STrib: Kevin Garnett's suit alleges accountant helped wealth manager steal $77MM

BleedGopher

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per STrib:

Former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett, once the NBA’s top-paid player, claims in a lawsuit that an accountant and his firm helped a now-imprisoned wealth manager steal $77 million from him.

The federal malpractice lawsuit alleges that Kentucky-based accountant Michael Wertheim and Welenken CPAs knowingly helped Charles A. Banks IV to defraud Garnett over several years through business ventures in which Garnett and Banks shared an interest.

Wertheim “possessed actual knowledge that Banks was helping himself to millions of dollars of Garnett’s money and did nothing about it,” according to the suit, which was moved Wednesday from Hennepin County District Court to U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

“Banks intentionally … looted Garnett of his earnings and assets for many years, including the many years that Welenken and Wertheim provided accounting services to Garnett and his business interests.”

Defense attorney Greg Simpson said his clients “intend to vigorously defend themselves against the allegations, deny any wrongdoing and believe the suit lacks merit. They will be moving to dismiss it at an early stage.”

Garnett’s attorney, Mark Gaughan, would only say that “based upon the facts, we are confident this matter ultimately will be resolved in Mr. Garnett’s favor.”

http://www.startribune.com/kevin-ga...ager-steal-77m-of-nba-star-s-money/492628571/

Howl Wolves!!
 

Putting this into context: Garnett, when he retired, was the all-time record-holder for highest career earnings by an NBA player - $326 million. Now, agents, taxes etc take a cut of that. But still, he is one of the few people who could get bilked out of $77 million - and still be in decent financial shape.

Except for the kicker - he and his wife have split and she's filing for divorce. There was a pre-nup, but the ex has said she wants to file in California - not in MN - presumably to try and get more in the settlement. So KG might need that $77 million back.
 




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