Mark (aka: “Zio”) Segovia & Betty Segovia
Mark Segovia is now calling himself “Zio” Segovia
(Zio-meaning Uncle or Slang for Brother in Togo western Africa)
Accomplice/Co-conspirators”
Mark Segovia (“ZIO” or “Uncle” Segovia)
Kurt Bowker, Lidio Rancharan
(Other accomplice’s names being withheld pending further investigation)
DBA: Vault LLC & “Grupo Bannorth” Banking Services, Panama.
Will steal your money! In this case they stole over $1,600,000.00 and did
knowingly cause losses to investors in excess of $2 Million Dollars
They will promise you they can effect major financial transactions
or investments with incredible returns then rob you blind!
Here’s the summary of the case:
Lidio Rancharan
In February of 2006, numerous potential investors/victims attended an investment seminar in the state of Washington put on by a group out of Vancouver, WA. One of the local presenters was a man by the name of Kurt Bowker. Other local names are currently being withheld pending further investigation. It is now understood that none of the persons involved in marketing the investment product were licensed to do so.
The investment proposal was purported to produce a high yield with a monthly cash flow using Life Insurance Policies that the group would purchase and subsequently sell at a profit to institutional investors. Then the group would see a return of their investment to the tune of 15-30% monthly.
Based on the convincing presentation, written prospectus and the name-dropping of investment companies like Fidelity, the group bought into the pitch. Over the next several weeks the group put together approximately $2.3 Million Dollars to invest in this scheme.
The group was told initially that the funds invested were being used to purchase 3 life insurance policies, 2 policies with a $10 Million benefit and one with a $3 Million dollar benefit payout for a total of $23 Million US Dollars. Ultimately, the promised returns never came to fruition.
Later it was discovered that these same Life Insurance Policies were utilized by Lidio Rancharan to bilk investors out $100’s of Thousands of dollars from a separate group of victims in Canada.
Early on in the first few months of the scheme, some or the Washington affiliated investors became nervous and were actually able to withdraw or recover approx. $350,000.00.
When returns did not begin as promised, the group began pressuring the local, Vancouver Washington accomplices who finally admitted that they were not in control of the subject policies. In fact the policies were under the control of “Vault LLC” company that was owned by Mark and Betty Segovia who seem to bounce around from the states of New York, Georgia, Arizona, California to Panama.
Shortly after this realization, in September of 2006 the first of many weekly conference calls were held with Mark Segovia/ZIO Segovia. During these calls Segovia continued promising to make good on the investments with various other “Deals” he was making, always indicating that even though the policies hadn’t been turned over for a profit that they still existed and the investors money was secure.
This was the story from Mark Segovia (Zio Segovia) up until the first months of 2008. It was around this time that the investors learned that Mark Segovia had allowed the all three of the Life Insurance Policies to lapse by failing to pay the premiums. On top of that the Segovia’s “Gutted” the cash value of the policies to the tune of $1,600,000.00 and absconded with the money that was rightly the property of the investors.
Once the investors confirmed and collected sufficient evidence to support their findings, they confronted Segovia, who is currently “on the lamb” residing in Panama acting as a financial consultant for Grupo Bannorth Bank. Once confronted with the overwhelming evidence, Mark Segovia conceded that he had indeed drained the cash value from the policies and allowed all of the policies to lapse. . It was also learned that Bowker was allegedly paid off by Segovia to the tune of $250,000.00 and then fled Washington and started another business in Arizona.
Victims of this scam at one point were advised by the Segovia’s, that they were represented by one Mr. Albert Coleman, an attorney out of the Atlanta area. When contacted Mr. Coleman denied any personal involvement in the scam to the victims, however did supply significant information and documentation as to his role and involvement in the set-up and structure of Segovia’s web of business entities.
As late as January 2009, Mark (Zio) and Betty Segovia continue to make empty promises to return the stolen money. But, it is apparent that all have been just a ploy to stall and put off the investors in hopes that they will not actually take any action and just go away.
International Fraud Alert spoke with an official at the GlobalAdvocates.ch, who advised that they had been brought into the matter by one of the investors to examine the issue from a criminal perspective and attempt to possibly mediate the situation to resolution.
IFA has concluded from the information from various sources that Mark Segovia (Zio Segovia) continues to attempt to entice others from his hideout in Panama City, Panama. In fact it is alleged that Mark-Zio Segovia lives a very highlife on the backs of unsuspecting victims with promises of riches and financial success. Our belief is that Segovia does nothing more than entice, induce and scam unsuspecting victims into being defrauded out of their hard earned money.
In fact IFA has learned that this incident is not the first time that Mark Segovia’s nefarious activities have caught up with him. If would seem that he was party to a legal action in 2004 in Federal Court for allegedly the same type of conduct against a Mr. Peter Fagan and Comanche Investments the court issued a judgment against Segovia for approximately $500,000.00.
Mark Segovia is described as: Black Male, approx. 47 yoa, with a dark complexion, 5’10-6’00 ft tall, 180-200 lbs, likes to dress in expensive clothes and speaks with a slight European/Caribbean accent and a silver tongue.
Betty Segovia: is believed to work as a flight attendant out of the Atlanta area on route(s) between Phoenix and San Diego, CA.
Bottom-line WARNING to the public, BEWARE of Mark (aka: Zio) and Betty Segovia, Lidio Rancharan or anyone associated with them. These crooks will claim to be able to assist you in making large sums of money in their investment programs and it is a scam they will take your money laughing all the way to the bank, leaving you broke.
Note:
{IFA is still in the process of verifying the legitimacy of Grupo Bannorth, Panama City, Panama. All documents executed by Grupo Bannorth have been executed by the below listed entity.}
Grupo Bannorth S.A.
Urbanizacion Marbella
Ocean Business Plaza, 13th Floor, Office 1311
Republic of Panama
Attn: Alexis Vargas
Vice-president and Legal Representative
If you have any information that will assist in the arrest and conviction of these criminals send an email. This case is currently under investigation any and all sworn statements will be taken and appreciated in the pursuit of these Fraudsters! Also please report your case to your local, state and federal authorities. Help us put stop to these scam artists from destroying the lives of anyone else!!
{Allegations are substantiated/evidenced and are on file with an independent investigative entity}
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