Revolutionary Guru of Greed: Slideshow

Source: La PrensaPosted 09 Feb 2009 He proclaims himself "King of the Offshore World." Marc Harris promises financial freedom in paradise... a way to keep assets out of the reach of government. But, the "guru" is running a ponzi scheme and bilking clients out of millions of dollars.

Harris opens the offshore investment company "The Harris Organization" in Panama City. He markets to the small investor... a way for them to protect their assets just like the rich and famous. By the mid-1990’s Harris claims to have a billion dollars under his management.

Source: Okke Ornstein Friend Okke Ornstein says Harris leads the good life… fancy cars, expensive meals and a private jet. Clients are wined and dined. Unfortunately for investors, it's all paid for with their money.

Source: Jeff Hewitt Investor Douglas Hewitt hopes to secure his son's and grandsons' future by investing in The Harris Organization (THO). Hewitt invests his life savings… and loses it all.

Source: Kurtis Productions In the mid-1990s, Carl Dilley is hired to organize THO’s accounting and back-office systems. Behind the company’s façade of respectability, Dilley discovers is an institution on the verge of collapse. Dilley believes the “guru” is really a conman.

Source: Kurtis Productions A turn for the worse. Investigative Journalist David Marchant, publisher of "Offshore Alert," reports Harris is involved in illegal activity. Harris files a libel suit against Marchant in a Florida court, but the judge rules in favor of the reporter. The wave of bad publicity begins to take its toll on Harris' company.

Source: Public Domain It isn’t the Ponzi scheme that brings Harris down, it's his relationship with these two men: Aurelio and Joseph Vigna. The Vignas are smuggling environmentally hazardous Freon. They’re under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division of the I.R.S. for tax evasion. Agents track them down and follow the money trail...  it leads to Marc Harris.

Source: Kurtis Productions Supervising Special Agent Mark Dunkel of the Criminal Investigation Division of the I.R.S. leads the investigation into Marc Harris. He’s eventually convicted in a Federal Court for tax evasion, money laundering, and conspiracy. He’s sentenced to 17 years in prison, and ordered to pay $27 million. The money remains uncollected.

Source: I.R.S. Criminal Investigation Division After Harris’ conviction, I.R.S. Agents examine over a thousand boxes of The Harris Organization’s financial records. Many of Harris’ dubious clients are exposed and prosecuted by the I.R.S. for tax evasion, leading to the recovery of several millions of dollars.Find out more...Replay SlideshowReview the case fileVisit the American Greed website