I’ve been tracing dirty money for more than 30 years.
Studying kleptocrats all over the world, distinct patterns emerge.
The thing about kleptocrats is that the moves and tricks they like to use each contain the
seeds of their own destruction.
They can get caught at every stage.
And those patterns are the basis of our new game, Kleptocrat: How to Hide Dirty Money.
In virtually every case, corrupt people took six separate steps to conceal their assets:
Take the money under the table; Create a financial structure to hide it;
Move the money into the structure; Network with family members to run the operation;
Cover up their tracks; And last, since it’s no fun for the money
to sit gathering dust, take the money out and enjoy it.
I know nothing about Paul Manafort or the allegations in the indictment against him.
I read the Manafort indictment, and lo and behold, the allegations match the six-step
pattern.
It says Manafort allegedly took $18 million secretly from Ukraine.
That’s step 1.
Step 2: Manafort allegedly created a blizzard of offshore companies, with names like Bletilla.
They’re on tiny islands I bet most people couldn’t even find on map.
Then step 3: He allegedly started moving the money around.
Six separate companies on the island of Cyprus sent more than $5 million to a home-improvement
firm in the Hamptons.
Step 4: Manafort allegedly enlisted some of his relatives to help.
The indictment says he got his daughter and son-in-law to pretend to live in the
real estate he was buying.
Step 5 is covering up your secret money.
Manafort allegedly lied to his accountants, and to federal agents, about the funds.
He used multiple passports.
And he “developed a false and misleading cover story.”
Lastly, Manafort allegedly brought the money out to play.
The indictment says he “used his hidden overseas wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle
in the United States.”
I guess sometimes a game can help you understand the news.