A Question for You

by **az-tex** Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:03 pm

Good morning everyone.

The following email was sent to me on 4/20/2020. Did anyone else get one? I find that this is curious... Sorry if this is not posted in the correct forum section.

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Sterling Currency Group Information Request with Regard to the Iraqi Dinar

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Dear Sterling Customer, We are writing to ask your help in our continued litigation with the Federal Government. There were a number of banks throughout the United States that bought and sold Iraqi Dinar during the time period that Sterling was in business. If you have knowledge about banks (large banks, or community banks) that sold Iraqi Dinar to customers please reply via email to tyrhame@sterlingcurrencygroup.com and respond to these questions: 1. Were you aware that banks bought and sold Iraqi Dinar, if so, what bank(s)?

a. If so, during what time period did the bank sell or purchase dinars?
b. Do you recall approximately what the buy or sell price was?

[size] 2. Did you ever purchase Iraqi Dinar from a bank, if so, what bank(s)?[/size]

a. If so, do you remember the approximate value of the Iraqi Dinar you purchased?
b. Was there a reason that you later (or previously) purchased Iraqi Dinar from Sterling Currency?

[size] 3. Did you plan to exchange Iraqi Dinar at a bank if the revaluation had occurred? We would appreciate as much detail, receipts and documents as you are comfortable sharing. Thanks again for your continued support. Best Regards,[/size]

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Ty Rhame

Chief Executive Officer Sterling Currency Group

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Frank Bell

Chief Operating Officer Sterling Currency Group

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by **az-tex** Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:39 pm

This is copied from a most excellent post on a thread started by RamblerNash on Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:14 pm entitled:

" Have You Ever Wondered How Many Dinar Gurus There Are? "

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Georgia

Owners of currency exchange business that made $600 million convicted of fraud

ATLANTA – The co-owners and chief operating officer of one of the largest Iraqi dinar exchangers in the United States were convicted by a federal jury following a five-week trial. Tyson Rhame, James Shaw, and Frank Bell were each convicted of mail and wire fraud conspiracy, as well as multiple counts of mail and wire fraud. Rhame and Bell were also convicted of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.

“These executives engaged in a lengthy campaign to defraud investors by spreading lies about the investment potential of the Iraqi dinar,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “These convictions resulted from years of investigation, which included dozens of electronic and physical search warrants, hundreds of witness interviews, and extensive financial analysis.”

“The conviction of these three defendants is the result of an extensive effort by the government to protect investors from those who make unsubstantiated claims about the potential revaluation of a foreign currency,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Their greed led them to steal the hopes of unsuspecting investors and ultimately led them to their demise. The FBI and its partners make it a priority to root out and punish anyone who preys on investors for their own selfish desires.”

“This was a trial about fraudulent inducements, conspiracy, investment fraud and outright greed,” said Thomas J. Holloman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Rhame, Shaw, and Bell saw an opportunity to build their personal net worth and business position in the currency market by seizing on investors’ desire for high returns on their investments. At the end of the trial, the jury agreed with the government and found the Sterling Currency Group co-owners and chief operating officer guilty of the conspiracy and the underlying frauds. Despite the challenges these complex cases present, IRS-CI is committed to working with our partners at the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to show white-collar fraud is still an investigative priority.”

According to Acting U.S Attorney Erskine, the charges, and other information presented in court: Rhame and Shaw owned and operated the Sterling Currency Group, which was once one of the country’s largest sellers of the Iraqi dinar. Bell was Sterling’s chief operating officer. Between 2010 and June 2015, Sterling grossed over $600 million in revenue from the sale of the Iraqi dinar and other currencies, while Rhame and Shaw received over $180 million in distributions.

The evidence at trial established that the defendants took steps to make investors believe they would get rich by investing in the Iraqi dinar. At one point, Rhame posted information on Sterling’s website falsely suggesting that the dinar was about to revalue. At other times, Rhame and Bell falsely claimed that Sterling would cash out investors at airports around the country following a dinar “revaluation.” The defendants also paid substantial sums of money to third parties who in turn spread false information about the dinar on conference calls and Internet chat rooms.

Tyson Rhame, 53, and James Shaw, 55, both of Atlanta, Georgia, and Frank Bell, 55, of Decatur, Georgia, were convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and multiple mail and wire fraud counts. Rhame and Bell were also convicted of making false statements to federal agents regarding Sterling’s operations. The jury acquitted the defendants of money laundering charges. A fourth defendant, Terrence Keller, was acquitted of all charges at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas J. Krepp, Alison B. Prout, and Kamal Ghali, Deputy Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crime Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly K. Connors and Dahil D. Goss are handling the parallel civil forfeiture actions related to this case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov(link sends e-mail) or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/owners-currency-exchange-business-made-600-million-convicted-fraud

https://www.dinardaily.net/t76884-from-the-doj-owners-of-currency-exchange-business-that-made-600-million-convicted-of-fraud

by **Jayzze** Sun Apr 26, 2020 1:00 pm

it is hard to keep track of the numbers since they are always changing there names. also besides the ones that sell currency what about the gurus that gather their sheep and sell all kinds of products and get a piece of the actions based on how much they sell

by **az-tex** Sun Apr 26, 2020 1:08 pm

Thanks for the reply.

That really doesn't answer my question, though...

" Did anyone else get one? "

It appears that Ty and Frank are trying to use "they did it too" as justification for ripping off folks, and now they are asking their previous customers, of which I am one, for help in justifying their actions... I also find it curious as to the timing...

by **RamblerNash** Sun Apr 26, 2020 4:09 pm

That information has been going around the "other places" for a few days now, so yes...others have got that email.

Banks were exchanging Dinar in the early 2010's, but have stopped for quite awhile now.

I think your spot on with your assessment, but the banks didn't advertise it as an investment.

They also didn't pay promoters like TerryK or put ads on websites and forums...

by **az-tex** Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:08 pm

Thank you.

by **Ponee** Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:28 pm

AZ-Tex, So good to see you, friend ! I personally did not get that email, because I purchased from another dealer, but I know of several people that did get the same letter. Yes, it appears the are looking for support in getting out of this court case as innocent.

by **az-tex** Mon Apr 27, 2020 7:38 am

Thank you very much for the reply Ponee... I do "lurk" from time to time in this AWESOME forum, but rarely post. I was just curious about the email that I received from sterling and if it was legit and if others had received it too...

Can't be too careful out there with all these "guru" scammers and their minions who enable them (dinar dealers)... LOL A Question for You 3508649203