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Ina Scher’s Hackers Attempt to Steal WBI’s Confidential Whistleblower Information for Tax- Cheat Client John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners
Unidentified Boston Law Firm May Also be Involved
Whistleblowers International (WBI) has discovered that it is the target of an illegal computer hacking effort orchestrated by a major New York law firm, Davis & Gilbert on behalf of its client, alleged tax and SEC fraudsters, John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners. A second law firm, located in Boston, may also be complicit in the illegal activities. WBI has not yet identified that Boston law firm until it has completed its investigation.
John C. Howe is a resident of Westport Connecticut and is a primary manager and investor in Od Hill Partners and several private hedge funds located in Darien, Connecticut.
Mr. Howe is being accused of engaging in tax and securities fraud, and stealing investor funds.
Previously, WBI published a series of articles covering the case involving a Boston whistleblower who has filed with the IRS and SEC, accusing John C. Howe, Old Hill Partners, Inc. and other private hedge funds, of committing tax and securities fraud. Those articles also included information on a second whistleblower who is preparing to file claims against Mr. Howe alleging that Mr. Howe and others “siphoned” client funds for Mr. Howe’s personal benefit, overcharged management fees to client investors, and engaged in tax fraud using off-shore entities.
In October 2014, WBI learned that an agent of Mr. Howe contacted various media outlets and threatened them with litigation if they did not remove WBI’s and other media articles focused on Mr. Howe, Old Hill Partners and their related funds.
Until recently, WBI did not know the identity of Mr. Howe’s agent. Last week, WBI published an article, Davis & Gilbert’s Ina Scher Behind Attacks of Whistleblowers International, in which WBI identified Ina Scher as the “agent” behind John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners. Ms. Scher is a partner of Davis & Gilbert, a Manhattan law firm which represents John C. Howe and Old Hill Partners.
This week, based on information obtained by WBI’s private investigators, WBI believes that partner Ina Scher is the mastermind behind an elaborate campaign to steal confidential information from WBI’s computers, blogs and web sites. Some of that information is sensitive and includes the identity of a second whistleblower who is about to file claims alleging that John C. Howe, in concert with others, “siphoned” client funds for his own personal benefit and also overcharged management fees to his investor clients.
“Given Mr. Howe’s aggressive actions against the first whistleblower, we have vigorously protected the second whistleblower’s identity in fear that Mr. Howe might attack and threaten him prior to his whistleblower filings, ” says Ann Shoutzer, a WBI representative.
In response to recent threats made by John Howe’s representatives to several U.S. based web host companies, WBI hired a forensic computer consulting firm to safeguard its web-based computer files. WBI’s consultants were able to detect that certain third parties had tried to infiltrate WBI’s computer system and access WBI’s files. “We believe that WBI’s forensic consultants were able to stop the hackers before they completed their task, ” says Ann Shoutzer, a WBI representative.
WBI’s consultants were able to uncovered communications made between the hackers and a consulting firm that hired the hackers. Those communications explicitly identify Ina Scher of Davis & Gilbert as their contact and client. Ms. Scher represents Mr. Howe.
Says Erik Nordenberg, an E.U. legal correspondent for WBI, “We also have evidence that Ina Scher contacted several U.S. web hosting companies demanding that they remove WBI’s articles about Mr. Howe and Old Hill Partners.”
Continues Nordenberg, “Now, the circle is complete. We have the same law firm who threatened web hosting companies, also linked to the hiring of the computer hackers. Mr. Howe and his lawyer, Ina Scher, have been caught red handed.”
According to WBI’s forensic consultants, the group hired by Davis & Gilbert customarily uses computer hackers located in Africa and Russia who are known for applying “unethical and illegal” techniques to break into computer systems and files.
“Davis & Gilbert most likely hired this shadowy hacker group because they can perform illegal activities that are not permitted by U.S. law. Using foreign hackers keeps Mr. Howe from being implicated in a potentially criminal activity, ” says Nordenberg.
WBI has uncorroborated evidence that a second law firm, located in Boston, Massachusetts (United States), who presently represents Mr. Howe, might be implicated in the hacking arrangement. To date, WBI has insufficient evidence to publicly announce that Boston law
firm.
Says Nordenberg, “Howe used a law firm to do his dirty work so that he can hide behind the attorney-client privilege and avoid being linked to the hackers’ illegal activities. Once we prove the Boston law firm’s involvement, we will expose them vigorously.”
“In the end, all roads lead back to Ina Scher of David & Gilbert, and then to John Howe. We are exploring our legal options, ” says WBI’s Ann Shoutzer.
