Toulouse: placement scam with freemasons 4.5 million euros embezzled
Prosecuted for breach of trust, Christian Loubersanes was unconvincing on Monday, November 29, the Criminal Court of Toulouse. Between 2012 and 2016 he again embezzled 4.5 million euros during numerous breaches of trust.
“To say that I invited him when I turned 70”, laments a victim. “He had also invited us when he was 60,” replies his wife, annoyed. Yesterday’s friends are angry in front of the Toulouse Criminal Court. Fifty victims were however seduced by the proposals of Christian Loubersanes. € 30,000 on one side, 150,000 on the other, 10,000 or even 480,917 €! “My client had placed everything and he lost everything”, warns Me Anne-Sophie Bellaich. His widow and his daughter hope, without really believing it, to recover a few euros. A total of 4.5 million euros were embezzled and no one found a trace. More 700,000 € which escaped the tax authorities. In the space of 6 years, from 2011 to 2016, a sacred addition. “I did not touch a cent”, affirms Christian Loubersanes, alone at the helm and far from his gossip, and his charm, of yesteryear.
Among the victims, according to the judicial customs investigation and four years of investigation, some friends of philosophy, according to the expression of Me Laurent de Caunes. Freemasons but also friends, friends. “He had beaters worthy of the short hunt to bring back money, often taken from humble people,” denounces Me Frédéric Douchez without hope for the future. “There may be a little silver tan somewhere …” Not found. “Yet they sought,” warns, in defense, Mr. Simon Cohen.
“A gigantic scam”, 5 years in prison required
Christian Loubersanes played courtiers but never put a penny out of producing a few false contracts or using clever arguments. A customer is surprised that Swiss Life does not have a record of his money? “I am a courtier, I always place in the best of your interest, he replied,” explains Me Michel Avenas, one of whose clients lost € 351,276.
In what the prosecutor described as a “gigantic scam”, revenues of over 8% were promised. Where did the money go ? In the purchase of a company, undoubtedly too expensive, where a Masonic lodge was to be installed. In the feeding of the current accounts of this company condemned to the losses. And the rest ? In everyday life ? Without a doubt. “I always thought that I could reimburse everything,” said the defendant. Did he really believe it?
A tax audit in 2014 destabilized but not stopped the race forward. “This self-confidence, this conviction I will succeed in repaying, it is the root element, the key but it does not deserve prison”, Me Simon Cohen in response to the requisitions of the prosecution: 5 years including two suspended sentences and repayment obligation.
With what ? The tax administration has already seized 1.4 million real estate.
Deliberated in two weeks.