Pollution-Credit Trading Scam Unravels In California - LA Times

[hatrack]

Well, here's a first - pollution credit trading fraud.

LOS ANGELES — A woman who helped design Southern California's "pollution credit" anti-smog program was arrested for allegedly defrauding companies using it of tens of millions of dollars.

It is believed to be the first criminal case involving air pollution credits, which are widely traded around the country.

Anne Sholtz, 39, of Bradbury, was arrested Wednesday by federal agents. At a detention hearing, a federal judge ordered her held on $100,000 bond. She also was given a court-appointed attorney after declaring that she was unable to afford counsel. She had been living in a $5-million home but the title had been transferred to another person, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Carter said.

EDIT

Dozens of oil and power companies, including giant Sempra Energy, were clients of her company. Several firms sued Sholtz in 2001 and 2002, alleging that she was unable to account for millions of dollars in pollution credits she allegedly had sold them."

EDIT

[gristy]

1. She transferred the title of her home "to another person"???

Oh, man. I'd like to be one of those persons. Any white-collar criminals out there want to protect their assets? Just transfer them to me. I'll protect them. Sure I will. :evilgrin: