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Attorneys for James Fayed are asking the U.S. District Court to release money seized by law enforcement officials after the Moorpark man's arrest earlier this month on suspicion of operating a money transmitting business without a license.
Fayed, 45, is being held in federal jail on the single count, and investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department consider him a suspect in the stabbing death of his estranged wife, Pamela, in a Century City parking garage last month. He has not been charged in that case.
The $300,000 would be used to preserve evidence, such as e-mails, audit trails, transaction histories and other electronic records and data on servers and computer network system that could clear Fayed, according to the motion filed Tuesday by Mark Werksman, Fayed's attorney, and James Spertus, who represents Goldfinger Coin & Bullion Inc.
The company was co-owned by Fayed and Pamela Fayed.
The motion states that $100,000 per month is needed to pay for server rack space, security software, bandwidth and personnel to maintain the Internet servers and computer network system.
Agents with the FBI and Internal Revenue Service seized bank accounts, business records, property and precious metals holdings, which are worth about $24 million, on Aug. 5, according to the court document. It also states that the evidence is at risk because of the investigators' seizure of the business and will be lost if the servers and network were to go down.
The motion also claims that Fayed and Goldfinger might not have been the target of the FBI and IRS investigation.
A spokesman with the U. S. Attorney's Office said the government "will respond in writing in due course."
Posted by T_T on August 20, 2008 at 4:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just like the Cora Caro case, this request is a crock -- money for the attorneys. The $300,000 should go to the fraud victims. When there is no money, then attorneys scatter like roaches when lights come on. Let the defendant have representation similar to his victims.
Posted by NavalAviator on August 20, 2008 at 5:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has fraud been alleged?
Posted by onapproach on August 20, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Updates on this guy's case are all they talk about in the news. Enough already! I don't even know who in the heck he is!
Posted by Frankie on August 20, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I for one are very interested in the updates. I suffered no fraud but it is a very intriguing case none the less. I hope the Ventura County Star stays on top of it.
I think it is very scary post 9-11, that they can hold someone without bail in a relatively minor criminal offense. I mean, let the man free on bail with monitoring so the guy can properly defend himself and "right" his business.
He may be a suspect but even OJ and Scott Peterson were granted bail. The country will soon be one big Guantanomo Bay (sp?)
Posted by Read_This_One on August 20, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Frankie,
'Minor criminal offense', are you joking, he wasn't smoking pot and got caught.
The FBI is investigating him for major fraud worth millions. The LAPD has evidence tying him to his wife's murder.
If this was your sister, you'd be happy.
James Fayed is an extremely high flight risk. He has a very wealthy family in London. Remember Dodi Fayed, Priness Diana's boyfriend, that family.
They have so much money, they can hide him for years to come, and justice would never be served in the U.S..
Unfortunately for Fayed, circumstances leading up to his wifes death-lead right up to him, especially the credit card that was found in his wallet that was used to rent the getaway car of the killer.
And this is only what we know. The police have evidence that will not be shared with the public until the trial.
As far as Guatanamo Bay is concerned, give me a break. If you aren't a liberal you act like one, or are just a follower repeating ridiculous talking points.
Your statement, 'The country will soon be one big Guantanomo Bay (sp?)' is stupid and moronic and just shows how ill informed you really are.
Name just one citizen that is sitting in Guantanamo Bay for a crime dealing with fraud.
Posted by charlese on August 20, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow... $100,000 a month for maintaining a computer network ! I would love to see that system! Sounds like he is paying $90,000 per month too much
Posted by GoMo on August 20, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jr you crack me up.....
Posted by Frankie on August 20, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Frankie,
'Minor criminal offense', are you joking, he wasn't smoking pot and got caught.
The FBI is investigating him for major fraud worth millions. The LAPD has evidence tying him to his wife's murder.
If this was your sister, you'd be happy.
James Fayed is an extremely high flight risk. He has a very wealthy family in London. Remember Dodi Fayed, Priness Diana's boyfriend, that family.
They have so much money, they can hide him for years to come, and justice would never be served in the U.S..
Unfortunately for Fayed, circumstances leading up to his wifes death-lead right up to him, especially the credit card that was found in his wallet that was used to rent the getaway car of the killer.
And this is only what we know. The police have evidence that will not be shared with the public until the trial.
As far as Guatanamo Bay is concerned, give me a break. If you aren't a liberal you act like one, or are just a follower repeating ridiculous talking points.
Your statement, 'The country will soon be one big Guantanomo Bay (sp?)' is stupid and moronic and just shows how ill informed you really are.
Name just one citizen that is sitting in Guantanamo Bay for a crime dealing with fraud.
___________________________________________________
Please link me to something that says he is being investigated for fraud or is this your spin factor? I read nothing in the indictment alleging fraud. You call me a liberal, I call you an amateur theorist. Oh, and not having proper business licenses is a relatively minor offense in the world of finances.
If this was my sister, I would think the same. If they have hard evidence to show me aside from a credit card used to purchase a car, then I'd think differently. Sorry, doesn't fly.
He deserves a bail, just like any other US citizen he deserves due process. Flight risk??? Please.........strip him of his passport (s's) and put a bracelet on him. Put him on the no fly list. I'd like to see him get out of the country.You are one paranoid individual who probably believes every rumour that comes out.
And I stated the US will soon be a Guantanamo Bay if we deprive our citizens of rights that are guaranteed to them in the Constitution, such as bail or due process.
You sound just like the type of person who runs around screaming the sky is falling.
Posted by Relvd98 on August 20, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chiken Little?
Posted by Latina_805 on August 20, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Relvd98- lol chicken little? crack me up comment?
Posted by onapproach on August 20, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
>Posted by Frankie on August 20, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
>I for one are very interested in the updates.
+++
That may be, but I still don't know who the guy is AND must we all suffer through the updates?
Posted by NavalAviator on August 20, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dodi Fayed's family --- Harrods? Small world.
However, this no bail thing is judicial adverturism and pandering to the LA DA. He should only be considered for bail on what he is charge with. He is charged with money laundering. Sorry, money laundering is no big deal. If his firm after all was licensed, or he did not require one, the money laundering case evaporates. He is not charge with fraud or murder.
So take his passport, put an ankle thing on him, take a million in cash bail and turn him lose.
This one is going to be a good one to track. Get the popcorn. I wonder if that credit card was a credit card on file with the car rental agency, and he did not rent the SUV? I wonder if they actually took a swipe, and got his signature. I rent cars from a local rental agency and they have my credit card on file and a list of people authorised by me to rent cars on that credit card.
OMG! What has my wife been doing with the cars she rents that I never see . . . . ?
Posted by yotonto on August 21, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys ever heard of the mexican border?
Criminals are running away and staying away!
Mexico is worthless when it comes to extraditing fugitives. And in this case, Fayed would keep going. Mexico is merely a route for him back home.
For this guy, money is no object. It will come from his family. They are well connected, and the investigators know this.
As to the ankle bracelet, its not indestructible
or GPS proof. I've seen those things broken off AND tampered with - successfully!
As to the charges and bail, can't argue with that, other than to say this is a way of holding him until more solid evidence is found linking him to his wife's murder.
Right or wrong, that's what's happening...
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