Jackson Jambalaya

Property developer Steve Bryan apparently tried to pull a switcharoo on the Reservoir area. Mr. Bryan bought the site where Rapids on the Reservoir was once located and announced he was going to construct Mandalay, a new Xanadu for the Rez where dreams would be made and fantasies realized, a King Edward of sorts by the water. The Mississippi Business Journal reported last year:

"The Bryan Company plans to use the site for Mandalay, a $35-million condominium development. In addition to the 360-unit complex consisting of four-story structures served by elevators, amenities will include a lake, fitness center, jogging track, tennis courts and business center. It is also envisioned as mixed-use, with room for office space, shops and eateries..." Article

Unfortunately for those living around the Reservoir, Mr. Bryan is attempting to replace his pie in the sky project with rental apartments funded by HUD. Nearby homeowners are not too happy about it as they packed a meeting held on the proposed project this week. WLBT reported "The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District sent the Federation of Reservoir Homeowners information stating the condos would now be a 362 multi-family rental property." Over 300 people showed up to protest Bryan's HUD project as its no secret that apartment complexes tend to bring more crime to an area.

Apparently Mr. Bryan has seen some other controversy in 2009. The Shreveport Times reported yesterday:
"Two Shreveport apartment complexes must pay to make themselves accessible to disabled people as part of the settlement of a federal anti-discrimination lawsuit.
Island Park Apartments and Reflections at Island Park, both off Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway, are among 11 multifamily housing complexes in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Tennessee named in the petition settled recently with the U.S. Justice Department....
And Steve Bryan and Bryan Construction Co. must pay a civil penalty of $12,000 to vindicate the public interest, according to the settlement..." Article

Mr. Bryan's recent troubles do not end in Shreveport. Compass Bank filed suit on August 27, 2009 against Mr. Bryan in federal court. Compass claimed it loaned Mr. Bryan $11,437,500 on December 19, 2007, to construct a 120-unit apartment complex in Lafayette, La. Compass claims the defendants owe $12,226,368 and are in default. Compass sought permission from the Court to seize the apartment complex. Copy of lawsuit. The Court agreed with Compass and issued a writ the next day seizing the apartment complex from Mr. Bryan. Copy of writ. No response or answer has yet been filed by Mr. Bryan.

Treuhold Capital Group also filed suit against Mr. Bryan on June 24, 2009 in Baldwin County, Alabama, seeking a judgment of $3,317,130 against the Mississippi developer. Treuhold claims First Gulf Bank loaned Mr. Bryan $3,575,000 on September 26, 2005. The lawsuit states Mr. Bryan defaulted on the note and Truehold foreclosed on the property, a planned-unit development in Sunset Bay, Baldwin County. Truehold was the highest bidder at $541,500 on the property and took possession. The plaintiff sought redress from Bryan for the balance listed above. Copy of suit. Mr. Bryan had the suit removed to federal court. Bryan filed an answer in August in which he admitted to most of the allegations, including the foreclosure. The two sides apparently settled the case as they filed a motion to dismiss without prejudice and the Court granted the motion on August 27, 2009.

See sidebar on right for collection of all posts on the Evans case.

Amy McCullough at the Mississippi Business Journal reported new details about the Evans case in this morning's online edition. She beat me to it and delves into one of the basic details of how this alleged scheme worked: the bogus deeds issued on tracts of property. She reports:

"Public records show that Chris Evans’ company Old Agency Business Park Inc. purchased a 24-acre property on Highland Colony Parkway in Madison in 2003. Chris Evans had a local surveyor write legal descriptions dividing the 24-acre parcel into 11 separate tracts. Through various limited liability companies he owned, Chris Evans obtained commercial loans from Mississippi banks on each of the 11 smaller parcels. The title for the land, however, remained vested in Old Agency and was never conveyed to any of the other entities through which loans were obtained. This particular property has more than 30 mortgages recorded against it, the majority of which are held by entities that do not own title to the land. Many banks have filed lawsuits asking the court to transfer title to the Evans’ entities that borrowed money from them.

Developers customarily file a plat in the Chancery Clerk’s Office. A plat is a map dividing a larger tract of land into smaller, numbered lots so the lots may be easily identified for future reference in loan transactions.

Plats were not filed for the Evans’ Highland Colony Parkway property, and legal descriptions for the parcels were lengthy and convoluted, making title examination and the alleged fraud difficult to detect.

The parcels were described utilizing the metes and bounds system, which uses physical features of geography, along with directions and distances, to define boundaries. The boundaries are described in a running prose style, working around the parcel of the land in sequence, starting at and returning to the point of origin...." Article

JJ can also confirm Chris Evans is in Jackson. Stay tuned for more details.

Santelli and Liesman get into it.

See Evans sidebar for a collection of all posts on the Evans case.

Chris Evans filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on October 27, 2009. The filing took place a day before a hearing in Madison County Chancery Court took place to decide whether to freeze his assets. Mr. Evans stated he had less than 100 creditors, less than $50,000 in assets. and less than $10 million in liabilities.

The petition protected Evans to some degree from Mississippi Valley Title's lawsuit accusing him of defrauding many banks and insurance companies filed in September. Federal bankruptcy law stays most state civil proceedings against one in bankruptcy as they are considered a potential claim and thus subject to the Bankruptcy Court's jurisdiction. Copy of bankruptcy petition

The amended creditor list includes banks primarily from Mississippi and Texas. The banks immediately starting filing notices of appearance with the Court after Evans filed his petition. The following banks and their attorneys filed such notices:
Les Alvis, Bancorp South, 10/28/09
Kristina Johnson of Watkins Ludlam; Bank of Forest, First State Bank, Holmes County Bank, 10/27/09
Patrick McAllister, Williford, McAllister, & Jacobus, Community Bank, 10/28/09
William Leech, Danny Ruhl, Robert Richardson of Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, Madison County Bank, 10/29/09
Scott Jones, Adams & Reece, Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company & Old Republic Insurance Company, 10/30/09
Jeff Rawlings, Rawlings & McInnis, Merchants & Farmers Bank, 10/27/09
Kathy Smith of Corlew, Munford, & Smith, Britton & Koontz Bank 11/9/09
Joe Joseph, Bess Parish, Bank of America 11/9/09

However, the banks didn't just stop with filing their lil ole notices but also asked them to let them start sending the repo man out to get their land. Several filed motions to lift the automatic stay on specific properties or other assets so they could take possession of them.

Bankfirst is one such creditor. Its motion stated: "3. Bankfirst is a secured creditor of the Debtor pursuant to the following instruments" The bank then describes the details regarding a mortgage issued on a property owned by Chris Evans and claims Evans gave it a $100,000 CD as a security interest which the bank still holds. The bank states Evans owes it more than the amount of the CD and seeks to liquidate the CD. Copy of motion. Community Bank's motion claims Evans is in arrears for nearly six thousand dollars on a note for $166,000 and that it should be allowed to take possession of the property. The motion filed by Merchants & Planters Bank similar in nature to the one filed by Community Bank and seeks possession of a property on which the bank issued a lien to Chris Evans.

Mississippi Valley Title also filed a Motion from Relief from the Automatic Stay on November 6, 2009. MVT asked the Court to allow it to pursue its fraud lawsuit against Mr. Evans in state court up to the "entry of the judgement". The motion accuses Charles Evans, Jr. of providing it with "false title certificates" and that the Evans-owned entity never had title to the land on which the mortgage was issued by the bank involved in each transaction. Copy of motion MVT has also filed a motion to allow two attorney from Alabama to appear as counsel for Mississippi Valley Title.

If Chris Evans sought refuge in bankruptcy it is clear the banks and insurance companies he allegedly defrauded are determined to fight him in that venue. Its not too surprising as the banks realize (and several told me they didn't know the scope of this case until this website provided an itemized list of the loans provided to the Evans brothers) how big this case really is and are now aggressively moving to protect their interests and seek some form of justice from the Evans brothers.

Copy of list of creditors

Who do you think should succeed Mac as Sheriff?

Veteran and his experience on the Bataan Death March.

Since it's Veterans Day, I'm going to post this recent thread from Tigerdroppings.com where someone asked other members to share their family war stories. You can read them here.

Want to read something funny? This lawsuit by Nationwide Insurance has some pretty funny details.

It was a close vote and Shapleys led the way, but Tico's won the JJ poll for best steak in Jackson by five votes. I voted for Tico's as I love the way they cook their steaks. The creamed spinach is very good as well and if you want a mean dessert, order the Amaretto Freeze. Closest thing to a White Swan we have in Jackson. Congrats to Tico's.

Correction: The post did not mention that in 1992, a convict was eligibile for parole after ten years of serving a life sentence, even for murder.   The prosecutor could not get a tougher sentence under the law. 

One of the killers of Brad Dew, the Millsaps student murdered in 1991, was paroled nearly a year ago. The Mississippi Parole Board released Cedric Morris on December 8, 2008. Morris was convicted of Homicide/Murder and sentenced to life. Unfortunately for the Dew family, life did not mean life in Mississippi back then and Phillips became eligible for parole after only ten years.

Tried Google's Chrome last night. Damn this thing is fast. I mean reaaaal fast.

This is Reagan's entire speech in front of the Berlin Wall. Enjoy.

See sidebar at right for a collection of all posts on the Evans case.

The Evans case: it just seems to keep growing and growing. In addition to all of the deals uncovered in Hinds, Desoto, Harrison, Collin and Denton counties, there is yet another suspicious series of deals similar to those already discovered in the Evans case.

Belvoir Investments is a Texas LLC. It apparently owned property in Collin County, Texas and obtained several commercial real estate loans. It issued a Deed of Trust to Trike Investors, L.P. on December 21, 2005 for a $2,951,675 loan. The loan was later paid off and released. Deed of trust Belvoir then conveyed several deeds to Evans company Highland Colony Group LLC (to obtain a list of all transactions, enter "Belvoir Investments" on the Collin county land records website).

Belvoir was also busy as a bee in Denton County, Texas. Belvoir transferred a deed for some property to Highland Colony Group on October 21, 2005. Belvoir purchased the land on September 16, 2009. Naturally Belvoir went out and borrowed money in typical Evans fashion from a bank favored by the Evans brothers: Bankfirst Financial Services in Madison, Ms. Bankfirst issued a $750,000 mortgage to Belvoir on September 16, 2005. Belvoir then conveyed several more deeds to property to Highland Colony later that year. Since the Evans brothers never saw a loan they didn't like, they borrowed more money through Belvoir. The Trike loan mentioned earlier was for two properties, one in Collin, one in Denton. Bankfirst was ready and willing and gave Belvoir another loan for $620,400 on December 16, 2005. However, both loans were paid off by Belvoir. For once, an Evans-related company actually paid off its obligations in full.

Evans-related? Kingfish, what do you mean? Well, according to the Texas Secretary of State's office, Belvoir Investments, the company is an LLC that began operations on September 6, 2005. Lynne Knight, the same Lynne Knight that was the subject of this post inquiring if her signature was forged last week, is listed as the registered agent. The Articles of Incorporation lists her as the only member. Copy of articles The company was dissolved by the state nearly two years later. However, here are several Belvoir documents signed by a Lynne Knight:














Compare the signatures to those in the documents provided in the earlier post. Ms. Knight worked for the Evans brothers at one of their companies, Gulf States Directory. Although she was a registered agent for a several of their companies, her signature does not appear to match several documents signed to obtain loans. The address listed for her on one company in Mississippi is a property in Jackson, 1542 Brecon, owned by Chris Evans.

So the question must be asked: was Ms. Knight an expert who put multi-million dollar real estate deals together or were the apparent non-matching signatures signed by someone else?

The Hannities and other conservative pundits should read this column in The American Thinker written by Rosslyn Smith about the Democrats' win in the NY-23 congressional race. While moderates and conservatives have used the election as ammunition in their battle for the soul of the Republican party, she makes the case that well, Hoffman was a bad candidate and voters weren't really thinking about Obama when they went to the voting booth:

"There is an old saw in the art world that while critics love to talk about sweeping trends, when artists get together they usually talk about where one can find the best price on canvas and brushes. The same holds true in politics. Most media pundits and bloggers tend to concentrate on the grand ideologies and dismiss the skill sets needed to win elections including things as basic as being more likable than one's opponent. Then they are either disappointed by election results or read too much into them.

Successful politicians know that with the right skills, a candidate can paint over many ideological differences -- at least long enough to win an election. What seems to be lost in much of the major analysis of Tuesday's results by the chattering class about the overall meaning of the results in NY 23 is that Doug Hoffman has few political skills. When I read some of the comments, my conclusion is that dislike for both the current administration and members of the Washington Republican establishment has caused many people who should know better to lose perspective about the quality of their allies....."

This article cited by Ms. Smith reports how Mr. Hoffman wasn't familiar with local issues and while focusing on ideology, was rather "clueless" on providing details or solutions. Kind of like when Harvey Johnson was an encyclopedia of facts in his debates with Marshand Crisler while Crisler talked about being shot on duty as a cop and serving in Iraq.

Baton Rouge elected its first black mayor, Kip Holden, a few years ago. Holden didn't win because of changing demographics in the city or because there was some huge backlash against Bush. He won because he focused on local issues while the Republican incumbent Bobby Simpson talked about abortion and gun rights, thinking an appeal to Republican core issues would overcome a lousy performance. Simpson blew off the business community. He angered residents by approving a Walmart for College Drive, a traffic nightmare before the store was built. Surprisingly enough, there were more voters who cared about streets and crime than fights over guns and babies in Washington.

While everyone spins the race to fit their agenda, perhaps they should look at the actual candidates themselves as well as the district, not just the parties involved. One more piece of advice for the Republican party: next time run an actual primary instead of letting local party leaders annoint a Republican candidate. A breath of freedom is never a bad thing.

Vote for your choice. Sn1, Sn2, E1, E2, EAS.

Shaun Patterson at 7:30, then at 10:00.......................









Website for show

Here is what several millions of dollars in commercial real estate loans issued to Chris Evans went for in Desoto County on Goodman road. Loans were issued several years ago and yet there doesn't seem to be any development, does there? Shots are from the SW corner and the West side.

The Mississippi Business Journal published a good article on the Evans case this morning. Amy McCullough reports:
"A Madison title insurance company is accusing two brothers of committing mortgage fraud and coercing the title company into issuing fraudulent title insurance policies in Madison County and elsewhere in the state. Mississippi Valley Title (MVT) alleges brothers Charles H. Evans Jr. and Jon C. (Chris) Evans committed mortgage fraud on banks and induced MVT to issue fraudulent title insurance policies.....
The claim was part of a lawsuit filed Sept. 18 in Madison County Chancery Court that named the Evans brothers, The Evans Firm and 28 companies the brothers owned or controlled as defendants. The complaint for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction said Chris Evans is a Rankin County resident and Charles Evans is a Madison County resident..." Article

The story accurately reports the nuts and bolts of the lawsuit and obtains a statement from Mike Chaney's office. While the story is thin on quotes, it is understandable as on this case no one wants to go on the record. That means all the bankers, their lawyers, the insurance companies, and even non-involved professionals such as abstractors and real estate attorneys who fear blackballing by the banks and title insurance companies. The story also give this site a little bit of credit as well. ;-)

Sources inform JJ the MBJ will continue to pursue this story and my hat is off to them for living up to their responsibility as journalists, something other reporters in Mississippi have abdicated. The AP should pick up this story as well as they supposedly have an agreement with the MBJ. Nice job to Ms. McCullough and the Mississsippi Business Journal.



Now that we've sung Kumbaya, I'm about to put them a lap down. Nothing like two defensive ends having a race to the quarterback.

Let the divorces begin. The wife of Charles Evans, Jr. filed for divorce in Madison County Chancery Court two days ago, citing irreconcilable differences.

Since the Evans case will continue on several fronts for quite a while, I've created a section on the right side of the page that contains all of the posts pertaining to this subject. Hope it helps. Got another one going up tomorrow. Stay tuned. ;-)

Note: This was a great comment made yesterday about the banks issuing loans to a non-existent company:
TO 1:58 ANONYMOUS... Loan made to an entity that did not exist, that more than likely is on tract of land owned by a corporation/llc that did not exist. And NOW we have alleged forged signatures like a cherry sitting on top. No doubt there was a loan made but bank might as well have piled up cash for the face amount of the loans in the center of their lobby and set the pile on fire. As far as if those loans are covered by title insurance now or not, that's hilarious.

November 3, 2009 2:12 PM

Israel caught Iran pulling the same stunt in 2002 when it boarded a ship traveling from Iran to Egypt carrying 50 tons of arms meant for Gaza.


Meanwhile, Obama tells Iran's democrats the U.S. "seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. We do not interfere in Iran's internal affairs." (In other words, drop dead.) article An op-ed in the Wall Street Journal has some rather strong things to say about Obama's moral cowardice.

Request for extension to file answer in the wrongful death suit was filed yesterday in Hinds County Circuit Court. Nothing new has taken place in the prosecution in same court nor in the probate action for Dr. Pogue's estate in Rankin County Chancery Court. Earlier post on wrongful death suit

Crime statistics for Jackson during the week of October 26 to November 1, 2009.

While Mississippi Valley Title and Old Republic's fraud lawsuit against attorney Charles Evans, Jr., and Chris Evans rages in the Madison County Chancery Court, many banks are filing suit in Madison and Desoto Counties seeking title to properties on which they issued mortgages averaging $620,000 per loan.

The typical lawsuit is where the bank sues a company owned or controlled by Chris or Charles Evans. In the suit, the bank requests the court give it first lien on the property and if the property is in the name of another Evans company, it also asks the court to transfer the deed to the company that gave it a lien on the property at issue. This lawsuit filed by Cadence Bank is an example of these suits. Here are the other suits:

Merchants & Farmers v. Hanover Investments and Town Park of Madison 9/11/09
First Bank (McComb) v. Madison County Bank, C E Development, and Old Agency Business Park 10/30/09
Bank of Forest v. Hanover Investments 9/16/09 Several Texas banks were subpoenaed in this action. Bankfirst and Merchants & Farmers filed motions to intervene.
Bancorp South v. Old Agency Business Park, Parkway Crossing, and Community Bank 11/3/09. What is interesting is Parkway Crossing was formerly Sleep Inn Airport. Could this be a phony company?
State Bank & Trust v. Madison Avenue Development, JCE Construction, 463 Development Co. 10/2/09
Regions v. Ridgeland Recreational 9/25/09
Omni Bank v. Highland Development Group and Madison Avenue Development 10/2/09
Community Bank v. First Bank, Bank of McComb, CE Development, 463 Development 10/28/09
Community Bank v. Old Agency Business Park, Madison Avenue Development 9/11/09

Desoto County (Copy of first page of each lawsuit):
Patriot Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Cedar Lake Investors 9/18/09
Renasant Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Twin City Commons 9/18/09
Wachovia v. Woodgreen Development, Highland of Ridgeland 9/18/09
Trustone Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Cedar Lake Investors 9/18/09
First Alliance Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Snowden Grove Investors 9/18/09
First State Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Cedar Lake Investors 9/18/09
First Security Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Brashear Heath 9/18/09
Bankplus v. Woodgreen Development, Colony Construction 9/18/09
First Trust Bank v. Woodgreen Development, Snowden Grove 9/18/09

Synopsis: Charles Evans, Jr. was an "approved attorney" for Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company, a division of Old Republic Title Insurance. MVT would issue title insurance policies based on his certifying the borrower had clear title to the property that was the subject of the loan. His brother, Jon Chris Evans, set up nearly 30 LLC's. Chris Evans purchased several pieces of prime commercial real estate in the suburbs of Jackson, Memphis, and Dallas (Madison, Desoto, Collin, and Denton Counties). Chris Evans then obtained large commercial real estate mortgages through each LLC. The loans averaged $624,000 in Mississippi and over $1 million in Texas. Over 30 banks gave Evans nearly 100 loans.

MVT filed a lawsuit in September, alleging massive fraud took place. MVT claims Charles committed fraud and that multiple banks issued loans for each property in Mississippi; the results was only one bank had valid title to property and the rest did not have title for the money they loaned to Evans. A preliminary injunction against Charles Evans was granted by the Chancellor. Chris Evans filed bankruptcy last week, which stayed all civil court proceedings against him. MVT's investigator admitted in open court the FBI contacted him. Meamwhile in Texas, nearly half of the loans issued to Chris Evans are in foreclosure proceedings. MVT's attorney called this the "biggest fraud to hit Mississippi since Worldcomm."


Related Posts:
Phony signatures & Loans to a non-existent company?
Over $74 million in loans issued in Mississippi & Texas
FBI contacted MVT, MVT lawyer calls Evans case "Biggest fraud to hit Mississippi since Worldcomm
Nearly $42 million in loans issued to Evans' brothers in Madison County (Itemized list)
Tempest in a teapot or record-breaking fraud?
Banks issued nearly $10 million to Evans brothers in Desoto County
Evans case update on court filings

JJ readers think Ricky Williams is the biggest bust the Saints ever drafted. Although I will disagree and say it is Sullivan who did nothing but eat his way out of the league from the moment he was drafted, Ricky was the overwhelming choice. If I were to rank them, I would say Sullivan, Knight, Erxleben, Williams, Turnbull, Chandler, and Bush. I think Bush gets a little bit of a bum rap because he is probably the best blocker in the Saints backfield and doesn't mind laying the wood to someone but it doesn't show up in the stats.

If in Firefox and no video appears, switch to IE.

Lynne Knight was listed as either a registered agent or Manager of several LLC's owned by Chris Evans. Ms. Knight has sent a letter to the Mississippi Secretary of State requesting her name be removed as an agent for Highland Colony Investments. Copy of request.

What is interesting is if you examine her signature for all the documents above related to Mississippi companies (bottom two rows) and compare them to the signatures on documents in the top row, you will notice they don't exactly appear to be identical. The documents on the top row are a deed of trust for a loan given to Riverbend Group LLC in Texas by Swisher for over SIX MILLION dollars. The next document is an extension of the loans. Unfortunately for Swisher, the loan is currently in foreclosure proceedings.

There is no evidence Ms. Knight signed any loan documents in Mississippi and JJ has so far determined she was only a registered agent for several companies and didn't actually participate in any Evans activities or operations. Unfortunately for Ms. Knight, it appears someone else signed her name to loan documents over in Texas.

JJ's review of these documents uncovered another disturbing fact. One of the companies Ms. Knight was a registered agent for was Colony Developers, Inc. The company was dissoved in 2004. Everyone get that? 200-friggin-4. The Secretary of State's office confirmed the dissolution and when it occurred this morning in a phone call.

Despite the fact the company no longer existed, Merchants & Farmers Bank and Madison County Bank STILL granted it commercial real estate loans over four years AFTER the company dissolved. According to this Deed of Trust issued to Merchants & Farmers Bank by Colony Developers, Inc., M&F issued a loan to the then-dissolved company for $169,680 on July 3, 2008, over FOUR YEARS after the company was dissolved. Another Deed of Trust was issued for a $183,490 loan given to Colony Developers by Madison County Bank on March 6, 2009, FIVE YEARS after the company ceased to exist.

Did anyone at either of these two banks ever hear of the concept of due diligence? It is standard practice in mortgage lending to check out companies that apply for loans. The loan officer will perform such functions as checking credit, verifiying tax returns and bank statements, and then actually checking to see if the companies actually exist. The standard procedure for this is to.......drum roll....... call the Secretary of State's office or look up the company on its website. Underwriters will also check the phone book to see if there is a listing for the company and require a copy of a current business license. Although the banks probably required a personal guarantee from Mr. Evans, this is still sloppy underwriting and that is putting it mildly.

The Evans case continues to provide more surprises.


Related posts:
Over $74 million in loans issued in Mississippi & Texas
FBI contacted MVT, MVT lawyer calls Evans case "Biggest fraud to hit Mississippi since Worldcomm
Nearly $42 million in loans issued to Evans' brothers in Madison County (Itemized list)
Tempest in a teapot or record-breaking fraud?
Banks issued nearly $10 million to Evans brothers in Desoto County
Evans case update on court filings

FINALLY some media in Jackson covered the Evans case but....its Kent Dear & Larry Nesbitt on WJNT. ;-) If the player does not work, here is the link to the recording. Start at 19:30.

I've gotten to where I can't watch Fox Business whenever she is on the set. Given how hot she is, that should tell you how bad she is. Some good stuff here.

Evans Case-Related Posts:
FBI contacted MVT, MVT lawyer calls Evans case "Biggest fraud to hit Mississippi since Worldcomm
Nearly $42 million in loans issued to Evans' brothers in Madison County (Itemized list)
Tempest in a teapot or record-breaking fraud?
Banks issued nearly $10 million to Evans brothers in Desoto County
Evans case update on court filings


Mississippi was not the only playground for Jon Chris Evans as he operated in Texas as well. JJ has discovered companies owned or controlled by Chris Evans obtained approximately $27 million in commercial real estate loans in Collin and Denton counties and that several banks have already initiated foreclosure proceedings against them. A list of the companies, links to their incorporation documents, and an itemized list of commercial real estate mortgages issued to Evans is provided below.

Chris Evans established nine companies in Texas. Riverbend Group, an Evans' L.L.C., was the engine that powered his Texas dealings as it bought prime tracts of commercial real estate in Collins and Denton Counties. Riverbend then transferred the properties to other Evans companies that then obtained commercial real estate mortgages. JJ calculates Evans-owned companies obtained $26,927,538 in loans from 16 Texas banks and 1 Mississippi bank. Unfortunately for several banks, five loans worth $10,245,370 are now in foreclosure proceedings. The State of Texas also revoked several charters for Evans' companies as well. While there are no allegations of fraud involving Mr. Evans Texas operations, Mr. Evans filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy last week. Given the current allegations of fraud against Mr. Evans in the Madison County Chancery Court and legal actions taken against him, it is likely these banks will take a financial hit to some degree.

Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company and several banks have filed suit against Evans and his brother Charles, Jr. claiming fraud. A court granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction freezing all assets of Charles Jr. and ordered an accounting of all financial transactions and properties. Charles Evans, Jr. was an approved attorney for Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company and was authorized to certify real estate titles for the Mississippi corporate giant. His brother operated over 25 companies in Mississippi as well. His companies bought valuable tracts of commercial real estate in the suburbs of Memphis and Jackson. The plaintiffs accuse the two brothers of providing MVT and the banks with false titles in order to obtain large amounts of commercial real estate mortgages. JJ reviewed the deeds of trust and other documents associated with the defendants and determined they obtained over 80 loans worth $47 million from Mississippi banks (see above-linked posts).

It thus appears Chris Evans received over $74 million in loans from Mississippi and Texas banks. Once again, it is important to remember it is not known how many, if any loans, were obtained through fraudulent means. However, given that the Chancellor in Mississippi ruled the plaintifs are likely to win their case, Mr. Evans filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy recently, and Charles Evans, Jr.'s assets are supposedly frozen, it remains to be seen as to how severe the impact will be to Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company and 48 banks.

Itemized list of Texas Commercial Real Estate Loans to the Evans Brothers:

Total: $26,927,538
Number of loans: 19
Average loan amount: $1,417,239
Number of Texas banks: 16
Number of Mississippi banks: 1

Number of loans in foreclosure: 11
Total dollar amount of loans in foreclosure:$16,488,370

Independent Bank: $1,960,000 ($1,960,000 in foreclosure proceedings)
$960,000 on 10/22/08 to Greenwood Place, LLC. Renewal of note given to Signature bank on 4/16/06. Copy of deed of trust. Original deed of trust Substitution of Trustee (Foreclosure), Original note (Collin County)
$1,000,000 on 10/26/05 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County), Substitution of Trustee notice filed on 10/6/09, Sold on 11/3/09

Prosperity Bank: $930,000
$930,000 on 4/25/06 to Highland Colony Group, LLC. Copy of deed of trust (Collin County)

Inwood National Bank: $930,000 ($930,000 in foreclosure proceedings)
$930,000 on May 23,2006 to Highland Colony Group, LLC. Copy of deed of trust (Collin County); Substitution of Trustee on 10/9/09

American Bank of Texas: $3,215,000
$1,400,000 on 10/11/07 to Lake Harbor Development, LLC. Copy of deed of trust, Deed (Collin County) Substitution of Trustee
$923,000 on 7/2/09 to Paloma Ridge, LLC. (Denton County) Deed from Riverbend group to PR on same date, Substitution of Trustee Notice on 11/10/09
$892,000 on 10/11/05 to Highland Colony Group ( Denton County), Extension, Substitution of Trustee on 11/10/09

Swisher Partners, L.P.: $6,355,370 ($6,355,370 in foreclosure)
$6,355,370 on 7/26/09 to Riverbend Group, LLC; Substitution of Trustee, modification agreement (Collin County)

Northern Trust Bank of Texas: $900,000
$900,000 on 7/14/07 to Highland Colony Group, LLC; Deed of Trust (Collin County)

Plains Capital Bank: $611,000
$611,000 on 5/6/09 to Westfield Way, LLC (Denton County) deed from Riverbend group to Westfield Way on same date.

Benchmark Bank: $923,000
$923,000 on 6/18/09 to Oakmont Mill (Denton County) deed from Riverbend group to Oakmont Mill on the same date

Texoma: $1,168,000
$1,168,000 on 9/26/08 to Sawbridge Development (Denton County) Deed from Riverbend group to Sawbridge, Substitution of Trustee on 11/10/09

Bankfirst Financial Services (Mississippi bank): $4,187,668
$4,187,668 on 7/16/08 to Riverbend Group, LLC (Denton County)

Northern Dallas Bank & Trust: $880,000
$880,000 on 10/14/05 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County), Extension, Foreclosure sale on 11/3/09

Texas Star Bank: $980,000
$980,000 on 1/18/06 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County), Extended, Substitution of Trustee on 11/12/09

Bank of Texas: $960,000
$960,000 on 1/25/06 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County), Extended

Dallas City Bank: $1,000,000 ($1,000,000 in foreclosure)
$1,000,000 on 2/14/06 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County), Extended, Substitution of Trustee Notice filed on 10/26/09

Sovereign Bank: $997,500
$997,500 on 3/09/06 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County), Extended

Gateway National Bank: $930,000
$930,000 on 5/04/06 to Highland Colony Group (Denton County)

List of Texas L.L.C.'s operated by Jon C. (Chris) Evans
Riverbend Certificate of Formation
Highland Colony Group Articles of Inc.
Lake Harbor Articles of Inc., Termination by Texas
Sawbridge Development Articles of Inc.
Westfield Way Articles of Inc.
Oakmont Mill Articles of Inc.
Paloma Ridge Articles of Inc.
Bristol Mark Articles of Inc.
Clairborne Crossing Articles of Inc., Involuntary Termination by State

I *%@#'in love it. Shows what happens when you put up a WWII vet over 80 years old against a bunch of pin-stripe pansies on Wall Street and in the government. After kicking Spitzer's ass and whipping AIG in court, Hank Greenberg has had enough and is starting up his own company that closely resembles AIG. Unfortunately for AIG, he is raiding the company for major talent and the government just gave him a big boost by capping salaries, which don't apply to him.

The New York Times reports:
"Even as he has been lambasting the government for its handling of A.I.G. after its near collapse, Mr. Greenberg has been quietly building up a family of insurance companies that could compete with A.I.G. To fill the ranks of his venture, C.V. Starr & Company, he has been hiring some people he once employed.
Now, Mr. Greenberg may have received some unintended assistance from the United States Treasury. Just last week, the Treasury severely limited pay at A.I.G. and other companies that were bailed out by taxpayers. That may hasten the exodus of A.I.G.’s talent, sending more refugees into Mr. Greenberg’s arms, since C. V. Starr is free to pay whatever it wants.....
While America generally loves stories of entrepreneurs making a comeback, Mr. Greenberg’s success may be at the expense of taxpayers. People who work in the industry say that if he is already luring A.I.G.’s people, he may soon be siphoning off its business and, therefore, its means to repay its debt to the government." (Watch out, capitalism will now be called unpatriotic.) Article

Looks like Obama backstabbed Iranians seeking freedom. An op-ed in the Wall Street Journal states:
"The Boston Globe reported this month that the Connecticut-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center recently lost its State Department funding. The Center—a nonpartisan group that documents Iran's human-rights abuses—had received $3 million over the past five years. It will shut down in May, said Executive Director Renee Redman, unless private donors save it. Boston Globe article
Less widely known is that Freedom House, the nonpartisan watchdog group founded in 1941, also lost State Department funding. It applied in April for significant funds to support initiatives including Gozaar, its Farsi-English online journal of democracy and human rights, and was turned down in July. Since 2006, Freedom House had received over $2 million from the U.S. and European governments for Iran-related efforts. "We might have to close Gozaar if we run out of money," deputy executive director Thomas O. Melia told us this week.
Then there's the International Republican Institute (IRI), which for several years received State Department support to train Iranian reformers and connect them to like-minded activists in Europe and elsewhere. IRI's recent application for funds was denied, an IRI official told us last week...." Column

The op-ed accuses the Obama administration of betraying Iran's Democrats so it can make a "deal" with the Mullahs on nukes. Such tactics bring to mind Ford's snubbing of Soltzinytsin over 30 years ago because he didn't want to embarrass the Reds or Kissinger defending Tianamen Square. Unfortunately for those in Iran, Obama has taught them that freedom is a lonely crusade and those fighting for it all too often can expect to have no friends in their fight.

Looks like Prep, St. Andrews, and JA are the leading high schools among JJ readers.

Latest crime stats for Jackson: week of October 18-25.