What MegaUpload founders stand to lose
A huge sum of cash, a fleet of exotic vehicles, and many domain names could become government property if the accused MegaUpload founders are guilty.
Are you surprised about the feds shutting down MegaUpload? One truly shocking nugget of information to emerge from the federal indictment is the unbelievable list of property and money subject to forfeiture from the defendants.
A conviction against Kim Schmitz (or one of the other listed MegaUpload associates) means that more than $175 million stashed away in 64 bank accounts around the world becomes U.S. government property. The other defendants in the indictment include several entities and individuals: MegaUpload Ltd., Vestor Ltd., Finn Batato, Julius Bencko, Sven Echternach, Mathias Ortmann, Andrus Nomm, and Bram Van Der Kolk.
The jaw-dropping salvo of cash was scattered around bank accounts in New Zealand, China, Germany, Malaysia, Philippines, Netherland, Australia, and Slovakia. There are also details about several PayPal and Citibank accounts used by MegaUpload associates in the indictment.
Kim Dotcom and associates also stand to lose a vast collection of cars and tech equipment.
The gadgets listed in the indictment are pretty stunning too:
- Three 82-inch Samsung 820DXN LCD TVs
- Two 108-inch Sharp LCD TVs
- Two Sony PMW-F3K cameras
- Two 65-inch Sharp LC-65XS1M LCD TVs
- A 56-inch TVLogic LUM56W
- 60 Dell 710 computer servers
Some of the automobiles listed for forfeiture include an amazing mix of exotic vehicles:
- 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe
- 2010 Maserati GranCabrio
- 16 various modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles (including many CLK and CL series)
- 1989 Lamborghini LM002
- 1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible
- 1957 Cadillac El Dorado
- Unknown Harley Davidson motorcycle
- Von Dutch Kustom motor bike
- Two 2010 Mini Cooper S coupes
- 2010 Sea-Doo GTX jet ski
Several of the vehicles had personalized plates with titles including 'GOD,' 'HACKER,' 'STONED,' 'GUILTY' and 'CEO.'
Lastly, there is also a collection of domains that could be seized, such as: Megastuff.co; Megaworld.com; Megaclicks.co; Megastuff.info; Megaclicks.org; Megaworld.mobi; Megastuff.org; Megaclick.us; Mageclick.com; HDmegaporn.com; Megavkdeo.com; Megaupload.com; Megaupload.org; Megarotic.com; Megaclick.com; Megavideo.com; Megavideoclips.com; Megaporn.com.
Guess you could say that Dotcom and his MegaUpload associates had the best of the best, until today. There is also mention of several pieces of art up for seizure, including an Anonymous Hooded Sculpture and Predator Statue. I hope that the government could find a good home for those.