A US Businessman at the Center of a $500 Million Soccer Empire Scandal
Josh Wander, a co-founder of Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners, has been indicted on charges of financial wrongdoing in a scheme that allegedly bilked private lenders and investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars. According to federal prosecutors, Wander used his company to make material misrepresentations about its financial condition, including falsifying bank statements.
The indictment, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, accuses Wander of wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit those crimes. It is the latest in a series of high-profile cases targeting investors who have taken stakes in multiple soccer clubs across Europe and South America as part of a trend known as "multi-club ownership."
Wander's firm had invested heavily in several European soccer clubs, including Hertha Berlin, Genoa, Standard Liege, and Vasco da Gama. However, those investments have struggled under its ownership, leading to scrutiny from investors, regulatory bodies, and even rival investors.
The 777 story has become a cautionary tale for the global soccer industry, with UEFA identifying "multi-club ownership" as a threat to game integrity and the multi-billion-dollar player trading market.
Another high-ranking executive at 777 Partners, Damien Alfalla, is cooperating with authorities and has made a guilty plea in connection with the scheme. Steven Pasko, another 777 executive, is also being targeted by regulators in a civil law court filing.
As investigators continue to dig into the scandal, Jay Clayton, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, warned that "the women and men of the SDNY and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to protect our investors and our markets." The fallout from this case could have far-reaching consequences for the soccer industry and its business practices.
Josh Wander, a co-founder of Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners, has been indicted on charges of financial wrongdoing in a scheme that allegedly bilked private lenders and investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars. According to federal prosecutors, Wander used his company to make material misrepresentations about its financial condition, including falsifying bank statements.
The indictment, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, accuses Wander of wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit those crimes. It is the latest in a series of high-profile cases targeting investors who have taken stakes in multiple soccer clubs across Europe and South America as part of a trend known as "multi-club ownership."
Wander's firm had invested heavily in several European soccer clubs, including Hertha Berlin, Genoa, Standard Liege, and Vasco da Gama. However, those investments have struggled under its ownership, leading to scrutiny from investors, regulatory bodies, and even rival investors.
The 777 story has become a cautionary tale for the global soccer industry, with UEFA identifying "multi-club ownership" as a threat to game integrity and the multi-billion-dollar player trading market.
Another high-ranking executive at 777 Partners, Damien Alfalla, is cooperating with authorities and has made a guilty plea in connection with the scheme. Steven Pasko, another 777 executive, is also being targeted by regulators in a civil law court filing.
As investigators continue to dig into the scandal, Jay Clayton, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, warned that "the women and men of the SDNY and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to protect our investors and our markets." The fallout from this case could have far-reaching consequences for the soccer industry and its business practices.