Stanford Financial Chief Tried to Flee Country: Source

CNBC ^ | 2/18/2009 | David Faber

[Red in Blue PA]

The head of Stanford Financial Group charged with orchestrating an $8 billion fraud tried Tuesday to get a one-way flight out of the country, a source told CNBC.

R. Allen Stanford tried to arrange the direct flight to Antigua, where his offshore banking operations are based.

He contacted a private jet owner at 3 pm and attempted to pay for the flight with a credit card, but was refused because the company would only accept a wire transfer, a source in the private jet industry said. Stanford had asked to leave by 6 pm.

[dirtboy]

Wonder if he’ll something similar to Bernie’s cushy bail arrangement?

[texican01]

We Houstonians are finally back in the news. This dude is even in a bigger criminal league that the late Kenny boy Lay!

[BigFinn]

There are so many of these crooks out there that a new Gitmo for financial terrorism would be a good idea.

[jsh3180]

Methinks that is what you call laying down a false trail. Guy has a half dozen jets of his own and reports say mountains of cash squirreled away.

[Maceman]

attempted to pay for the flight with a credit card, but was refused because the company would only accept a wire transfer,

Brilliant planning, that. Can you say:

[LoveUSA]

$#@*ing coward!

[Lloyd227]

This is rather funny here in my householdL

One, we had no investments with this guy
Two, someone in my family designs high end video conferencing systems and worked on this mans office, designing solid marble wall panelling to enclose and wrap something like a 68" ultra high end video monitor, overall spending more than a million dollars on his office upgrade alone.

Thankfully, it's as close to this particular story as we would care to be

[justlurking]

And the quickest way out would have been to drive to Laredo.

[mallardx]

And to boot, he is/was a huge democrat donor...betcha you didn’t see that in the News!

[gussiefinknottle]

DO ya’ll remember “fugitive financier Robert Vesco?” The press was
always after him due to his connection to Richard Nixon.
I think this guy should be referred to as “Dem contributor & almost
fugitive financier, R. Allen Stanford.” Always show picture of him
with Obama.

[Moltke]

“And to boot, he is/was a huge democrat donor...betcha you didn’t see that in the News!”

...and an even bigger donor to the Republicans, as per the numbers in another thread here. Oops!

[mallardx]

ABC NEWS - "Over the last decade, Stanford has spent more than $7 million on lobbyists and campaign contributions to Washington politics in both parties, although the vast majority of the money has gone to Democrats."

[Defiant]

Where is he now? Is he in custody?

[BossLady]

The CNBC video at the link in priceless....

Stanford Quote - "I don't want to talk ill about the wounded on the side of the road" (foreshadowing?)

Stanford Quote on election - "They are gonna have a helluva responsibility and I predict they are going to be a one term president" (crossing fingers)

CNBC Newstard - "Is it fun being a billionaire?"

Stanford Answers Newstard - "It's hard work" :o

[Moltke]

OK, trust ABC News, if you will.

I based my statement on post #10 in this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2188161/posts

Actual numbers posted. Of course, those could be made up as well...who to trust these days?

[mallardx]

Thanks Moltke - we must all conduct our own research, as the Media is completely dishonest.

[dfwgator]

I have no use for scum like this guy and Madoff, line ‘em all up against the wall.

[Red in Blue PA]

Most everyone agrees with you except those who supposedly mete out “justice”.

The system is stacked against the honest people, who now must fight to prove the crooks were crooks.

[Moltke]

Alas, a problem that will get worse rather than better in the foreseable future... Where to find the truth? A media that has abandoned any semblence of integrity, agenda-driven blogs, etc. pp. I’ll just be a cynic for now.