Plaintiffs to produce a copy of the settlement agreement. Gidding faxed the settlement agreement to Kroon. 88. On or about July 23, 2003, Simon and Hauchart arranged for 100% of the shares

of SCEV (80% from Levant, 20% from Lemal, and one share from Hauchart) to be transferred to Financier ER, a company belonging to the Rapeneaux. 89. On or before September 7, 2003, FIDAL had a Marie-Claude Bertrand create a

26 27 28

French translation of a settlement agreement without PPSA ("Bertrand Translation"), and post date her work to September 30, 2003 allowing Simon the time to switch exhibits.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-19-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 20 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

90.

On Friday, September 12, 2003, Simon faxed Seebach a request that copies of

the settlement agreement were required to meet a court ordered "September 16" deadline. There was no court order or deadline. Further, Simon asked Seebach to fax and mail her copies of the settlement agreement "dated September 20, 2001". Gidding had already provided such on March 12, 2003 (¶86). 91. On or after September 14, 2003, Seebach, as stipulated in paragraph 11 of the

settlement agreement, faxed Hartford's attorneys and informed then that the settlement agreement would be produced before the Chalons Court. Seebach then mailed and faxed copies of the settlement agreement to Simon's offices in France. 92. On or before September 16, 2003, Simon stamped the Bertrand Translation,

"Simon Exhibit #18", and filed it with the Chalons Court. From this moment on, Simon openly ceased to represent the plaintiffs. 93. On or about November 25, 2003, Raulet used the Bertrand Translation to bring

additional criminal charges against the Plaintiffs. 94. On or after December 23, 2003, Financier ER transferred its shares of SCEV to

Renier. Raulet elected the Rapeneaux as the new officers and directors of SCEV. The Rapeneaux changed the name of SCEV to SA Charles de Cazanove ("Cazanove-B") and moved Cazanove-B to their headquarters in Reims. 95. On or around January 1, 2004, Rapeneaux elected Thierry Lombard, the owner

of Cazanove-A, as a director of Cazanove-B. From this moment on "SCEV" ceased to exist and could not be found at its Chalons headquarters. There were two "Cazanoves", neither of which was in Chalons, and the Plaintiffs had no lawyer or adversary in the Chalons court. 96. On or about June 28, 2004, Thierry Lombard, acting as the president of

26 27 28

Cazanove-A, mailed a letter to Pivotal and informed them that Cazanove-A had "no
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-20-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 21 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

relationship to SCEV or the Rapeneaux." 97. On or around September 22, 2004, "SCEV Chalons" moved to join PLB as a

party to the Chalons suit. The Plaintiffs were not informed and the motion passed unopposed. 98. On or about February 14, 2005, "SCEV Chalons" mailed the Plaintiffs the

notification of a September 2000 Judgment, four years to late for the judgment to have any effect. The judgment condemned Pivotal to sequester 115,000 in France. 99. On or about March 23, 2006, Cazanove-B used the US mails to serve Pivotal

with a default Judgment condemning Pivotal to sequester 115,000 in France or pay 750/day for every day they refused to honor the Judgment. 100. On or about November 22, 2006, Cazanove-B moved to have PLB pay the plaintiffs should the Chalons court validate the California judgment. As the Plaintiff's had not opposed PLB's becoming a party to the complaint, there was little room to argue. The Plaintiff's abandoned their attempt to validate the California Judgment and sued for RICO. C. Scheme to Frame 101. Gidding had two functions for Lagune, he was their commissioned agent for sales of Champagne Ayala and Montebello, and he had a consulting contract to direct their export activities. Further, Mrs. Gidding's companies, Axis Bordeaux SARL and Vinesmith SA, bought and sold both champagnes. The wines of Chateau La Lagune, a Bordeaux winery, were sold through a complicated system of tax-exempt contracts for future delivery known as "Bordeaux Futures". 102. On or around November 15, 1998, Lagune issued two sets of tax exempt invoices in Gidding's name: one set totaling 3MF and the other set totaling 15MF. Alain Ducellier asked Gidding to accept the transaction but, as Gidding did not have the
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-21-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 22 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

commercial licenses to accept tax exempt invoices in his own name, he refused. The originals and copies of these invoices were subsequently stolen from Mrs. Gidding's home in France by Treasury officials. 103. On or around December 7, 1998, Lagune issued similar sets of tax-exempt invoices, this time offering more wine for the same amount. Gidding refused to accept unless the goods were correctly invoiced to the eventual buyer. The originals and copies of these invoices were stolen at the same time as the previous set, however copies of two if these invoices were attached to an earlier report and saved. 104. On or around December 18, 1998, Alain Ducellier attempted to pressure Gidding to accept the 18MF of tax exempt invoices, offering advantageous terms and more such deals in the future. When Gidding refused to accept, Alain Ducellier wrote out what he thought was the Rapeneaux's plan to use the Lagune invoices to finance his pending divorce from their sister. 105. On or around December 21, 1998, Alain Ducellier publicly denounced the Rapeneaux for manipulating the finances of Lagune and had circular letters distributed to this effect. These letters were mailed to Lagune and Gidding. Three days later, Alain Ducellier was replaced by a court appointed administrator, Jean-Luc Mercier ("Mercier"), who entered the tax exempt invoices on Lagune's books as real sales to Gidding, and ordered Lagune to ship the first lot of wines to Gidding. 106. On or before April 13, 1999, Mercier, after having failed to make Gidding accept the Lagune invoices, and not being able to retake the wines without revealing the fraud, doubled the amount of wine on the 3MF set of invoices, increased the price by 5.186% and issued the invoices in the name of Axis Bordeaux SARL. (A court appointed administrator receives a 5% commission on all sales and there is an 18.6% value added tax
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-22-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 23 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

on commissions.) The Lagune invoices totaled 3.1805MF. Lagune mailed copies of the invoices to Gidding. 107. While Mercier was reissuing the Lagune invoices, Anderson increased Lemal's holdings of shares of SCEV to 20.012% bring the value of these shares to 3.1805MF (¶50). The probability of a coincidence that the French Franc amount generated by Anderson's transfers of shares of SCEV to Lemal equaled the French Franc amount generated by Lagune's invoices to Gidding is too close to zero to be measured. Otherwise stated, it is certain that the similar amounts were coordinated by telephone calls between Anderson, Lemal, and the Rapeneaux, and that Plantagenet was involved in all three facets of the CHAMPAGNE Scheme. 108. On or about April 22, 2000, Gidding wrote to Mercier and told him to stop the invoicing schemes and to retake the wines. Mercier refused to retake the wines and withheld Gidding's commissions and consulting fees. 109. On or around July 29, 1999, Champagne Montebello faxed Pivotal asking that Vinesmith be given permission to pay Pivotal's invoices. 110. On or before August 8, 1999, Mercier had an Export Report drawn up that implicated Gidding, Pivotal, and Vinesmith, in a Fiscal Fraud and faxed the report to Pivotal. 111. On or about November 19, 1999, Mercier sent Gidding a tax exempt 200,000F check for Gidding's consulting fees in 1999. Gidding cannot accept a tax exempt check and sent it back. 112. On or about January 17, 2000, Gidding sent Champagne Ayala's lawyer a summary of his 1998-1999 commission accounting, totaling 1,750,410.14F, and consulting fees, totaling 540,000F.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-23-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 24 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

113. On or about March 21, 2000, Champagne Ayala refused to pay Gidding his commissions or consulting fees, and accused him of tampering with Lagune's invoices. On April 1, 2000, SA Group Frey acquired he Ducellier interest in Lagune, sold off the Champagne companies, and refused to pay Gidding's commissions or consulting fees. 114. On November 15, 2000, Treasury officials raided Madeleine Gidding's home and stole the originals and copies of the Lagune invoices and Gidding's "AYALA - SCEV" dossiers. When the Gidding's refused to sign false reports that would dissimulate the theft, the Treasury officials resorted to outrage, violence, and threats of retaliation, to compel the Gidding's to sign. Madeleine Gidding broke down and signed, John Gidding refused. 115. On or about October 18, 2001, Treasury officials accused Gidding, Pivotal, Madeleine Gidding and Vinesmith of fiscal fraud and invoked Article 15 of the French American Tax Treaty in order to receive assistance from the IRS. The denunciation was mailed to the Embassy of the United States and forward to the IRS in California. 116. On or about December 18, 2001, Treasury officials mailed a summons to Gidding asking him to come to France for an examination of his French taxes. 117. On or about October 9, 2002, Albert Bront, an International Examiner for the IRS in California, complied with the French demands, mailed Gidding a list of questions, and had Gidding and Pivotal audited. 118. On or about November 15, 2002, Gidding replied to the IRS's demands. 119. On or about November 19, 2002, the IRS subpoenaed Gidding's bank records at the Wells Fargo Bank, and Wells Fargo mailed the request to Gidding. 120. On or about January 7, 2003, Gidding retained the services of attorney Harvey Gilbert ("Gilbert") to defend him against the French demands. 121. On of about January 31, 2003, Gilbert wrote to Albert Bront of the IRS and
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-24-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 25 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

invoked Gidding's rights under the French American Tax Treaty. As the French Government had invoked the same Treaty, the Treaties conditions relative to double taxation apply to all disputes. 122. On of about January 31, 2003, Gilbert wrote to Albert Bront of the IRS and invoked Pivotal's rights as guaranteed by the French American Tax Treaty. As the French Government invoked the same Treaty, the Treaties conditions relative to double taxation apply to all disputes. 123. On or about June 30, 2003, Treasury officials sent "Pivotal SARL" a "French corporation headquarter in Champagne", a demand for 48,486 in back French Taxes. The demand was sent to Mrs. Gidding in France. 124. On September 25, 2003, Gilbert wrote to the French Treasury officials and informed them that Gidding was protected from double taxation by the French American Tax Treaty. 125. By the close of 2003, the French Treasury Department had obtained a copy of Mercier's "Export Report" (¶110) and used it to accuse Gidding, Pivotal, and Vinesmith, of evading French taxes. The total of Gidding's and Pivotal's back taxes were equal to the December 7, 1998 Lagune invoices, and the total of Vinesmith's back taxes were equal to Raulet's deposit of $2,564,484 in the ABN AMRO Bank. 126. On or about December 18, 2003, Treasury officials attached to the French Embassy in Washington DC mailed Gidding a notice to pay 308,970 in French Taxes for the years 1998-1999-2000. This demand is a Violation of a US Treaty. 127. On or about January 16, 2004, Gidding wrote to the French Treasury officials and summed up the Defendants involvement in money laundering and corruption. 128. On January 21, 2004, Gidding demanded the French Treasury officials to
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-25-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 26 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

produce "a copy of the judgment you feel gives you the right to forcibly collect 308,970 (as) any such tax judgment would have to have been obtained without my knowledge and therefore by fraud." 129. On or about April 20, 2004, French Treasury officials mailed "Pivotal SARL", a summons to pay 48,485 in back French Taxes. The demand included the threat to have Pivotal's assets liquidated should they not pay in eight days. This demand is a Violation of a US Treaty. 130. On or about December 13, 2004, the IRS mailed Pivotal a "FIRST NOTICE requesting that Pivotal pay their income tax liability to the Government of France as described in the enclosed Foreign Tax Assessment Certificate 98-MCA-11691." 131. On or about May 2, 2005, the Plaintiffs sent the IRS the complete dossier detailing the money laundering, fraud, corruption, and the French Treasury official's use of forged judgments. 132. On or about May 4, 2005, the IRS closed the file on the French Treasury's demands against the Plaintiffs and ended their assistance to collect any French claims. 133. On or around September 29, 2005, French Treasury officials mailed an inquiry to Gidding asking if he had received "something bearing the reference number 8497". Gidding replied that he had received nothing. 134. On or about February 7, 2007, the French Treasury department mailed Gidding a demand to pay 314,089 in back French taxes, accompanied by orders to pay or be imprisoned for debt. This demand is a Violation of a US Treaty. 135. On or before April 23, 2007, Mr. Demangeat, a Treasury official attached to the French Embassy in Washington DC, telephoned Gidding and told him to pay 314,089 to the French government or risk imprisonment.
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-26-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 27 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

VIII. THE PATTERN OF RACKETEERING ACTIVITY 136. The Defendants relied on the use of the wires and US mails to coordinate the laundering of 18MF, to distribute the proceeds of unlawful activity, and to ruin and frame the Plaintiff's for crimes they did not commit. [All theories and definitions of fraud exclude the case where the primary act is legal.] With this reasoning, Plaintiffs allege damages based on theories of RICO are a result of the manipulations of enterprises in furtherance of criminal schemes. Further, Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants were involved in at least two predicate acts, occurring between October 28, 1998 and continuing through the filing of this complaint, all of which had the same or similar purposes, results, participants, victims, and methods of commission, all of which constitute a "pattern" of racketeering. 137. During the relevant times, Defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, and conspired together to engage in such a pattern. They schemed to commit acts of mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C Sections 1341, 1343. These acts of mail fraud and wire fraud were designed to, through misrepresentations and material omissions, deprive plaintiffs Gidding and Pivotal of money and property, that is, their duly obtained judgment against SCEV in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and their duly earned commissions and consulting fees owed by Lagune. Further, these acts of mail fraud and wire fraud were designed to damage, scare, silence, and intimidate, Mr. and Mrs. Gidding by threatening them with fines and incarceration. 138. It was part of the Scheme to Launder 18MF that the Defendants intentionally and knowingly forged contracts that concealed the origins of the moneys PLB used to purchase the shares of SCEV and concealed the fact PPSA was paid for the shares they did not purchase. Further, it was part of the Scheme to Launder 18MF that the Defendants intentionally and knowingly used the wires and US mails to execute their scheme. Without
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

-27-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 28 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

the use of the wires and US mails it would have been impossible for the Defendants to coordinate a money laundering operation between individuals and corporations located in California, Delaware, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg and France. 139. It was part of the Scheme to Fund the Criminal Enterprise that the Defendants intentionally and knowingly usurped the Plaintiff's commerce in Champagne LeBrun, evaded the California Judgment, bribed Simon, and rendered SCEV judgment proof in France. Further, it was part of the Scheme to Fund the Criminal Enterprise that the Defendants intentionally and knowingly used the wires and US mails to execute their scheme. Without the use of the wires and US mails it would have been impossible for the Defendants to have altered the forged contracts, conveyed such frauds to the Plaintiff's and their attorneys, and served default judgments upon the Plaintiffs; all of which nullified the Plaintiffs attempts to validate the California Judgment in France. 140. It was part of the Scheme to Frame that the Defendants intentionally and knowingly caused Lagune to repeatedly issue 18MF of fictitious invoices in the Plaintiffs names, bribed Mercier, and caused officials of the French Government to tax the Plaintiffs for sums they knew to be false. Further, it was part of the Scheme to Frame that the Defendants intentionally and knowingly used the wires and US mails to execute their scheme. Without the use of the wires and US mails it would have been impossible for the Defendants to have involved the IRS in their attempts to silence and ruin the Plaintiffs. 141. Defendants used the wires and mails or, by their scheme, caused them to be used, on a repeated basis, as part of their racketeering activity and multiple acts of mail and wire fraud. (a) occasions:
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

26 27 28

In particular the US mails were used, among other times, on the following

-28-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 29 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

i)

December 21, 1998 - Erica Valentine (Napa, CA) mailed a letter to

Zappettini (San Francisco, CA); ii) December 24, 1998 - Alain Ducellier (Mutigny, France) mailed a

letter to Gidding (Pasadena, CA); iii) April 16, 1999 - Lagune (Ludon-Medoc, France) mailed an invoice

to Gidding (Pasadena, CA); iv) (Pasadena, CA); v) June 9, 1999 - Anderson (San Francisco, CA) mailed a letter to May 25, 1999 - Anderson (Paris, France) mailed a letter to Gidding

Gidding (Pasadena CA) vi) October 18, 2001 - the Fiscal attaché to the American Embassy

(Paris France) mailed a letter to the IRS (Fresno, CA) vii) December 18, 2001 - Treasury officials (Amiens, France) mailed a summons to Gidding (Pasadena, CA); viii) January 7, 2002 - Raulet (Paris, France) mailed a letter to Anderson (San Francisco, CA); ix) October 1, 2002 - Deniza Kudish (Los Angeles, CA) mailed a letter

to Plaintiffs attorney Alice Seebach (Los Angeles, CA); x) October 9, 2002 - the IRS (Sacramento, CA) mailed a demand to

Gidding (Pasadena, CA); xi) November 19, 2002 - Wells Fargo Bank (Pasadena, CA) mailed a

26 27 28

summons to Gidding (Pasadena, CA); xii) September 14, 2003 - Alice Seebach (Los Angeles, CA) mailed a letter to Simon (Reims, France);
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

-29-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 30 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

xiii) December 18, 2003 - the French Fiscal attaché (Washington DC) mailed a demand to Gidding (Pasadena, CA); xiv) April 20, 2004 - French Treasury officials (Soissons, France) mailed a demand to Pivotal (North Hollywood CA); xv) June 28, 2004 - Thiery Lombard (Epernay, France) mailed a letter to

Pivotal (Glen Ellen, CA); xvi) December 13, 2004 - the IRS (Washington DC) mailed a demand to Pivotal (North Hollywood, CA); xvii) February 14, 2005 - SCEV's attorneys (Reims, France) mailed a Judgment to Pivotal (Glen Ellen, CA); xviii) September 29, 2005 - the French Post (Soissons, France) mailed a request to Gidding (San Francisco, CA); xix) March 23, 2006 - SCEV's attorneys (Reims, France) mailed a Judgment to Pivotal (Glen Ellen, CA); xx) February 7, 2007 - the French Treasury Department (Soissons,

France) mailed a demand to Pivotal (Glen Ellen, CA) (b) occasions: i) October 28, 1998 - Zappettini (San Francisco, CA) telephoned In particular the wires were used, among other times, on the following

Pivotal (North Hollywood, CA); ii) (Paris, France); iii) Francisco, CA);
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

October 28, 1998 - Zappettini (San Francisco CA) faxed Lemal

26 27 28

February 25, 1999 - Lemal (Paris France) faxed Zappettini (San

-30-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 31 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

iv) Hollywood, CA); v) (Marin County, CA); vi) Francisco, CA);

March 15, 1999 - Erica Valentine (Napa, CA) faxed Pivotal (North

April 13, 1999 - Anderson (San Francisco, CA) faxed PLB's lawyer

April 16, 1999 - Lemal (Paris, France) telephoned Anderson (San

vii) July 29, 1999 - Champagne Montebello (Ay, France) faxed Pivotal (North Hollywood, CA); viii) August 8, 1999 - Champagne Montebello (Ay, France) faxed Pivotal (North Hollywood, CA); ix) (Paris, France); x) February 27, 2001 - Raulet (Chalons-en-Champagne, France) faxed February 26, 2001 - Anderson (San Francisco, CA) faxed Lemal

Anderson (San Francisco, CA); xi) (France); xii) September 10, 2001 - Hartford (Fresno, CA) faxed Seebach (Los Angeles, CA); xiii) September 15, 2001 - Hartford (Fresno, CA) faxed Seebach (Los Angeles, CA); xiv) September 20, 2001- Hartford (Fresno, CA) faxed Seebach (Los Angeles, CA); xv) Raulet (France);
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

May 5-11, 2001 - Anderson (San Francisco, CA) telephoned Raulet

26 27 28

September 24, 2001 - Anderson (San Francisco, CA) telephoned

-31-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 32 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

xvi) September 28, 2001 Anderson (San Francisco, CA) faxed Raulet (Chalons-en-Champagne, France); xvii) January 2002 - Anderson (San Francisco, CA) faxed Raulet (Chalons-en-Champagne, France); xviii) March 12, 2003 - Raphael Kroon, (Reims, France) telephoned Gidding (North Hollywood, CA); xix) September 12, 2003 - Simon (Reims, France) faxed Seebach (Los Angeles, CA); xx) (Reims, France); xxi) April 23, 2007 a French Treasury official (Washington DC) telephoned Gidding (San Francisco, CA). 142. As set forth above, the Defendants have engaged in a "pattern of racketeering activity", as defined in Section 1961(5) of RICO, by committing and/or conspiring to or aiding and abetting a scheme for at least two such acts of racketeering activity, as described above, within the past ten years. Each such act of racketeering activity was related, had similar purposes, involved the same or similar participants and methods of commission, and had similar results impacting upon similar victims. 143. The multiple acts of racketeering activity committed and/or conspired to or aided and abetted by Defendants, as described above, were related to each other and amount to and pose a threat of continued racketeering activity, and, therefore, constitute a "pattern of racketeering activity", as defined in 18 U.S.C. Section 1961(5). /// ///
PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

September 14, 2003 Seebach (Los Angeles, CA) faxed Simon

26 27 28

-32-

Case No. C-7-04755-JW

Case 3:07-cv-04755-JSW

Document 73-2

Filed 04/24/2008

Page 33 of 39

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BIRNBERG & ASSOCIATES
703 MARKET STREET SUITE 600 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94103 TEL (415) 398-1040 FAX (415) 398-2001

ENTERPRISE 144. Defendants carried out their pattern of racketeering activity through the management of an enterprise consisting of an association-in-fact of venturers in a money laundering scheme. The Defendant's scheme affected foreign and interstate commerce. This enterprise is separate and distinct from the pattern of racketeering activity alleged herein. USE OF THE MAILS AND WIRES 145. As alleged herein, in furtherance of and for the purpose of executing the scheme and artifice to defraud, and through a pattern of racketeering activity, defendants, on numerous occasions used and caused to be used mail depositories of the United States postal service by both placing and causing to be placed mailable matter in said depositories and by removing and causing to be removed mailable matt