Lord Conrad Black Reported to an Orlando Jail on March 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Black

Black was convicted in United States federal court on July 13, 2007 on multiple counts of fraud and sentenced December 10, 2007 to serve 78 months in federal prison, pay back $6.1 million as well as pay a U.S. $125,000 fine. “[Black] was found guilty of taking money owed to investors in the form of ‘non-compete’ payments originating from the sale of newspaper titles.”[2] [3]
He has announced an appeal. He reported to FCI Coleman Low, a low-security U.S. federal prison situated 50 miles north west of Orlando, Florida on the morning of March 3, 2008.[4]
His projected release date is in October 2013.

This story is complicated. Conrad Black was a Canadian who renounced his
Canadian citizenship so that he could become a Lord. British PM Tony Blair had
recommended Black to the Queen for this title. Add to this major investments in
Barbados (see below) and Bermuda. Then he is convicted in the US! Black is in FCI
Coleman Low, which is much nicer than a regular prison. (In the Wikipedia article, Black was reported as having control of Hollinger and Ravelston.)

Further, investigators hired by Hollinger companies have been examining more than forty bank accounts which may be, or may have been, held in the name of Black, his wife, or entities that appear to be affiliated with the couple. According to court filings, Ravelston Corp. also had a subsidiary in Barbados called Argent News Inc. and another in Bermuda called Sugra Bermuda Ltd.[25] A report by a special committee of the board of Hollinger International Inc. said Black co-owned two Barbados companies, Moffat Management Inc.
and Black-Amiel Management Inc., which both received millions of dollars in payments, the former allegedly owned by Black and his co-defendants, and the latter by Black, his wife and Boultbee.[26] If Black’s conviction is upheld on appeal, Hollinger is expected to seek repayment of the fees; in March, 2006, the company said in a regulatory filing that it had spent $61.9-million on legal fees for Black, Boultbee, Kipniss and Atkinson.[26]

 

No Amnesty for Legal Fees

In 2006, $61.9 million had already been spent on legal fees. Lord Black may have to repay this, but he can afford it.

Black was ranked 235th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2004, with an estimated wealth of £175m.

 

Impressive Resume - Lord - Member Privy Council - On Rich List

Lord Black was a Member of the Privy Council for Canada. Black associated with powerful leaders. He had the best defense money could buy, yet he was still sentenced.

Even without his Canadian citizenship, Black continues to enjoy the privileges of membership in the Queen’s
Privy Council for Canada, to which he was appointed by Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn, on the advice of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, in 1992, which includes the use of a special passport[1].

I wonder if Black will still be a member of the Privy Council after his sentencing. “The Honourable Conrad M. Black” is still listed on their site as a current member, but this may be outdated.

Lord Black Comments

Toronto Life, February 29, 2008, article

“It’s like back to boarding school, without, one dares to assume, the tedium and indignity of corporal punishment.” So said Lord Black in a recent missive to the Irish Independent, and so it shall be.

 

The Barbadian Connection - Is Anyone Involved Locally?

Telegraph Article,
By Tom Leonard, Last Updated: 12:37am GMT 12/12/2007

Money has apparently disappeared in Barbados offshore accounts. Are Barbadians involved? Civil suits are expected, will there be a Barbados investigation?

A committee of Hollinger directors reported three years ago that Black had diverted millions of its funds into the Cayman Islands and Barbados. Investigators say this has simply disappeared, presumably into hard-to-trace offshore accounts. But there has been speculation that Black retains about £50 million.

When there is this much money involved, investigators will be prepared to do the extra work. I imagine that they are searching in Barbados right now …