The Sleeping ‘Bulldog’, Bryan Bowen, Has Been Awakened; Joe Gorga Sold His Parents’ Home Out from Under Them

The Sleeping ‘Bulldog’ Has Been Awakened

Melissa Gorga’s ex Bryan, AKA “Bulldog”, never asked to be involved in this but, as evidenced by his recent tweets, he has made it very clear that he stands for the truth. Here are some of Bryan’s (@bulldog_nj) tweets:

“So I get the phone call today that she says she’s not worried about me making it on the show because my tumor is back and I will be dead.”

“They’re hoping I will just go away ‘NOW’ or like she said, Die from my tumor. We’ll I’m not and I am ALIVE TODAY! Never wake a sleeping Giant!”

“I am back and fourth in NYU great hospital and I have one of the best surgeons in the world. God is in my life, I’ll be just fine “

“Didn’t kill me the 1st time, it’s not gonna kill me this time. I am blessed. I was 24 hours away from being paralyzed & blind.” pic.twitter.com/Hu9erHyF

“The ink on my body explains my story Demons of the past & The Angels of Today that r in my Life! It doesn’t come off & it doesn’t change.”

“Just so this clear, I’m not trying to make anyone believe anything. I just speak the truth! It’s how I roll. “

“Believe in yourself, that’s all that matters.”

“I don’t have to look in her mirror or live with her. She has to do that all by herself. I know the TRUTH & so does she.”

“I am in to good of a place in Life, they can say whatever they want about me far far away.”

“She can’t make me look bad cause I have made mistakes in life and I own up to them. I am not perfect, who is!?I can look myself in the mirror.”

[She won't meet you on a show. She will "leak" bs]  She won’t cause I can say too much. I’m the one who has all the answers to everyone’s questions, the TRUTH.”

“I have to say I have chewed tougher steaks then anyone that has every been on the show rhwnj #justsaying. If the time comes I will keep it real, that is a promise. Some things are right some are wrong.”

“I don’t have to proof anything to anyone, but if this keeps up, the best is yet to come & I haven’t even gotten started…always be yourself.”

“Man I always believed in karma but NOW I REALLY BELIEVE!! LOL, ya did it to yourself.”

“Gods puts people in your life for a reason, and removes them for a better reason. thank god!”

“Right now there thinking how dare he lol, but it’s ok when you do the dirty work to others right!? lol no one knows better than I do.. “

“It’s ok, she’s so desperate to keep her fake image & fake fame, that’s the level she is going to. I’m all good! Xo.”

“I get it, your sisters have your back. I have a sister 2 & we would die for each other, but when 1 of us is wrong, we don’t cosign each others BS.”

“UR family is suppose 2b the people that teach u right from wrong, not support & encourage bad behavior!”

“Maybe if u go on realty TV you should not act as if this were a movie and hurt people doing it.”

“I guess it’s coming out after a year of dealing with this BS that I tried so hard to avoid. I turned people away & changed my number 3 times.”

“Follow the arrows it will all ad up! I have nothing to gain or lose… Didn’t even wanna be involved in this.”

“The Fighter in me will always Be! Never will go away… Guess you took my kindness for weakness. #selfmade”

“Well considering they claim I’m broke, lets do it lol. They said I wanna ride her coattails, ok, u rode mine long enough.”

“I might have to appear just cause I know now that it’s killing them.”

“That pic u have of her and the dog ‘gucci’ saddens me. She gave him up when she moved in with Joe. She loved him but $ more.”

“I remember the Friday nite u said 2 me, stop seeing other girls or I will marry that millionaire. 3 months Lata you were married Lol.”

“I bought her that cross, it was kind of like giving an exorcism. Lol I tried to help her.”

“What’s funny is she would always tell me her brother in law is a lot like me ‘juicy’ then when I saw him on TV I saw why. He don’t put on act.”

No bro, you broke up with her 10, I mean 7,  shit 5 yrs ago. BAHAHAHAHA lmao: “I just got that haha”

“Her definition of Jesus is $, that’s why she always says, Thank u Jesus. sad”

“Funny how all the plotting yas do is behind closed doors and very quietly public now. Hmmm funny… Still 10 steps ahead.”

“Let me set something straight I don’t Hate anyone, it’s not in my heart TODAY! Like I said if confronted I will just tell the TRUTH! “

“So I hear the new attack on me will be that I am ‘mentally disabled’ cause of my surgery, if I speak lol, that I don’t know what I’m saying.”

“Addiction is also not something to attack people on. So sad! For the record, I live a sober life Today by my own choice!”

“Melissa was this bear in front of your house lol.” pic.twitter.com/wB1YVFJ8

“Man talk about the possibility of the “perfect storm” coming… Hmmm I just found some interesting pictures with dates on them.. Hmmm”

“Really!? really!? lol Keep talking… I will keep exposing ya 3 hamsters.” pic.twitter.com/8CSG004r

“Now you r doctors too, right!? Teacher, singer, stripped, actress… C’mon, give it a rest already & define ‘cokehead’, people suffer from addiction”

“Remember I never said she was a stripper or not a stripper, I do know but I have not stated yet. Facts “

Note: Fame-Whorgas sometimes adds spaces and punctuation and corrects typos in tweets to make them easier to read.

We have witnessed the sweeping force and influence that is Bravo, with its far-reaching tentacles within the entertainment industry, touching talk shows such as Wendy Williams, Kelly Ripa, Kathy Griffin, and Anderson Cooper, as well as tabloids such as Us Weekly. We hope that Bryan finds a good public relations agent and that he heeds the warnings and accepts the words of support offered by FW readers at the link here — we have his back!

Joe Gorga Sold His Parents’ Home Out from Under Them

In February 2001, while using his parents’ home at 281 Maitland Ave. in Paterson, NJ, as his primary address (he may have been still living at home), 27-year old Joe Gorga bought a lot in Franklin Lakes for $345,000 with the intention of one day building a custom home on it (probably to flip for profit).

Fifteen months later, on May 15, 2002, Joe bought a home to use as his primary residence at 259 Black Oak Ridge Road in Wayne, NJ, for $510,000 (instrument #2002056041*) — he took out a $408,000 mortgage on the home in his name only with NJ Lenders Corp. (instrument #2002056042*), which means his down payment was $102,000.

Almost a year later, in March 2003, Joe first met Melissa Marco during Spring Break in Cancun (she was 24; he was 29) — they hung out and partied as a group, but she wasn’t interested in him because he was too short and not her type. Upon returning home to New Jersey, Joe pursued her and visited her while she worked at Lookers Gentlemen’s Club, but she didn’t want anything to do with him.

Determined to win over Melissa by impressing her with wealth, Joe decided to build a 5,576 SF custom home on the Franklin Lakes lot he purchased more than two years earlier, in early 2001.

Joe needed his parents help, so three months after Joe first met Melissa, on June 19, 2003, his parents sold their home in Paterson, NJ, for $256,000 (instrument #2003079517*) and moved into Joe’s home at 259 Black Oak Ridge Road — this is the home Joe Gorga talked about in season 4, the one he later sold out from under them.

During season 4, Joe Gorga said that he owned the house that his parents lived in, but then sold it, and now is paying their rent while he looks for a little ranch house for them. In the episode where Joe and Teresa go to therapy together, Joe talks about an article saying that he took money from their mom, and that Teresa and Juicy are building a house — or garage apartment — for them. In the stairwell of the therapist’s building, we hear audio of Joe telling Teresa that the tabloid sh*t has to stop, and her claiming that she didn’t put anything out there, and him yelling at her not to lie. And then Joe yells, “You guys want to move ‘em into that f*cking shack that you built. He don’t want to move there!” And then Teresa says that Joe should buy their parents a house, and what’s the big deal since he’s doing so well. If she had the money, she says, she would f*cking give it to them. And then Joe calls her out on her expensive purse before yelling that she doesn’t f*cking get it. [Source]

Joe completed construction on the Franklin Lakes home at 149 Pulis Avenue in 2003; impressed by the home, Melissa began dating Joe in October of that year. This is the home Melissa was referring to when Teresa claims she said:

“I wasn’t stupid like my sisters; of course when I saw his house I was going to jump on that shit.”

In December 2003, a couple months after they started dating, Melissa moved into Joe’s Franklin Lakes home.

“That pic u have of her and the dog ‘gucci’ saddens me. She gave him up when she moved in with Joe. She loved him but $ more.” – Melissa’s ex boyfriend, Bryan, January 25, 2013, Twitter (@bulldog_nj)

Eight months later, in August 2004, Melissa married Joe.

“I remember the Friday nite u said 2 me, stop seeing other girls or I will marry that millionaire. 3 months Lata you were married Lol.” – Melissa’s ex boyfriend, Bryan, January 25, 2013, Twitter (@bulldog_nj)

“What’s funny is she would always tell me her brother in law is a lot like me ‘juicy’ then when I saw him on TV I saw why. He don’t put on act.” – Melissa’s ex boyfriend, Bryan, January 24, 2013, Twitter (@bulldog_nj)

Less than a year later, on May 5, 2005, with the value of his homes in Franklin Lakes and Wayne skyrocketing because of the real estate bubble, Joe and Melissa purchased a ‘shore house’ in Toms River, NJ, for $450,000.

A little more than a year later, on August 7, 2006, at the peak of the real estate bubble, Joe sold their Franklin Lakes home for $2.45 million, making a significant profit ($1 million+).

On October 11, 2007, they purchased a very modest home at 491 Summer Street in Paterson, NJ for $170,000. It is unclear if they lived there or rented a home somewhere else, content to have money in the bank. Melissa said that she and Joe rented a home while he was building the mansion in Montville — the mortgage document for their construction loan listed their address as 35 Gravel Hill Road, Kinnelon, NJ.

Everything changed in 2007 when Teresa was cast on RHONJ. For 11 months before filming began in 2008, Teresa mulled over the decision to join the cast or not (as explained by Andy Cohen on the June 17, 2012, episode of WWHL — she kept dropping in and out). During this time, unlike Teresa, Melissa and Joe were very anxious to join the show. She and Joe began looking for an estate lot to buy near Teresa so they could be close to her and hopefully be taped along with her, living an upper-class lifestyle.

Joe Gorga is Not a Real Estate Developer – He’s a Landscaper Who Also Installs Pools and Does Stucco Work

A blind gossip item from December 13, 2012, says a reality TV star is faking wealth and success. Here is the story:

Hot Scandals Brewing For Fake Housewife

I know, I know, this could describe almost every single one of the reality TV stars of late, right?! Being rich seems to be the exception and not the rule. This little blind item tidbit has to do with a more up and coming Housewife/reality TV star and that’s all we can say about that.

The alleged dirt:

“Mrs. X has several kids from (possibly) two different baby daddies and there may be another on the way. Her husband, who has been touted as a “very wealthy man” doesn’t quite live up to that title (when do they ever?!). His profession is not what it has been presented as. He is actually a general laborer of sorts. Considering that the application process for many reality shows include a full and lengthy questionnaire on financial details, it’s safe to assume they may have fudged the numbers a bit – or a lot. They borrow luxury brand items to make it seem like they have the best of the best – including clothing. The show may have a hot scandal on its hands since he reportedly has wandering hands and she and the kids spend a lot of time at a friend’s house because of it.”

It sounds like it is Joe and Melissa Gorga.

Joe is not a real estate developer like he claims on the show (at least not anymore). Here is what he does, according to his website:

Joe Gorga Construction as Seen on The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Welcome to the Joe Gorga Construction website!  Located in New Jersey, we provide complete solutions for our customers.  We are experts in helping homeowners transform their backyard visions into a reality.  Whether you are looking to install a beautiful in-ground pool (we are members of the Northeast Pool & Spa Association) or create a unique outdoor living space, we have you covered. For all customers, large or small, and no matter what your budget, we can help revolutionize your property and outdoor living area! We understand that every backyard is different and we take pride in working closely with our customers in order to develop a tailored plan to suit their needs. Our team will ensure that every single detail, along with your specific preferences, are incorporated into the transformation plan and process. Being in business for over 17 years, rest assured that we know and understand how important our customers are!

Call Now for an estimate or more information!

973-782-6930

Thank you for taking an interest in our company.  We look forward to serving you in the future.  Here are just some of the services we provide:

Custom Pools & Installation	Outdoor Kitchens	Seeding
Custom Spas & Installation	Fireplaces	Mulch
Ponds	Fire Pits	Landscaping Lighting
Waterfalls	Retaining Walls	Sprinkler Systems
Hardscape Features	Custom Landscaping Projects	All Types of Stucco
Masonry Work	Landscape Design	All Types of Tree Work
Stone Work	Grading	Tree Removal
Custom Patios	Draining	And Much More!

Gorga Enterprises LLC was the name of his previous business. He also bought investment property under Courtland Street LLC.

http://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/gorga-enterprises-inc

http://www.manta.com/c/mtcgh8g/10-courtland-st-llc

Joe Gorga must be taking tips from Chris Laurita on how to spread your money around to different business accounts so it’s harder to track when you use company funds for personal expenses. Here is an excerpt from the lawsuit filed against Chris and his brother Joseph explaining how the Lauritas embezzled funds from their company Signature Apparel:

Chris Laurita and his brother Joseph directed Signature’s vendors, including certain of the petitioning creditors, to make payments to certain of the Laurita’s other companies of funds that were rightfully owed to Signature Apparel LLC. They also directed Signature to pay the personal expenses of, and make outright payments to the other Laurita family members (Jacqueline and other family members accepted funds they knew belonged to Signature and for which they each knew they had performed no services and/or provided no value). Instead of being used to sustain and develop Signature’s business, pay Signature’s vendors and creditors, Signature’s assets were misused to make outright and unjustified payments to Laurita family members, and to fund the operations of the Laurita brothers’ other companies and business ventures.

After Signature’s bankruptcy, Chris and Joseph conveyed the Licenses away from Signature while retaining for themselves a percentage of gross fees from the licenses, further damaging Signature and effectively rendering the Company an empty shell with no means to pay its creditors [coordinating the transfer of the Rocawear License and the Artful Dodger Licenses to a third-party, as a new license, while retaining for themselves, rather than Signature, a percentage of the gross fees from the Licenses]. That transfer provided Chris and Joseph with continuing income from the Rocawear and Artful Dodger Licenses, while reducing Signature to an empty shell with little or no means to pay its debts or continue its business.

The other Laurita companies at the time included Pyramid Trading, Inc., Pyramid Trading Corp., Retail Solutions, Four Brothers Retail and Cool Five LLC (collectively referred to as the “Laurita Pyramid Companies” ). From the lawsuit:

Chris and Joseph failed to respect the separate legal existence of Signature Apparel LLC and the other Laurita companies and treated the assets of those companies as if those assets were Chris and Joseph’s own personal assets.

Chris and Joseph, in concert with one another, have wrongfully siphoned corporate funds from Signature which resulted in Signature becoming grossly undercapitalized to the point of financial extinction, while amassing personal assets for themselves and their family members. To this day, Chris and Joseph, while claiming the financial crises of Signature, still drive luxurious vehicles, own buildings and residences, and have assets which may be worth millions of dollars. Signature was so controlled and dominated by Chris and Joseph, and its separate legal existence so ignored, that Signature primarily transacted the personal business of Chris and Joseph, and is therefore a mere instrumentality and the alter ego of Chris and Joseph.

With their new venture blk., the Laurita’s already have more than one company name associated with it:

Blk Brands LLC
blk.beverages, LLC

What is it called when you steal money from a company?  Answer: it is called fraud, theft or embezzlement, take your pick, these crimes are all felonies.

Hat Tip: Thank you long-time FW reader Sackem for the tip!

Related:

• Gorgas and Lauritas Socialize Together Post Season 4
• The Laurita Bankruptcy – Signature Apparel LLC Was Drained of Its Funds and Assets to Support the Laurita’s Opulent Lifestyle
• Gorgas Extract $500,000 in Equity in a Cash-out Refinance of Their Overpriced Home for Sale
• Is Joe Gorga Broke and Facing Bankruptcy?; Does He Really Pay His Bills?; Why Are the Gorgas Selling Their Homes?; Joe Gorga Has a Negative Net Worth of $1.5 Million
• RHONJ Production Supervisor Says Jacqueline Laurita’s Anger Stems from Failed Endorsement Deals, Which She Blames on Teresa Giudice

Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile Promote the ‘Other Poshe’; Richie Wakile Has Shady Business Dealings; Richie Gets New Teeth to Match Kathy’s New Nose and Lips

Richie Gets New Teefs to Match Kathy’s New Nose and Lips

Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile Promote the ‘Other Poshe’ Boutique

Kathy Wakile, Melissa Gorga, and Melissa’s sisters and mother spent 2012 actively promoting the ‘other Poshe’ boutique and even tried to get Bravo to film Fashion & Beauty Week instead of the Posche Fashion Show (PFS) of 2011 (the finale for season 4, which taped on September 27, 2011).

Kathy’s most recent effort to promote the ‘other Posche’ boutique over Kim D’s Posche was on October 24, 2012, when she tweeted about and attended the ‘Posh Boutique Masquerade Ball and Fashion Show’ (see photo and story below from Bergen.com):

“6pm tonite: Fashion Show with @KathyWakile at The Venetian in Garfield, and YOU’RE invited! https://www.facebook.com/events/276351692475721/276351695809054/ … @PoshBoutiqueNJ” – Retweeted by Kathy Wakile, October 24, 2012, Twitter

‘Real Housewives’ Kathy Wakile hosts Posh Boutique Masquerade Ball to benefit MarbleJam Kids

By Bergen.com
October 25, 2012

Posh Boutique held its Masquerade Ball and Fashion Show to benefit MarbleJam Kids at The Venetian last night in Garfield. The event was highlighted by host and “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Kathy Wakile.

The night featured a two-hour cocktail hour with open bar, a sit-down dinner, a fashion show, Red Carpet, vendor tables, raffles and a silent auction. It was broadcast live on the GFQ network with interviews by Chauuncey Haden and music by DJ Anthony D.

MarbleJam Kids of Tenafly is a NJ DDD authorized service provider of creative arts therapies and therapeutically supported after school enrichment programs for children through adults with autism spectrum disorders, related developmental disabilities, and special needs. The programs are social skills based and focus on providing an atmosphere of support and success. For more information about MarbleJam Kids, click here.

Kim D Is Aggravated That They Are Promoting the ‘Other Posche’ Boutique

Kim D is aggravated that Melissa is messing with her business by promoting the ‘other Posche’ boutique — as you can see, the store uses the same name as Kim D’s store, although it is spelled differently (Posh).

“Melissa started promoting this other store that keeps calling themselves the real Posh. I planned my fashion show last year for September 27th. Not five minutes later there was the other Posh fashion show — October 27th — with Melissa’s face promoting it. You want to go there and attack my business? There’s going to be problems. This is the way I make a living. I don’t have a rich husband. You want to go there? Then we’re gonna go there.” – Kim DePaola, RumorFix, September 18, 2012

Robyn Polay and Melissa Gorga Set Out on a Smear Campaign Against Kim D

On November 29, 2011, Will Love also said that Robyn Polay and Melissa set out on a smear campaign against Kim D:

“After Kim D simply expressed her loyalty and friendship to Teresa on multiple occasions, Melissa became furious with Kim. The fact that Kim simultaneously parted ways with Robyn [IlluminationPR, Melissa's PR person at the time] did not help matters either. In retaliation for Kim being a free thinker, Robyn and Melissa began a well thought out smear campaign. I witnessed, at least during half-a-dozen events, Robyn and her friends speak of Kim D as a ‘coke addict,’ ‘drug user,’ and claimed Kim would be out of business within six months.”

Just one week after the Posche Fashion Show on September 27, 2011 (the season 4 finale with the setup) the cast minus Teresa attended Fashion & Beauty Week (photo below). According to Will Love, Melissa and her PR agent, Robyn Polay of IlluminationPR (former agent to Teresa and now former agent to Melissa), “even went as far as to contact BRAVO weekly in hopes of persuading them to film the insignificant Fashion & Beauty Week as opposed to the annual Posche Fashion Show,” that “Robyn and Melissa were successful in blacklisting Kim D and Teresa from the supposed ‘charity’ fashion event,” and that their goal was to make it “appear as though Kim and Teresa were not wanted at an ‘esteemed’ fashion event.”

The Other Reason Kim D Setup Melissa Gorga

“The Gorgas owed Fabulous Foods $49,500 in Season 4. Joe Gorga never answered any form of communication from Fred, and initially paid Fred $500 then told him he would ‘take care of the rest’ via free construction work. Fred was taken back. He has one of the most beautiful homes in NJ – he needed the salary of a receipt he was owed, not $500 + pro-bono work. After months and months of getting nowhere, Fred got angry. He was about to go to the press regarding Joey G, but Kim D stopped him. Interestingly, it was at a house party of Kim D’s [which was filmed for season 4 but Bravo didn't air it] where the sh-t hit the fan. Bravo producers knew of what happened and asked Kim to bring it up at the party. Kim, knowing the show is half staged, assumed the other girls knew that this was going to happen and brought it up in front of Melissa. Missy went crazy and so did Joey G [this is the reason Melissa didn't want to go to the PFS and why Kim D called her to apologize and to encourage her to go, and why Melissa said on camera in season 4 that Kim D was spreading rumors about Joe Gorga's business dealings and that she didn't trust the Kims]. In Season 4 they deny it, even though initially Kim tried to help them by asking Fred to not go to the press. Remember when Joe Gorga said ‘hell no’ on the WWHL After Show when Andy asked Melissa if she got her dress at POSCHE. This is why – he was pissed that he got exposed.” – Insider Commenting at Reality Tea, September 17, 2011

Richie Wakile’s Shady Business Dealings

Exxonmobile Corporation vs. Wakile & Sons, Inc. and Adel Abouzid

There was a 2009 story regarding Kathy Wakile’s husband Rich and his legal troubles for an unpaid gasoline bill from his supplier Exxon – some checks that bounced cash for insufficient funds (NSF) and some forged bank letters claiming the NSF checks were a bank error… all of this resulted in a money judgment against Rich and Adel Abouzid (most likely his business partner).

Rich owns a business called Wakile & Sons. His business partner Adel Abouzid wrote four NSF checks totaling over $113,450 to pay for gasoline from Exxon-Mobile for the gas station Rich owned/managed.

After the NSF checks were written, Exxon-Mobile received four letters from Wakile & Sons’ “bank” stating that all four checks were bank errors and not the fault of Wakile & Sons. Exxon Mobile were able to easily confirm that the bank never sent those letters and Adel Abouzid ended up admitting to forging the letters.

Rich’s company Wakile & Sons and Adel Abouzid were sued in March 2009 by Exxon Mobile.

Here is an excerpt from the legal document:

“On November 15, 2007, Exxon Mobile entered into a franchise agreement with Wakile & Sons to operate a gasoline station for a term commencing May 1, 2008 and ending April 30, 2011. Abouzid signed the agreement as the designed ‘key individual’ on behalf of Wakile. In July of 2008, Exxon alleges that defendants ‘began a pattern of having insufficient funds in its account… to pay for gasoline product deliveries.’ Wakile allegedly missed four payments returned as NSF (insufficient funds). Plaintiff purports to have received four letters addressed from the Wakile’s bank stating that the NSFs were due to ‘bank error’. Exxon claims that the Wakile’s bank advised Exxon that none of the letters were authentic and that Abouzid subsequently admitted to forging the four letters. According to Exxon, Wakile’s franchise was unable to pay for gasoline shipments and thus did not sell any gasoline from August 26, 2008 through September 3, 2008, or any time after September 16, 2008. Both parties executed a mutual termination agreement as to the franchise agreement of October 7, 2008. Exxon alleges that defendants have breached this agreement. Exxon alleges that while vacating the premises of the gasoline station, Abouzid ‘unlawfully removed and converted to [his] own use and possession’ equipment and property with an estimated replacement cost of $85,000.”

Richard Wakile Loses Court Case, Ordered to Pay Outstanding Debt to Landscaping Company

By Radar Online
September 26, 2012

Richard Wakile was taken to small claims court in Passaic County, NJ by Natural Paradise Landscaping over a $2,000 unpaid bill, and the judge ruled against him in court on Monday.

Louie Khalil, the owner of the landscaping company, exclusively told RadarOnline.com about the settlement the judge ordered Richard to pay.

“I don’t care about the money; I’m just glad the judge saw the truth,” Khalil said.

According to Louie, he was hired by the Wakiles to do the landscaping at their house and performed the services for a full year and was never paid, so he cut their service off in October 2011.

[Note that the Wakiles joined the cast of RHONJ in September 2010 and were part of the cast through season 4; season 4 taping wrapped in early October 2011]

“I saw him and told him to pay the bills, we kept asking him to pay, we sent him the bill and when we would call him he would just say ‘f**king sue me’ and hang up on me,” he claimed.

“He would say to me ‘Who the f**k do you think you are? I’ll smash your face if I ever hear you say ask me for money again.’”

Louie said Richard was harassing him while he was working on other jobs in the neighborhood, and on June 8, 2012:

“[He] came to my truck while I was working, invading my private space. He took pictures of my license plate so I called the cops. They went to his house and told him not to take pictures of my license plate.”

He told RadarOnline.com it was after this incident that he decided to file the lawsuit and it worked out in his favor.

The judge ruled on September 24 that Richard was responsible for part of the bill and ordered him to pay $792.34 plus $22 in court fees. Louie said Richard cut them a check for an even $815 right after the judge ordered him to pay.

When Richard was spotted in the courthouse for the first hearing on September 19 by Tom Murro, he was evasive on Twitter about the reason he was there, writing:

“I’m so afraid that you’ve exposed me!!! Shaking in my boots, or in my beach wear!!!”

Richard actually filed a counter lawsuit against Louie Khalil and the company, which the judge threw out in court on Monday.

Louie told RadarOnline.com that he’s sure he’ll see Richard again in the neighborhood and he’s ready for when he does.

“If I see him I’m just going to smile at him when I see him. I don’t care. He can walk away,” he said.

Rich Wakile Bullies Local Company for More Free Clothing to Help Promote the Store

This is an article from July 2011, written at the same time the In Touch cover story, “I’m Terrified of Being Poor”, was discussed extensively on camera by the cast (Teresa was quoted in the magazine saying that the Wakiles accused her of being a shopaholic).

Note: The Wakiles’ demands were made during their first season, less than three months (July 2011) after season 3 premiered (May 16, 2011), when no one really knew who they were.

By TerryAley.com
July 20, 2011

(Update: I originally put this story up Tuesday but hid it from public view while I debated running it in the first place. The next day, RadarOnline posted the same story as “Exclusive”. Now that it’s fully public, I decided to go ahead and “unhide” the story and make it public.)

Kim G’s PR guy Tom Morro (www.celebritymagnet.com) forwarded this email sent by Leslie Mota (the Personal Assistant to Kathie and Rich Wakile) to store owner Ed Bergen.

Basically here’s what happened. A local men’s clothing store in Franklin Lakes, NJ, called Something Sophisticated, agreed to give Richard and son Joseph some free clothing. You know, the boys get their photo taken in the clothing, they keep the clothes, and the clothing store gets a photo of the “celebrities” wearing their shirts. It happens all the time.

Call me naive, but I thought when a big A Lister bought a shirt, they just took a photo with the store owner to be nice. You think Penelope Cruz can’t afford a shirt and needs freebies? That’s how Ed Hardy built up their clothing store. One A Lister at a time. And keep in mind, we’re talking about A Listers from Hollywood. Not the Real Housewives of NJ. Type in “Richard and Kathy Wakile” into Google and see which story is listed first. This one! Thousands of dollars in free publicity for everyone!

So Leslie sent this email (below) to local store owner Ed Bergen explaining that the Camp Wakile demands had not been met. You’re on a Bravo TV show for a few weeks and suddenly they’re making demands like they’re Madonna. If the Wakiles are letting people use their photos, they want thousands of dollars in free clothing or it’s just not worth their time! (You know how much they love helping out the local merchants.)

Now I would be fair and ask Kathy and Richard for their side of the story. But this IS their side of the story.

When you own a small business, it’s not the same as running Macy’s. You can’t just give away an all-you-can-wear buffet of clothing.

I actually like this family and thought they were a refreshing change of pace for the show. Now I’m rethinking everything. Who makes the kind of demands listed in the letter below to a local business? Are they starting to believe their own hype now?

Here is the letter from the ‘Personal Assistant to Mr.and Mrs. Wakile’:

Hello Ed,

When we agreed to do the photo shoot with you at your shop we did so first and foremost because Heather spoke highly of you as a person. She told us your story and how you walked away from your corporate job to follow a passion and dream of yours to create your own clothes line and men’s boutique in Franklin Lakes.

The Wakile family believes in helping out the local merchants and establishments within their neighborhood and local surroundings. They are very much pro-grass roots establishments. Since Something Sophisticated is a start up local business immediately we said no problem Richard and his son Joseph would love to help them out. We understand that your catalog would been distributed to homes within the Franklin Lakes area and featured in Patch.com as well as your website. Any kind of “free” press and more exposure is greatly appreciated.

However, Richard and Joseph lending themselves to your shop for a photo shoot is definitively much more of a benefit to you than it is to them. Richard and his family as you know are cast members on The Real Housewives of NJ which is aired on Bravo TV every Sunday night. Over 1 million viewers tune in weekly to watch the show. Between Richard and Kathy on both their private and public Facebook pages they have over 7000 fans. Amongst Richard, his wife Kathy and both of their teenage kids they have over 15,000 followers on Twitter.

Needless to say any mention from any of them regarding any item from your shop and/or your shop is guaranteed to reach an audience and quantity of people that even paying your Public Relations representative would not reach. Not to mention the publicity would have been free of charge to you. Kathy is styled free of charge by high end boutiques all the time.

Kathy in exchange for the clothes does promote them and give them free press on her social media sites and on the show. Please note that Kathy is allowed to keep the clothes if she so wishes to do so. Normally, these outfits are over the $2000 price point.

I feel it is totally of bad taste and disrespectful not only to give both Richard and Joseph a limit of two items that they could take from your shop but also not allowed them to take clothes other than your in house brand. When we spoke your words to me were at you would, “hook them up and take care of them”. Two shirts at a price point of a total for maybe $100 in exchange for all that associated your shop with both Richard and Joseph is not at all being thankful nor grateful for whom they are.

Richard and his family are already established brands. As you well know publicity is expensive and is the heart of any business. If they worn your own brand and/or one of the designers you carry either which way your shop would have benefited from the free publicity they would have given you.

Therefore, I must regretfully inform you that we are not allowing the pictures to be used by you, your shop and/or photographer in anyway. We are not authorizing you to use them for the purpose of promoting your business and/or clothes line. So we greatly would appreciate you respect our decision and not place the pictures of Richard and/or Joseph on your website and in any connection on any of your social media sites, catalogs, look books etc. Please also refrain from using them for personal purposes either. I do not want the Wakile family used in any way with anything that has to do with Something Sophisticated, ConquerStyle.com or your Twitter account.

Please be advised that I saw you have already placed a picture on your Facebook page and I am requesting that you remove it immediately.

Thanks so much in advance for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Best regards,
Leslie Mota
Personal Assistant to Mr.and Mrs. Wakile

The Laurita Bankruptcy – Signature Apparel LLC Was Drained of Its Funds and Assets to Support the Laurita’s Opulent Lifestyle

“Everyone likes to have nice things, but I’m not one to brag about it.” – Jacqueline Laurita, RHONJ Season 1 & 2 Tagline

Jacqueline Laurita in her final Bravo blog for season 4 said:

“I know I said during the reunion that I wished Joe Giudice would go to jail, but regardless of if I think he deserves it or not, I will not wish anything bad for Teresa or Joe. They have 4 beautiful girls, and if anything unfortunate happens to either one of them, it effects those girls, and as a mother I do not want that.”

Jacqueline Laurita is implying that Joe Giudice deserves to go to jail — does she feel the same way about herself, her husband and other Laurita family members? Chris Laurita and his brother Joseph diverted funds from their company (Signature Apparel LLC, which went bankrupt in 2010) for personal expenses and transferred company funds to family members and other family businesses, draining the company so dry that it was an empty shell and creditors couldn’t be paid.

Jacqueline, who is named as a defendant in the bankruptcy case, has been summoned for a deposition on November 13, 2012. The trustee’s attorney Michael Fox told RumorFix on October 25, 2012:

“It frustrates me that they are so public about their lavish lifestyle and they show indifference.”

Signature requested to extend the deadlines for fact discovery and depositions to January 18, 2013, reply expert reports to April 16, 2013, and expert discovery and depositions to May 22, 2013.

“Here’s how the Laurita bankruptcy contrasts to the Guidice bankruptcy: Teresa and Joe were making big bucks but spent ALL of their money, and had no savings. So when the real estate crash happened, they were in no way prepared for the massive decrease in income both personally and for Joe’s business. Obviously, they had no choice but to file bankruptcy, which initially was completely legitimate. Should they have been wiser with their money when times were good? Yes, but this a free country and they’re free do what they want (legally). Luckily, Teresa was able to start making more money than ever had before, and they are now better off as they have withdrawn their bankruptcy and are living more modestly and paying down their debts. While there were problems with fraud later on in their bankruptcy filing (which I believe were resolved, possibly allowing them to file again if they wanted to), it is better for everyone that they are committing to paying instead of trying to discharge their debt. I would label Teresa and Joe as just stupid with money and victims of the economy. The Lauritas are criminals.” – CenNJ, October 26, 2012, Fame-Whorgas

According to legal documents dated March 24, 2011:

Chris and Joseph failed to respect the separate legal existence of Signature Apparel LLC and the other Laurita companies [including Pyramid Trading, Inc., Pyramid Trading Corp., Retail Solutions, Four Brothers Retail and Cool Five LLC (collectively referred to as the "Laurita Pyramid Companies" ), or to companies or business ventures in which Chris and Joseph were investing, including Angelo's Favorite, The Hungry Ghosts Movie LLC, and the BSTC Group], and treated the assets of those companies as if those assets were Chris and Joseph’s own personal assets, including, by way of example:

1. Using Signature funds to pay the personal expense of the other Laurita family members,
2. Causing the diverted funds to be conveyed away from Signature to Pyramid Trading Inc. (another Laurita company),
3. Making other fraudulent transfers to other Laurita companies, and
4. Conveying the Rocawear and Artful Dodger Licenses to a third party while retaining for themselves a percentage of the gross fees received from those licenses.

Utilizing their position in Signature and the Laurita Pyramid Companies, Chris and Joseph, in concert with one another, have wrongfully utilized and depleted the corporate assets of Signature to further their own individual financial interests, in total disregard of the interests of Signature.

• From 9/5/2008 – 8/18/2009, within a year prior to the petition date, Joseph Laurita received a total of $873,689 in transfers of interests in Signature’s property.
• From 9/5/2008 – 8/14/2009, within a year prior to the petition date, Christopher Laurita received a total of $405,730 in transfers of interests in Signature’s property.

Chris and Joseph, in concert with one another, have wrongfully siphoned corporate funds from Signature which resulted in Signature becoming grossly undercapitalized to the point of financial extinction, while amassing personal assets for themselves and their family members.

To this day, Chris and Joseph, while claiming the financial crises of Signature, still drive luxurious vehicles, own buildings and residences and have assets which may be worth millions of dollars.

Signature was so controlled and dominated by Chris and Joseph, and its separate legal existence so ignored, that Signature primarily transacted the personal business of Chris and Joseph, and is therefore a mere instrumentality and the alter ego of Chris and Joseph.

Such control and domination has been exercised to commit fraud and engage in other wrongful conduct, which has resulted in an unjust financial loss and injury to Plaintiff.

As a matter of equity, the Plaintiff (Signature Apparel LLC) is entitled to pierce the corporate veil of the other Laurita companies, and to reach the assets of Chris and Joseph, jointly and severally, to satisfy any judgment obtained in this litigation.

Joseph Laurita and Christopher Laurita, defendants in the case and each 50% owner/member of Signature Apparel LLC (which was formed in 2005), are accused of:

• Draining the company of all its funds and assets in order to support their families’ increasingly opulent lifestyle of private jets, limousines, extravagant parties, premium automobiles, designer clothing, ostentatious home furnishings and lavish vacations.
• Using company funds for their own personal expenses, and making payments to themselves and their family members from company funds for amounts not owed to them by Signature.

Also named as defendants in the case are Jacqueline Laurita, Adeline Laurita (Joseph’s wife), and Anthony Laurita (Chris and Joseph’s brother).

• Chris and Joseph directed Signature to pay the expenses of and make payments to other companies owned, controlled by or affiliated with Chris Laurita and Joseph Laurita.
• Chris and Joseph improperly directed Signature’s vendors, including certain of the petitioning creditors, to make payments to certain of the Laurita’s other companies of funds that were rightfully owed to Signature. Those payments totaled at least and no less than $718,214, and further depleted Signature’s assets.
• Chris and Joseph directed Signature to pay the personal expenses of, and make outright payments to the other Laurita family members (Jacqueline and other family members accepted funds they knew belonged to Signature and for which they each knew they had performed no services and/or provided no value). These payments totaled at least and no less than $7,086,013 (the “Fraudulent Transfers”). These improper payments have no legitimate business purpose, provided no value to Signature, and include:

* At least $1,994,845 for payments to 40 different credit cards for Laurita family members and the Laurita’s other companies
* At least $331,637 for payments on no less than eleven leased cars, including a Bentley and a Maserati
* At least $284,793 in airline travel expenses for the Laurita Family
* At least $145,894 for private airplane rentals for the Laurita Family
* At least $25,000 to Studio Dante, and off-Broadway theater company, for production expenses for the film ‘The Hungry Ghosts’
* At least $73,793 for taxi, limousine and car-service related expenses
* At least $16,951 for car rentals
* At least $5,813 in travel tolls
* At least $6,207 in car insurance premiums
* At least $28,711 for miscellaneous transportation-related expenses
* At least $7,280 for travel agent expenses for the Laurita Family
* At least $1,084 for train travel expenses
* At least $1,379,187 to Joseph Laurita for undocumented or insufficiently documented reasons
* At least $755,184 to Christopher Laurita for undocumented or insufficiently documented reasons
* At least $62,500 to Adeline Laurita for undocumented or insufficiently documented reasons
* At least $40,000 to Anthony Laurita for undocumented or insufficiently documented reasons
* At least $20,909 to Frank Laurita for undocumented or insufficiently documented reasons
* At least $4,860 for rent and utility expenses for 78 Valley Road in Connecticut, the site for Pyramid Trading (another Laurita company)
* At least $325,696 in payments to or on behalf of other entities owned or controlled the Lauritas
* At least $791,509 in payments to Roc Apparel Group LLC for undocumented or insufficiently documented reasons
* At least $784,160 of disbursements to unknown recipients, without any documentation whatsoever

These fraudulent transfers were made voluntarily with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud some or all of Signature’s then existing and/or future creditors (including, without limitation, the Petitioning Creditors — Signature Apparel, the plaintiff, will further amend the Complaint when additional information is obtained concerning other monies and property that were fraudulently transferred by or for the benefit of the Laurita family, the defendants, and Laurita Pyramid Companies).

Instead of being used to sustain and develop Signature’s business, pay Signature’s vendors and creditors, Signature’s assets were misused to make outright and unjustified payments to Laurita family members, and to fund the operations of the Laurita brothers’ other companies and business ventures. That diversion of funds constituted a waste of corporate assets and opportunities.

Chris and Joseph wrongfully caused Signature to make outright payments and other transfers to themselves, other Laurita family members, other Laurita companies, and to other companies and business ventures in which Chris and Joseph were investing. After Signature’s bankruptcy, Chris and Joseph conveyed the Licenses away from Signature while retaining for themselves a percentage of gross fees from the licenses, further damaging Signature and effectively rendering the Company an empty shell with no means to pay its creditors. This conduct caused the funds and property of Signature to be squandered, grossly mismanaged and wasted, and contributed to, exacerbated, deepened and/or caused Signature’s insolvency.

• Chris and Joseph breached their fiduciary duties by using Company funds for the payment of their own personal expenses and the personal expenses of other Laurita family members. Signature was damaged in an amount to be determined, but believed to be not less than $7,086,013 plus interest.
• Chris and Joseph breached their fiduciary duties by coordinating the transfer of the Rocawear License and the Artful Dodger Licenses to a third-party, as a new license, while retaining for themselves, rather than Signature, a percentage of the gross fees from the Licenses. As a direct and proximate result, Signature was damaged in an amount to be determined, but believed to be not less than $718,214 plus interest. That transfer provided Chris and Joseph with continuing income from the Rocawear and Artful Dodger Licenses, while reducing Signature to an empty shell with little or no means to pay its debts or continue its business.

Signature had a possessory right and interest to its assets, including its receipts, accounts receivable, property and general funds. Defendants converted Signature’s assets and property when they received monies in the form of payments and other wrongful transfers. Defendants actions deprived Signature of its use of its assets, and contributed to, exacerbated, deepened or caused Signature’s insolvency.

Signature and the other Laurita companies were grossly undercapitalized at their respective inception, and their respective assets were unreasonably small in proportion to their respective obligations.

Defendants Joseph Laurita and Christopher Laurita assert rights to payment allegedly owned by Signature. Pursuant to Bankruptcy Code section 502(d), the Joseph Laurita claim and the Christopher Laurita claim must each be disallowed unless and until such defendants pays Signature an amount equal to transfer made to such defendants that is avoided.

The actions of the defendants described in the Complaint, and as further to be proven upon discovery of additional facts, constitutes inequitable, unconscionable, and unfair conduct. Such inequitable, unconscionable, and unfair conduct of the defendants resulted in harm to Signature and its creditors and/or gave the defendants an unfair advantage over Signature’s other creditors.

• Joseph Laurita asserts that Signature is indebted to him in the amount of $5,337,414 in connection to unsecured loans (the “Joseph Laurita Loans”) allegedly made by him to Signature, as described in the Joseph Laurita claim.
• Christopher Laurita asserts that Signature is indebted to him in the amount of $3,387,414 in connection to unsecured loans (the “Christopher Laurita Loans”) allegedly made by him to Signature, as described in the Christopher Laurita claim.

The insider loans were each a sham, not true loans.

The insider loans represented the equity contributions of defendants Joseph and Christopher Laurita, each 50% owner/member of Signature. Neither Joseph nor Christopher are in the business of lending money, and there was no legitimate business reason for such Defendants to make such insider loans.

Although cast in the form of loans, the insider loans had the substance and character of an equity contribution: there were no arms’-length, good-faith commercial negotiation the terms of the insider loans; at all relevant times, Signature was not adequately capitalized to repay the insider loans; Signature had no ability to obtain comparable financing from a lending institution at the interest rate provided in the insider loans.

At all relevant times, Joseph and Christopher Laurita were insiders of Signature and exercised effective control over Signature. Through actual and effective control over Signature, overreaching and inequitable conduct, defendants Joseph and Christopher operated Signature in an undercapitalized, deceptive and unsound manner, to the detriment of Signature’s creditors.

If the insider loans are not recharacterized as equity, unsecured creditors will receive less than they otherwise would from monies recovered from defendants in this action and in other actions that have been or will be brought by or on behalf of Signature and its estate. Accordingly, the insider loans should be recharacterized as equity contributions in Signature.

Defendants Joseph Laurita and Christopher Laurita have filed the Joseph Laurita Claim and Christopher Laurita Claim (together, the “Proof of Claim”), respectively, in the bankruptcy proceeding. Defendants claims are not supported by the books and records of Signature, nor the materials annexed to the respective Proofs of Claim submitted by Defendants, and therefore should be allowed. As a result of the foregoing, Signature is entitled to an order disallowing the Claims.

About Signature Apparel LLC:

Signature was formed in 2005 by brothers Joseph and Christopher Laurita, as a privately-owned, multi-facted apparel company in the business of designing, manufacturing and distributing branded apparel worldwide. Joseph and Christopher Laurita each owned 50% percent of the Company.

In or about 2005, Signature entered into an exclusive license with a predecessor-in-interest of Iconix Brand Group, Inc. to design, manufacture and distribute junior’s apparel bearing the “Rocawear” trademarks, which license was assigned in or about 2007 to Studio IP Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Iconix.

In or about 2005, Signature entered into an exclusive license with a subsidiary of Iconix, Artful Holdings LLC, to design, manufacture and distribute apparel bearing the “Artful Dodger” trademarks.

In or about 2005, Signature designed, manufactured and distributed apparel pursuant to the Rocawear License and, beginning in or about 2007, Signature designed, manufactured and distributed apparel pursuant to the Artful Dodger License, and sold such apparel to Signature’s wholesale customers throughout the United States.

Signature achieved more than $250 million in sales from Rocawear and Artful Dodger branded apparel alone between 2005 and 2009.

About the Original Petition by Creditors and the Laurita Brother’s Claims:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of New York (Manhattan)
Case No. 09-15378 (JMP)
Chapter 11
Signature Apparel Group, LLC, Involuntary Debtor (Plaintiff)
Joseph Laurita, Christopher Laurita, Adeline Laurita, Anthony Laurita and Jacqueline Laurita (Defendants)

Creditors of Signature Apparel Group LLC, which owns the Fetish trademark and holds the licenses for Rocawear Juniors and Artful Dodger, are looking to push the company into bankruptcy protection, court filings showed. – Reuters, September 4, 2009

On September 4, 2009 (the “Petition Date”), Hitch & Trail Inc., Talful Ltd., and Harvestway (China) Limited (the “Petitioning Creditors”) filed an involuntary petition against Signature in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking relief under chapter 7 of title 1 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The three original petitioners in the bankruptcy case (other petitioners may have since been added) and the amount owed them:

• Hitch & Trail, Inc., NY NY; $3,556,793.18 (September 3, 2009)
• Talful Ltd, Hong Kong, China; owed $4,757,078,62 (September 3, 2009)
• Harvestway (China) Limited, Hong Kong, China; owed $6,465,464.50 (September 2, 2009)

Secured claims vs. unsecured claims:

• Class 1 Priority Non-Tax and Priority Tax Claim, scheduled claims $14,906.80 (CIT Group has since been paid in full)
• General Unsecured Claims: $28,676,703.13 (the Complaint may have since been amended with more petitioning creditors)

On November 9, 2009, the debtor filed its motion to convert the case to a case under chapter 11, and on November 12, 2009 the court granted the motion to convert.

On June 29, 2010, a chapter 11 plan of reorganization was confirmed, and Anthony Labrosciano was named the responsible person of Signature Apparel LLC (he is representing Signature Apparel as the Plaintiff against the Defendants Christopher Laurita, Joseph Laurita, Anthony Laurita, Adeline Laurita and Jacqueline Laurita).

On August 5, 2010, Signature Apparel Group, LLC went out of business.

Affadavit of Joseph Laurita, chairman of Signature Apparel Group

My brother Christopher Laurita and I are the two member of the debtor, each owning a 50% membership interest in the debtor. The debtor is a privately owned multi-faceted apparel company that designs, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells branded apparel worldwide.

Christopher Laurita, Officer and President, 2003 – present
Joseph Laurita, Chairman, 2003 – present

On January 4, 2010, Joseph Laurita filed a general unsecured claim against Signature in the amount of $5,337,414 on account of purported loans made by Joseph to Signature.

On January 5, 2010, Christopher Laurita filed a general unsecured claim against Signature in the amount of $3,387,414 on account of purported loans made by Christopher to Signature.

http://ia700401.us.archive.org/23/items/gov.uscourts.nysb.185141/gov.uscourts.nysb.185141.36.0.pdf

A list of the 20 largest unsecured creditors is attached as Exhibit ‘A’.

http://ia700401.us.archive.org/23/items/gov.uscourts.nysb.185141/gov.uscourts.nysb.185141.124.0.pdf

Note: If you copy all or part of this article, please clearly credit and link back to Fame-Whorgas since it took considerable time and effort to type out this information from the PDF file and then edit it down (the Complaint is about 3 times the size of this article), format it, and re-organize it for readability.

UPDATES ON THE BANKRUPTCY CASE:

Jacqueline Laurita’s Personal Exposure and Signature Apparel’s Creditors list $55 Million in Claims (FRE)

Since the original complaint was filed (which I found online and included in this article), other creditors have come forward (but I don’t have access to the amended complaint). FRE (link above) has the updates on the case and the amount (which totals $55 million) creditors are claiming are owed to them by the Laurita brothers. Other creditors include:

• Susan G Komen Cancer Foundation $18,000
• Federal Express $14,300
• American Express $$83,000
• UPS $9,500
• Ikon Financial $95,000
• Artful Holdings, LLC $10,350,000
• Studio IP Holdings, LLC $20,700,000
• CitiGroup Commercial $200,000
• Daihwa $456,000
• Hitch & Trail, Inc. $3,699,000
• Putnam Leasing $444,000
• GiftTex: $96,000
• Talful, LTD $4,750,000
• Harvestway Ltd $5,051,000

Signature Apparel Computers & Server Recovered from Chris Laurita’s Possession (FRE)

Chris Laurita removed computers from the Signature Apparel offices. He claims the computers were removed so that the equipment could be used in his new business, New Star Group, LLC (the Company that promotes BLK). Chris disclosed that he was also in possession of a server originally belonging to Signature Apparel. The Memorandum of Law filed in support of the Motion painstakingly sets forth the number of times Chris Laurita, through counsel, insisted that all computers, hard drives, servers and electronic equipment remained at the Signature Apparel warehouse before Laurita finally admitted that he and his personal assistant absconded with the equipment.