Receiver's $2.1 million fraudulent transfer claim against Michael Malik likely among most substantial

Michael I. Goldberg, the Florida federal court appointed Receiver who filed a June 2008 $2.1 million fraudulent transfer case (Goldberg v. Malik) against Detroit “business developer” and casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr., has filed a new Receiver’s report (Receiver’s Seventh Report) with the U.S. District Court's Miami Division.

In this latest report (on page 22 of 27), Receiver Goldberg indicates he’s initiated 150 fraudulent transfer claims totaling more than $20 million; claims against parties whom the Receiver alleges profited illegally from so-called “profit payments” or “client representative fees.”

While not mentioned specifically in the Receiver’s report by name, it sugggest the $2.1 million claim against Malik may be one of the most substantial the Receiver has filed to date – at least 10% of all the claims. Averaging the balance of the claims against the other 149 defendants suggests those claims might average $120,000 each -- or put another way, each of the other 149 cases represents just 6% -- a fraction -- of the total claim against Malik.

What was Malik's relationship with the defendants and their affiliates (Jack Utsick, Robert & Donna Yeager, Worldwide Entertainment, Inc., et. al.) named in the original $300 million fraud case brought by the SEC? ... seems Malik was more than just another of their run-of-the-mill investors. Was Malik fronting for other investors? Did he have investors of his own?

Although reportedly not an employee of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. or any of its affiliates, Malik's various affiliated entities are headquartered among the offices that make up the executives suites at Detroit-based Ilitch Holdings, Inc. Malik has partnered with Detroit's well-known Iilitch family on casinos and other ventures for nearly a decade and a half.