3 Indicted in U.N. Oil-For-Food Scandal

[KalicoKitty]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4936926,00.html


A Texas businessman indicted Oil-For-Food Scandal!

[BlueEyedSon]

1. I though Kofi Annan was the perp.....

[tx_dem41]

3. Nope....Volcker (sp?) hasn't found anything yet directly tied to Kofi...

...his son might be another matter and that surely won't be good for him. The final report is not due out until this summer.

[rocktivity]

16. Annan as perp was a Bush White House smear

punishment for his not sending the UN into Iraq with President Mightymouse.



:headbang:
rocknation

[KittyWampus]

17. Smearing Kofi Came From Information Invented By Chalabi Who Never

actually provided the evidence... just accusations.

Chalabi basically just put the smear out there and said "trust me, would I lie?"

[SalmonChantedEvening]

19. I love that pic, always have.

A Statesman and a Grinning Clown.

[BlueEyedSon]

35. Yeah, i was being facetious.

[rinsd]

75. Kofi's son is the one in trouble...(nt)

[tx_dem41]

2. It will be interesting to find out who that "Texas businessman" is...

and what his ties are to the current administration.

[underpants]

5. Yeah I sure hope this "Texas businessman" doesn't take a BATH in this

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. This should be fun!

Texas may be huge in size, but the Republican cell operating from there seems to have ties to a lot of dirty dealings.

[underpants]

6. Hmm (purely speculation here) a south Korean citizen huh?

In addition, Kelley was to unseal a criminal complaint that charges a South Korean citizen with conspiracy to act in the United States as an unregistered government agent for the Iraqi government's effort to create the oil-for-food program, the statement said.

I know one name that automatically came to mind-- :think:

[Cell Whitman]

55. check my post below.

you're instincts are correct. Though I believe Park and Moon had differing agendas at times, they were both tied to the Koreagate scandal.

[Mistress Quickly]

7. Here, I did the dirty work:

snip>>>

David Chalmers (search), head of Texas-based Bayoil (search), which participated in oil deals through the program, is the American who will be indicted. A Bulgarian and a British citizen also will be slapped with charges involving an alleged scheme to pay millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq as part of Oil-for-Food program, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

end snip<<<<

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153452,00.html

on edit: google search for David Chalmers and Bayoil

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22David+Chalmers%22+Bayoil&btnG=Google+Search

[KittyWampus]

20. There's A Chilean Arms Dealer Who Trafficked In 80's & Italians As Well

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:epzs8hUkVT0J:www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi%3FArtNum%3D45344%26Disp%3D4%26Trace%3Don+Bayoil+David+Chalmers+George+Bush&hl=en

Background on part involving Scott Ritter: it was alleged Scott Ritter recieved money from Iraqi Govt. for his film proving Iraqi weapns program defanged long before we invaded illegally. This is false and a smear.

Ritter DID get money legally from Khafaji to make his film.

Why would Khafaji give Ritter money to make the film?

IMO, There were businessmen making HUGE profits from Iraqi Oil/Food Program. Some legally, some marginally legal, some illegally.

Some of those Big Players probably didn't want war or change to a system that was yielding large bonanzas. They knew Junior would only give plum oil allocations to a few of his chosen cronies.

Another scenario, it's entirely possible that Khafaji wanted war and IS a Bush Crony and was trying to "entrap" Ritter by giving him some money.
......................................................................


There is no evidence Mr Ritter did receive any money from oil allocations. Mr Khafaji told the FT/Il Sole that he never mentioned the allocations to Mr Ritter. But, by his own admission, Mr Khafaji or his family did profit from the sale of oil allocations awarded at the same time that he was financing Mr Ritter's film. Without Mr Khafaji's money Mr Ritter's film would never have been made.

Mr Khafaji told the FT/Il Sole that he sold allocations to Augusto Giangrandi, the head of an Italian company called Italtech. Italtech resold the oil to a Houston oil trading company called Bayoil, or its subsidiaries.

Bayoil "lifted" - that is to say, collected from Iraqi oil terminals - almost 30m barrels from Italtech in only three months in 2001.

The relationship between the two companies was the subject of an Il Sole/FT investigation published last week. The article also documented the ties between the owners of Italtech and Bayoil, and Carlos Cardoen, a renowned Chilean arms dealer who was involved in arms trafficking to Iraq in the 1980s.

A copy of a fax from Italtech files, dated November 4 2000, shows that David Chalmers, the owner of Bayoil, entered into communication with "Mr Shakir" over fees related to the oil allocations.

"As per my conversation with Augusto, you may indicate to your associates in Jordan we have an interest to purchase their allocations as follows: 1 million barrels Kirkuk destination Europe; 2 million barrels Basrah light destination US; 500,000 barrels Basrah light destination US," it reads.

"We would indicate a premium of $0.26 per barrel for Kirkuk and $0.30 per barrel for Basrah light. Payment: $0.15 per barrel against nomination of vessel and date accepted by Somo . Balance net 10 days after lifting."

The deal would have earned $1.1m.

Shakir al-Khafaji was a ruthless negotiator who aggressively pursued his payments when the company fell behind, according to Italtech executives. The Italians say that one day he arrived unannounced at Mr Giangrandi's office in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by bodyguards. "It was a surprise visit: he wanted his commission. It was, let's say, unusual," says Mr Giangrandi. Another Italtech executive adds: "He knocked at the door with two tough guys. Augusto was terrified and arranged for Shakir to be paid in Geneva."

Mr Khafaji acknowledges that he had problems with the payment of the commission and that he went to Abu Dhabi, but says he went there alone. A copy of an Italtech accounting document shows that on November 17 2000, Bayoil transferred $1m to Italtech's Geneva account. On the same day, it records Italtech made a "payment" of the same amount; a note, hand-written by an Italtech executive, identifies the recipient as "Shaker Al Khafagi". The original document is in the hands of the Italian authorities.

Mr Khafaji says he worked alone when he sold the allocations and that he was selling them on behalf of his family. He also now says he did not have any associates in Jordan. But Mr Giangrandi says that Mr Khafaji introduced himself as Mr Ritter's "partner" and that he was "representing his allocations". Mr Giangrandi says he never met Mr Ritter.

A copy of a handwritten fax dated July 10 2000, the same month that Mr Khafaji began funding Mr Ritter's film, shows Mr Giangrandi passing on Mr Khafaji's contact details to Mr Chalmers.

The note says: "Dear David. This is the partner of S. R. with whom I am negotiating now the 5M B-L. He is a very influential person here, and we can do many things in the future with him. Regards, A. G."

Mr Giangrandi confirmed that "S. R." referred to Mr Ritter.

Mr Ritter insists he was never offered any allocations by the Iraqi government. But he does relate an incident when an Iraqi official from the UN mission in New York said he might be able to get funding for his film by "sending an oil contract through a French oil company". Mr Ritter says he "terminated the conversation at this point".

Mr Ritter was having trouble finding a backer for his documentary until he met Mr Khafaji at a congressional hearing.

Mr Ritter says it was agreed there would be no quid pro quo for the production. He says he told Mr Khafaji: "If you are willing to underwrite this film, the money can have no connection to the Iraqi government" and he agreed.

Last January, a list of alleged beneficiaries of Iraqi oil allocations began to circulate widely, and Mr Khafaji's name was on it. He was one of only two US nationals mentioned.

"I called him and asked him," says Mr Ritter. "He said he had never received any money. He said it's all BS. He said he doesn't know why his name is on there."

"I choose to believe over anyone else . . . Until someone demonstrates this man has done something wrong, he is a hero in my book."

Asked how he would characterise anyone suggesting that Mr Khafaji was offering allocations in his name, Mr Ritter replied: "I'd say that person's a f**king liar. Quote unquote. And tell him to come over here so I can kick his ass."

"The concept of Khafaji running around saying that allocations belonged to me: that is bulls**t. How could Shakir even say that?"

However, he added: "If he received allocations in November 2000, I would be very upset. I would be extremely upset."

[KittyWampus]

36. CIA Agent Says US Knew. RJ Reynolds Laundered Russian/Columbian Money

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:c56ExHXqscAJ:resistance.chiffonrouge.org/article.php3%3Fid_article%3D87+Bush+Arbusto+Bayoil&hl=en


(ABC, 7/20/02), "American refiners' thirst for Iraqi oil has been ongoing" and that as much as 90 percent of the actual amount of Iraq's estimated 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) are going to Gulf coast refineries in the US. Oil industry sources told ABC "the US companies most heavily involved are Chevron, Exxon-Mobil, Bayoil and Koch Petroleum, which use it in their refineries in Louisiana and Texas.

Iraq's black market Saddam Hussein's regime has also been involved in a thriving black market in oil and other products with Turkey (a US ally), Jordan (another US ally) and other countries. This trade continued without challenge by the US or the UN.

According to former CIA agent Robert Baer, "Washington knew all about the smuggling, but pretended it wasn't happening…what I couldn't understand was why the White House didn't intervene…It was almost as if the White House wanted Saddam to have a little walking-around money."

Spectacular evidence of American participation in this black market was revealed in a lawsuit filed on October 31, 2002 by the European Union against RJ Reynolds Tobacco

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50913-2002Nov13.html (Washington Post, 11/14/02). For the past decade, according to this suit, "R.J. Reynolds and its subsidiaries illegally funneled millions of dollars worth of cigarettes into Iraq in direct violation of U.S. trade sanctions and has knowingly helped Russian organized crime and Colombian drug traffickers launder billions of dollars more." The suit, which is based on law enforcement resources of ten European countries, alleges that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his son, Uday, reaped millions of illicit dollars from the sale of cigarettes.

As noted by Michel Chossudovsky in War and Globalisation , "the demarcation between 'organized capital' and 'organized crime' is blurred" in every corner of the New World Order.

The war for the oil : rearranging the map, changing the rules Although US interests have profited from indirect Iraq trade, Russia, France and China have placed themselves into the "driver's seat", thanks to direct ties to Baghdad. Companies holding key oil exploration contracts include Lukoil (which has an exploration contract for the West Qurna oil field), Zarubezhneft, Slavnet and French oil giant TotalFinaElf (which has the largest position in Iraq, with exclusive negotiating rights to develop the Majnoon oil field). If UN sanctions were ever lifted, these non-US companies would dominate Iraqi oil exploration---a scenario that is obviously unacceptable to US elites

[ET Awful]

47. Hmmm, David Chalmers political contributions

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=TX&last=chalmers&first=david

Nice donations there Dave :)

[Judi Lynn]

50. Thanks for the link! Shows he gave to the "Phil Gramm for Pres." campaign

How gross is THAT?

President Gramm?????

[Festivito]

8. Wasn't this issue a WELL-KNOWN secret? Now, just more UN villification?

The players were not known, but, EVERYONE knew Saddaam got illicit money for his oil. We pulled over a few ships, but, even that was a Keystone-cop type joke.

This oil issue, now, seems to be a way of villifying the UN so Bushco can destroy it so it cannot remain a source of information contradicting CONservatives.

[Catchawave]

9. CNN link here:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/04/14/oilfood.indictment/

[nonconformist]

10. Political donations for David Chalmers/Bayoil

CHALMERS, DAVID B.
10/3/2002 $300.00
AUSTIN, TX 78745
-
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTIONS

Still digging...

[nonconformist]

12. More

CHALMERS, DAVID
6/22/2000 $1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77019
BAY OIL USA -
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

CHALMERS, DAVID B
6/2/1995 $1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77002
CORAL OIL AND GAS INC -
PHIL GRAMM FOR PRESIDENT, INC.

CHALMERS, DAVID B
8/25/1992 $1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77024
-
TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY

CHALMERS, DAVID B JR
12/30/1991 $1,000.00
STAMFORD, CT 06901
BAYOIL (USA) INC -
FRIENDS OF SENATOR DON NICKLES

[Roland99]

15. Gotta be links to Rove, Bushes somewhere

[rocktivity]

21. I'll settle for a DeLay link, LOL!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Roland99]

38. There ya go!

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. More...

From a Financial Times article
http://www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg00286.html
<snip>
There is no evidence Mr Ritter did receive any money from oil allocations. Mr Khafaji told the FT/Il Sole that he never mentioned the allocations to Mr Ritter. But, by his own admission, Mr Khafaji or his family did profit from the sale of oil allocations awarded at the same time that he was financing Mr Ritter's film. Without Mr Khafaji's money Mr Ritter's film would never have been made.

Mr Khafaji told the FT/Il Sole that he sold allocations to Augusto
Giangrandi, the head of an Italian company called Italtech. Italtech resold the oil to a Houston oil trading company called Bayoil, or its subsidiaries.

Bayoil "lifted" - that is to say, collected from Iraqi oil terminals - almost 30m barrels from Italtech in only three months in 2001.

The relationship between the two companies was the subject of an Il Sole/FT investigation published last week. The article also documented the ties between the owners of Italtech and Bayoil, and Carlos Cardoen, a renowned Chilean arms dealer who was involved in arms trafficking to Iraq in the 1980s.

A copy of a fax from Italtech files, dated November 4 2000, shows that David Chalmers, the owner of Bayoil, entered into communication with "Mr Shakir" over fees related to the oil allocations.

"As per my conversation with Augusto, you may indicate to your associates in Jordan we have an interest to purchase their allocations as follows: 1 million barrels Kirkuk destination Europe; 2 million barrels Basrah light destination US; 500,000 barrels Basrah light destination US," it reads.

"We would indicate a premium of Dollars 0.26 per barrel for Kirkuk and Dollars 0.30 per barrel for Basrah light. Payment: Dollars 0.15 per barrel against nomination of vessel and date accepted by Somo (Iraq's state oil marketing organisation). Balance net 10 days after lifting."

The deal would have earned Dollars 1.1m.

<snip>

[nonconformist]

14. NEWSMEAT link

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Chalmers&first=David

[Judi Lynn]

11. Update....

Texan to be charged in UN oil-for-food probe
By FT Reporters

Published: April 14 2005 14:40 | Last updated: April 14 2005 14:40

David Chalmers, a Texas oil tycoon, is to be charged for his alleged role in a scheme to divert millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq - funds meant for humanitarian relief - in order to participate in the sale of Iraqi oil under the United Nation’s oil-for-food programme.


The US Attorney’s southern district office of New York said on Monday Mr Chalmers was being charged, along with a British citizen, a Bulgarian citizen and two companies operated by Mr Chalmers. It said it was also charging a South Korean citizen with conspiracy relating to the alleged subversion of the oil-for-food programme.

The unsealing of an indictment and complaint stemming from an investigation into the oil-for-food programme is to take place on Thursday morning in New York.
(snip/...)

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/41bd766e-ace9-11d9-ad92-00000e2511c8.html

[bluedog]

18. Associate of Oscar Wyatt

check this site out:

Foes of Iraq Sanctions Got Oil


The fifth company on the list was Bayoil, run by David Chalmers. He was a former business associate of Wyatt, according to Platts, an industry trade publication.

Bayoil bought 5.7 million barrels that netted $1 million under the voucher program, according to the Duelfer report and congressional investigators.



Oscar Wyatt, a Texas oil baron who received more money than any other individual, announced in March 1997 that he would retire and begin lobbying in Washington to lift sanctions against Iraq and Libya. In addition to personal vouchers he received between 1999 and 2003, his company was awarded oil vouchers in 1996 and 1997 to pump 11.8 million barrels of oil, according to Iraqi documents contained in the CIA report.

http://www.puk.org/web/htm/news/nws/news041010a.html

[emad]

22. Three charged over oil-for-food: BBC breaking

A Texas businessman, a Bulgarian and a Briton have been indicted over the UN oil-for-food programme, US federal prosecutors have said.
They are accused of taking part in an alleged scheme to pay bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.

The bribes involved funds otherwise intended for humanitarian relief, US Attorney David Kelley said.

The $60bn (£32bn) UN programme allowed Iraq to sell oil to buy civilian goods to ease the impact of UN sanctions.

Two companies operated by the Texan defendant are also named in the indictment put out by Mr Kelley's office.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4445073.stm

[Fridays Child]

23. No names? I wonder why. I sure would like to know the identity...

...of the Texas businessman.

[Mistress Quickly]

24. See here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1393866&mesg_id=1393911

[Fridays Child]

32. Thanks!

:)

[emad]

25. BBC update:

Three charged over oil-for-food


A Texas businessman, a Bulgarian and a Briton have been indicted over the UN oil-for-food programme, US federal prosecutors have said.
They are accused of taking part in an alleged scheme to pay bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.

The bribes involved funds otherwise intended for humanitarian relief, US Attorney David Kelley said.

------------------------

Two companies operated by the Texan defendant are also named in the indictment put out by Mr Kelley's office.

A separate complaint charges a South Korean citizen with conspiracy to act in the US as an unregistered Iraqi government agent to assist in the creation of the oil-for-food programme.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4445073.stm

[dsewell]

28. Dave Chalmers, head of Bayoil

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/04/14/oilfood.indictment/index.html

[Straight Shooter]

29. Dave Chalmers. That name sure sounds familiar.

It's created a brain itch, but I can't remember where I've heard that name before. :shrug:

[dweller]

33. David Chalmers (same name different guy)

known for consciousness studies?

http://consc.net/chalmers/


:shrug:

dp

[emad]

30. Glad to see it wasn't that stalwart of Biblical prophecy Zion Oil &

Gas that's in the picture....
http://bourse.lefigaro.fr/Actualite/Default.asp?Source=PR&NumArticle=100405

[Catherine Vincent]

26. That Texas businessman is probably a republican.

Keep trying Fox News Republicans, your thirst for the end of the UN won't happen.

[liberal N proud]

27. Probably and OIL exec.

If so, then he could have been funneling Iraq oil into the US thus havening kept oil prices low until he was stopped by bu$h's war.

[babylonsister]

31. Wouldn't it be dandy if there was a booosh connection? nt

[President Jesus]

34. David Chalmers campaign contributions

here's a complete list...
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Chalmers&first=David

...and his cohort Ludmil Dionissiev
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Dionissiev&first=Ludmil

[xray s]

37. Big Republican donors...Surprise surprise surprise!

[kurtyboy]

NYT: Texas Businessman Indicted in Iraq Oil-for-Food Program

A Texas businessman, as well as a British and a Bulgarian citizen, have been indicted in New York for reportedly paying millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq as part of the United Nations oil-for-food program.

The Texan, David B. Chalmers, a principal of Bay Oil (U.S.A.) Inc., and an associate of the oil trading company, Ludmil Dionissiev, a Bulgarian and permanent American resident, were arrested this morning at their homes in Houston.

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, David N. Kelley, said at a news briefing this morning in Manhattan that he would seek the extradition from England of a third defendant, John Irving, another associate of Bay Oil.

<snip>
The kickbacks went to Baghdad through front companies and banks, instead of to the needy, as the program intended, Mr. Kelley said.
<snip>

Faux News will now explain the connection between Kofi Annan's son and Texas oilmen....

[Endangered Specie]

39. Oh my! Im just shocked! shocked! I tell ya

:eyes: :nopity:

actually, Im not the least bit suprised.

[wookie294]

40. Will Hannity do an hour show on this guy ??

I bet Fox News interns were told to find out if this Texas oil man gave money to John Kerry's campaign and to determine if he's a "Democrat." When they found out he's a Republican, Fox News began ignoring this story.

[ztn]

46. hahaha. how true

[Wilms]

41. BBC says:

Thursday, 14 April, 2005

The 'controversial' Bayoil boss

Bayoil is accused of paying bribes in exchange for Iraqi oil
David Chalmers Jr, the Texan oil tycoon accused of paying bribes to Saddam Hussein, had already been dubbed "controversial" in media reports.

Before the Iraqi indictments, Mr Chalmers had been connected to a Chilean arms dealer, a bomb factory in Abu Dhabi, and a Russian nationalist.

-snip-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4446041.stm

[Pthalo BlueMoon]

44. It figures...

It's kinda scary how the country is blindly following Bush, and his fellow oil cronies.

I bet Chalmers will be the Republican' 2008 candidate, for sure...

[ztn]

42. Texans implicated in Oil for Food scandal. This won't go far here in US

These headlines will surely get jumbled and twisted in the corporate media:


Texan, 3 others charged in oil-for-food scandal
Last Updated Thu, 14 Apr 2005 13:47:37 EDT
CBC News
NEW YORK - Three people, including a businessman from Texas, face charges for channelling kickbacks to Saddam Hussein in the United Nations oil-for-food scandal, U.S. federal prosecutors said Thursday.

more:
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/04/14/oil-food-charges050414.html

Houston businessman indicted in U.N. oil-for-food scandal
David Chalmers, president of BayOil USA, has been indicted along with two other men for allegedly scheming to pay millions of dollars in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime as part of the United Nation's oil-for-food program, news agencies reported Thursday.

more:
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2005/04/11/daily45.html

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Texas businessman and two of his companies were charged with paying secret kickbacks to Iraq in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday as part of an investigation into the scandal-plagued U.N. oil-for-food program.

more:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8183308

[trotsky]

43. Hmm, that's why I always kind of figured the "scandal"...

was never going to REALLY be investigated, because of ties to U.S. businesses and powerbrokers.

I guess they figure they control the media enough, why not let the chips fall and then cover up the parts they don't like? Like there's ANYONE who's going to question them. Ha!

[ztn]

45. the sad part is that this involvement by texas billionaires has been known

all along if you know where to get your news. I'm just shocked that our quasi-censored media actually broke this juicy tidbit.

The real test is to see if the talking heads will give this volume and persistance that they love giving to Swift Boats and Rathergate.

Then and ONLY then will this story creep its way into America's collective mindset....otherwise it's just an obscure story only known in certain circles...like most other stories that damage the GOP and their backers.

[Beetwasher]

65. All Crimes Lead To The TX Mafia

n/t

[Up2Late]

48. Texas Businessman Indicted in Iraq Oil-for-Food Program (NYT)

Texas Businessman Indicted in Iraq Oil-for-Food Program
By TERENCE NEILAN

Published: April 14, 2005

A Texas businessman, as well as a British and a Bulgarian citizen, have been indicted in New York for reportedly paying millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq as part of the United Nations oil-for-food program. The Texan, David B. Chalmers, a principal of Bay Oil (U.S.A.) Inc., and an associate of the oil trading company, Ludmil Dionissiev, a Bulgarian and permanent American resident, were arrested this morning at their homes in Houston.

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, David N. Kelley, said at a news briefing this morning in Manhattan that he would seek the extradition from England of a third defendant, John Irving, another associate of Bay Oil. Mr. Kelley said Mr. Chalmers and the other defendants played "a pivotal role" in efforts to fix the price of oil that was traded and sold under the oil-for-food program and "facilitated the payment of illegal surchages" on the oil to the Hussein government. The kickbacks went to Baghdad through front companies and banks, instead of to the needy, as the program intended, Mr. Kelley said.

The defendants could each face sentences of up to 62 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million on charges that include wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, and defrauding the oil-for-food program and the people of Iraq. They are also accused of engaging in prohibited financial transactions with a country known to be supporting international terrorism, "namely, and obviously, Iraq," Mr. Kelley added.

(more at link above)

[Judi Lynn]

49. Update: Very serious stuff.....

April 14, 2005, 1:30pm EDT
THREE INDICTED IN U.N. OIL-FOR-FOOD SCANDAL



U.S.Attorney Kelley

A Houston oilman and two traders from Texas and England paid millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein, cheating the United Nations' oil-for-food program out of humanitarian aid funds, authorities said Thursday.

David Chalmers, owner of Bayoil (USA) Inc. and Ludmil Dionissiev, a Bulgarian citizen and permanent U.S. resident, were arrested Thursday morning at their homes in Houston, reported the Associated Press.

U.S. Attorney David Kelley said he would seek extradition of defendant John Irving from England as well.

Kelley called the two indictments unsealed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan "two more pieces in the oil-for-food puzzle."

"It's a broad and large investigation," he added, according to the AP. "We're going to wring the towel dry."
(snip/...)

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/oilforfood_04-14-05.html

[Judi Lynn]

51. BBC: US tycoon in oil-for-food scandal

Last Updated: Thursday, 14 April, 2005, 16:59 GMT 17:59 UK

US tycoon in oil-for-food scandal


A Texas oil tycoon, a Bulgarian and a Briton have been indicted over the UN oil-for-food programme, US federal prosecutors have said.
David Chalmers Jr, Ludmil Dionissiev and John Irving are accused of paying bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime.

The bribes involved funds otherwise intended for humanitarian relief, attorney David Kelley said.

The $60bn (£32bn) UN programme allowed Iraq to sell oil to buy civilian goods to ease the impact of UN sanctions.

David Chalmers Jr, his oil company Bayoil of Texas, and Bayoil Supply & Trading Ltd, based in the Bahamas, faced federal criminal charges as part of the scheme to pay millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Iraq.
(snip/...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4445073.stm

[President Jesus]

52. Don't overlook this cat: Ludmil Dionissiev ($10,000 GOP donations)

this guy is WAY in bed with the GOP. Proof: http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Dionissiev&first=Ludmil

[JerseygirlCT]

74. If he's Bulgarian, isn't it illegal for him to make these donations?

Or am I confused?

[Cell Whitman]

53. Tongsun Park was part of the Koreagate scandal involving Moon

The Fraser committee asked that more investigating be done and said that Park should have registered as a foreign agent then also.

My Moon contacts kind of surprised to find Park pop up in Texas...

Gorenfeld has a post on it:
http://www.iapprovethismessiah.com/

You can find some Park in the Fraser excerpt .. direction to Fraser are found at the top here:

http://cellwhitman.blogspot.com/2004/10/independent-washington-times.html

[Doctor_J]

54. When will we get some indictments in the missing $9B

"Operation Enduring Deficit" scandal? I am guessing that one will be asshole deep in "Texas Businessmen".

[rainbow4321]

Texas oilmen charged with kickbacks to Saddam Hussein

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D89FDN480.html


Two Texas oilmen indicted in the United Nations oil-for-food scandal were brought before a federal magistrate in handcuffs Thursday to hear charges that they funneled kickbacks to Saddam Hussein with money intended for humanitarian relief.

David Bay Chalmers Jr., 51, and Ludmil Dionissiev, 58, a Bulgarian citizen and U.S. resident, were arrested Thursday as prosecutors in New York announced their indictments. Briton John Irving also was indicted.

Charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. If convicted, they could face up to 62 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million.

His father, David Bay Chalmers Sr., founded Coral Petroleum and became a well-known oil trader who traveled in the same circles as Texas billionaire Oscar Wyatt. Chalmers Sr. and Wyatt both pleaded guilty in 1980 to violating price controls after the Arab oil embargo and paid more than $20 million in fines, though Wyatt's conviction was later overturned.

[whistle]

56. Were they contributors to Tom DeLay and Bush?

[a_random_joel]

59. Perhaps?

http://www.tray.com/cgi-win/indexhtml.exe?MBF=NAME

CHALMERS, DAVID B.
10/3/2002 $300.00
AUSTIN, TX 78745
-
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTIONS

Maybe check the other Chalmers in TX... there's a Connie, maybe that's his wife?

[rainbow4321]

60. Here is a list....and a cool website

Interesting is that if you look at these 2 guys names, they are listed as 1 and 2 on the "top 50 searches" on this contribution search website....meaning, I guess, that everyone has the same question: "Who all has taken their $$?"



http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=TX&last=chalmers&first=david

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Dionissiev&first=Ludmil

[knowbody0]

57. halliburton will be next

[rockedthevoteinMA]

58. How are these folks related to *? n/t

[mia]

61. More to come? Chevron, Mobil, Texaco and Bay Oil....

U.S. firms got vouchers for Iraqi oil under food program

By Judith Miller, Eric Lipton and Scott Shane
NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

October 9, 2004

WASHINGTON – Major American oil companies and a Texas oil investor were among those who received lucrative vouchers that enabled them to buy Iraqi oil under the U.N. oil-for-food program, according to a report prepared by the chief arms inspector for the CIA.

The 918-page report says that four American oil companies – Chevron, Mobil, Texaco and Bay Oil – and three individuals, including Oscar S. Wyatt Jr. of Houston, were given vouchers and got 111 million barrels of oil between them from 1996 to 2003. The vouchers allowed them to profit by selling the oil or the right to trade it.

The other individuals, whose names appeared on a secret list maintained by the former Iraqi government, were Samir Vincent of Annandale, Va., and Shakir Al-Khafaji of West Bloomfield, Mich., according to the report by the inspector, Charles A. Duelfer.

The fact that these companies and individuals received oil from Iraq does not mean that they did anything illegal, experts on the program said....

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041009/news_1n9sanctions.html



No connection to the article, but this photo is a classic.

[Moderator]

62. kick to combine

[PaulaFarrell]

63. US arrests businessmen over oil-for-food bribes

A Texas tycoon, a British oil trader and his Bulgarian associate were yesterday indicted by US authorities investigating the UN oil-for-food scandal.
David Chalmers, the owner of Bayoil, a company based in Houston, Texas, and of a subsidiary registered in the Bahamas, and Ludmil Dionissiev were arrested at their homes in Houston and were expected to appear in court last night.

Meanwhile, US authorities were seeking the extradition from Britain of the oil trader John Irving.

...

All three were accused of subverting the $67bn programme - established in 1996 to protect ordinary Iraqis suffering from the effects of sanctions placed on Saddam Hussein's regime - by paying millions of dollars in secret bribes to Iraqi officials to secure oil for Mr Chalmers' companies


more...



http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1460155,00.html

[SweetLeftFoot]

64. Wonder if knows Dubya

he could walk away from kenny Boy - this one might be a bit harder. I'm assuming all Texas oil barons have to operate with imprimatur of the Bush Family too.

[Moderator]

66. kick to combine

[kidrocks]

67. American, Briton arrested in Oil For Food scam!

AHA!

And we we're led to believe by the wing-nuts that it was only Russia, France and Germany's hands that were dirty in the food scam.

WRONG!

The first to be arrested were a TEXAS oil man and a Britian.

God, is this Country great or what? LOL...and I love it!



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153764,00.html

NEW YORK — An American Texas oil trader and his business associates are being arraigned Monday morning for their alleged roles in the U.N. Oil-for-Food (search) scandal.

David B. Chalmers (search), head of Houston-based Bayoil (search), which participated in oil deals through the program, and Ludmil Dionissiev (search), a Bulgarian citizen and permanent U.S. resident, were arrested Thursday morning at their homes in Houston.

U.S. Attorney David N. Kelley said last week that he will seek the extradition from England of a third defendant, John Irving.

The three men are being slapped with federal charges involving an alleged scheme to pay millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime so Bayoil and another Chalmers company, Bayoil Supply & Trading Limited, based in Nassau, Bahamas, could continue to sell Iraqi oil under the Oil-for-Food program.

Federal prosecutors charge that Bayoil executives helped divert funds that were supposed to go to needy Iraqis but instead were funneled to front companies set up by Saddam's regime between mid-2000 and March 2003

Prosecutors also last week unveiled a complaint calling for an arrest warrant for Tongsun Park (search), a South Korean man who they say acted as an intermediary between the Iraqi government and the United Nations when the negotiations were being held to set up the Oil-for-Food program in 1992.

[TyeDye75]

68. I wonder how Bill O Reilly will react to this

He'll probably ignore it

PS....nominated for greatest page

[Wilms]

69. What a wonderful idea. Nominated. n/t

[Mistress Quickly]

70. his political donations

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Dionissiev&first=Ludmil

[TR Fan]

71. I'm confused...

Chalmers is the American, Park is Korean, and Dionissiev is a Bulgarian (almost a Russian, I might note; their languages are mutually understandable). Who's the Brit?

[underpants]

72. Texas Oil For Food Scandal - All Hat No Cattle

http://www.allhatnocattle.net/4-14-05_david_chalmers_oil.htm

[woosh]

73. Jack Kemp is mixed up in this as well.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6845383/site/newsweek/
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=92107