Ilitch partner enters settlement agreement in fraudulent transfers case

Michael J. Malik, Sr., has entered into a Settlement Agreement filed in Florida Federal Court in which a court appointed Receiver (Michael I. Goldberg) contends Malik received $620,000 in fraudulent transfers. Under terms of the Agreement, Malik has twelve months to repay the Receivership or face further penalty.

The case against Malik (Goldberg v. Malik) stems from a $300 million ponzi scheme case the SEC brought against one-time concert promoter John P. Utisck (Jack Utsick) and his affiliates including Worldwide Entertainment.

Court records indicate Bruce Glatman, believed to be a California resident, was the matchmaker who brought Malik together with then Florida-based Utsick. Utsick has since taken asylum in Brazil. It's not clear how Glatman came to know Malik or the scope of other dealings between Glatman and Malik.

Malik's primary business attorney William Serwer was also involved in the transactions that resulted in the fraudulent transfers.

Malik has been the gambling and casino development partner of Detroit's Marian Ilitch for more than a decade. They bankrolled efforts during the 1990s to legalize gambling in Detroit. She is now sole owner of Detroit's MotorCity Casino.

Mrs. Ilitch and her husband Mike Ilitch are co-founders of Little Caesar's Pizza and owners of the Detroit Red Wings hockey franchise. Mike Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

AZ Game and Fish Commission denies appeal by Michael J. Malik

As TVT previously posted, Detroit-based Michael J. Malik, Sr., requested the Arizona Game and Fish Commission reconsider its December 2008 decision to suspend Malik's right to hunt, trap and fish in Arizona and more than 30 other states including Michigan for a period of five years and assess Malik with a $14,995 fine.

The Commission entertained and denied Malik's request at its 4.17.09 meeting. He apparently has a 30-day window to make an appeal to the Arizona Superior Court.

On 8.29.08, Arizona's Pinetop Justice Court found Malik guilty of discharging a firearm while stalking elk within the quarter-mile limit of occupied residences. (See: Michigan man found guilty on charge stemming from elk hunt).

That criminal conviction authorized the Commission to take civil action against Malik at its 12.05.08 meeting. (See: Michigan man assessed $14,995 for killing trophy elk near homes).

Malik reportedly has yet to pay the $14,995 civil fine assessed by the Commission in December 2008.

Malik is the gambling and casino development partner of Detroit's Marian Ilitch. She is sole owner of MotorCity Casino. Mrs. Ilitch and her husband Mike Ilitch are founders of Little Caesar's Pizza and owners of the Detroit Red Wings hockey franchise. Mike Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers baseball team.


Malik's Growing Record of Illegal Activity

In 1999, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) failed to grant Malik a gambling license and he was forced to divest himself of interest in Detroit's MotorCity Casino. Among other things, it was reported that Malik had been arrested in 1997 and accused of beating a girlfriend's 12-year-old son. He served a year of probation in the matter.

Since the MGCB denied Malik a license, he has developed a growing record of illegal activity:

• The criminal and civil actions in Arizona noted above related to Malik's illegal discharge of a firearm. He's been assessed multiple fines and stripped for the next five years of his right to hunt in 32 states.


• Malik has twice (2006 & 2009) been found guilty of, and fined for, violating California's political reform laws. Over the course of several election cycles, he's simply failed to report more than $52,000 in political contributions.


• Fifth Third Bank, a Michigan Banking Corporation filed a complaint in Oakland County Court on 4.03.09 (Fifth Third Bank v. Michael M. Malik, Sr.) alleging Malik was in Default on a $1 million line of credit that had come due on 9.01.08.


• In April, Malik entered into a Settlement Agreement (Goldberg v. Malik) with a court appointed Receiver who contends Malik received more than $620,00 in fraudulent transfers. Malik has twelve months to repay the funds as agreed. That action is related to a $300 million ponzi scheme case brought by the SEC against Worldwide Entertainment and promoter Jack Utsick who has since taken asylum in Brazil.

Is this known record of illegal activity a red flag that there's more?