Despite the lawsuits flying back and forth between Wilhelmina and Trans Continental, Dieter Esch and Louis J. Pearlman remain joined in their commitment to save their own hides and the hides of anyone who can help them. Dieter Esch fired Ray Lata and Deidre Kilmartin from Wilhelmina because they got them into the Defrawy scam with Cortes, the financial architects of this scheme. Meanwhile, Pearlman sued those involved in screwing up so badly by not keeping out of the media.

Lou admits that their criminal background made no difference to him if they bring in the bucks. What he cares about is the negative press. That is when he had to take action. What thinking people in the press should be asking is why Pearlman is not suing those people involved closely in the scam or were officers in the company like the following: Mohamed Hadid, Rafiah Kashmiri, Cortes Randell, Neil Eric Mauskapf, Anthony Ruben, Michael Zwebner, Roger Serrero, Geoffrey Button, Tom Weinard, Paul Glover, Richard Walk, Jeremy Schuster, Herbert Becker. Many of these people got paid hefty severance packages to keep their mouth shut. How ethical is that?

In fact, Pearlman should sue Jeffrey Kranzdorf who should have advised him properly as to what he was getting into. They didn't exercise due diligence before the deal was signed and therefore were negligent. They all knew, that is the bottom line. Further, they all discussed how to get out of this when they made tons of money. Pearlman was going to rescind the deal all along! Why should Pearlman prosper from his involvement in the conspiracy.

In addition to Trans Continental connection to the Wilhelmina scam, they are also linked to Talent Network, which is linking a bunch of former Wilhelmina Scouting Network franchises, such as Blue Moon Modeling, which were the franchises owned by John Esposito and Alexandra Latuk. Esposito has ties to organized crime in Connecticut and Rhode Island and the operations which run illegal liquor. This operation funds the corruption of judges and lawyers in that area.

Here is another interesting tidbit...
This was on TCT site for all of about 10 minutes

'Louis J. Pearlman Rescinds Deal With Model Scouting Company Move Follows $100 Million Lawsuit Against Former Associates
ORLANDO, October 31, 2003 -- Pop music impresario Louis J. Pearlman announced today that he has formally rescinded the Agreement under which he had gained control of Options Talent Group, and that he has taken back the name of his company, Trans Continental. This move follows the lawsuit he filed against former associates of the model scouting company in which one of his companies acquired a stake last year.

Pearlman decided to formally rescind the merger agreement with Options Talent Group because he felt that he had been duped by certain individuals into getting involved with the company and allowing it to use the Trans Continental name. Pearlman first became acquainted with Options when his company hired a number of its models for a music video he was producing over a year ago.

Pearlman's decision to cancel the transaction follows his filing of a lawsuit on October 10, 2003 in the Circuit Court of Orange County, Florida against several individuals who acted on behalf of and as representatives of Options Talent Group in connection with the now-unwound stock acquisition.

The lawsuit alleges that certain of Options' franchisees, founders and consultants engaged in, among other things, deceptive and unfair business practices, trademark infringement, and defamation causing damages to Pearlman of at least $100 million. Pearlman lent his corporate identity, 'Trans Continental,' to Options and entered into agreements under which he lent the company several million dollars.

'We are now out of the scouting business, a practice I never advocated or approved of,' said Pearlman. 'I believed that lending my creative touch and business leadership to Options would have taken that company to the next level,' said Pearlman. 'Unfortunately, some of the people who were involved in that business deliberately disregarded the policies we instituted and were intentionally, maliciously and knowingly less than candid with me and my representatives before I put millions of dollars in it and allowed it to use the Trans Continental name, one which has been associated with phenomenal success over the past decade.

'Although we have rescinded the agreement with the model scouting company, I remain firmly committed to the concept of a web-based talent database, and believe in the value of the Internet and other emerging technologies as a means of promoting new and dynamic talent in the areas of music and acting as well as modeling,' said Pearlman. 'We shall do everything that we can to maintain our commitment to the existing models, musicians and actors who have shown faith in us by posting their profiles on the web database.'

Sparticus
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.

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