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It has been 5 years since I met Tom Wilson, of which, the last three, I have been involved with the Justice System. Tom Wilson, at first convincingly “Jekylled” as a kind, loyal, family man and humanitarian. As I later learned, having survived “Mr Hyde” he is an adept and professional criminal. Before he targeted me, he had left a trail of victims stretching over 15 years and in at least 10 states. With guile and genius, he has escaped incarceration but one time; and even then, was given early release. He has been convicted of various crimes, ordered to serve paroles, ignored them and moved to other states, never being pursued for his violations. He has played the government and the law like a violin, avoiding taxes on reported millions of dollars of income, not filing returns, and making no restitution for his crimes, including fraud, car theft, writing bad checks and tax evasion. Many lives are ruined in his wake.
These victims, unfortunately, are aware the long arm of the law is slow and legal representation is costly. When faced with the reality of cost benefit analysis, which negatively indicates overhead will far exceed any possible financial reimbursement, many have had no choice but to walk away. The “Tom Wilson’s”, who know this, continue to openly to go about their scamming and “always a step ahead”. This puts the Judicial System in a precarious state, making it unintentionally complicit with the criminal. “White Collar Terrorism” is thus not thwarted, but ENCOURAGED!
It seems IRONIC that victimless petty crimes are addressed with greater vigor. Under the “Three Strikes and Your are Out” approach, people spend the rest of their lives in jail. Yet, prompt judicial action toward obtaining justice for those who have been “Struck”, is close to nonexistent. This is a misappropriation of resources. Thanks to recent media exposure, the IRS and NSA are prime examples.
Please help bring Thomas C. Wilson to justice. He is a 59 year old Caucasian male, 6’3” approximately 300 lbs. He presents as an employee of Fortress Investments, or as an individual interested in rural or commercial properties, such as greenhouses or hotels. Don’t think this will not happen to you. He has fooled even public officials, including a state Superior Judge.
In the words of Dr. Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, and Auschwitz Survivor, "Don't Stand Idly By".
If you have information as to Mr Wilson’s whereabouts, please call your local police or the following telephone #’s: [protected] or [protected]. An Arrest Warrant has been issued. Don’t let this criminal ruin another life.
Please check the following site to view a picture of Thomas C Wilson: http://www.match.com/profile/showprofile.aspx?lid=1000005&TP=U&Handle=Klondikemydog&uid=WTj9HYTZe0clCMTZ1hI+6w==. Given the description provided, please report any sightings or contact with this person. Thank you.
Received an anonymous update from Mystic Connecticut. Thomas C Wilson somehow transferred himself from Lenox Hill Hospital to Stone Ridge Retirement Community in Mystic, Conn. He was transported by limousine, paid by an unknown realtor. His stay at Stone Ridge ended abruptly today, when it was realized that they were not going to be paid, despite Mr Wilson's promises of a check per wire. Although he entered the facility, using a cane; he exited with haste to yet, another chauffeured vehicle.
What will it take to convince our local, state and federal legal systems to protect us from harm? We've served this criminal up on a silver platter and they fail to act. I wonder how they would feel if it were their parents who were victimized? The potential for disaster was great while Thomas C Wilson resided at Stone Ridge.
Thank you for all the tips. We continue to try warn potential victims.
Sally Chickering [protected]
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Alleged con man accused of leaving trail of tears around the U.S. ending in Mount PleasantNatalie Caula Hauff
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Expand PhotoSpecial to the Daily |Thomas Clay Wilson, right, was arrested in Connecticut on a federal warrant. The alleged con man is being taken to South Carolina where he will explain to a judge why he didn't repay almost $1 million he's accused of stealing from his ex-wife. Wilson's nationwide trail of cons runs through Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield and Summit counties. Here, Wilson is on a guided fishing trip in the Pacific northwest. The guide asked that his face be obscured in the photo.
Expand PhotoSpecial to the Daily |Thomas Clay Wilson targeted actor Dean Cain's ranch in the Eagle County section of the Roaring Fork Valley. Wilson was trying to collect investors to buy the ranch, claiming he was going to launch an indoor organic vegetable growing operation, a claim that court records say he is accused of trying for many years in various parts of the country. Cain, who played Superman to Teri Hatcher's Lois Lane in the television series, "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, " was saved when his Aspen Realtor halted the alleged scam.
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1
Share on email Share on print
SmallerLarger
Expand PhotoSpecial to the Daily |Thomas Clay Wilson, right, was arrested in Connecticut on a federal warrant. The alleged con man is being taken to South Carolina where he will explain to a judge why he didn't repay almost $1 million he's accused of stealing from his ex-wife. Wilson's nationwide trail of cons runs through Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield and Summit counties. Here, Wilson is on a guided fishing trip in the Pacific northwest. The guide asked that his face be obscured in the photo.
Expand PhotoSpecial to the Daily |Thomas Clay Wilson targeted actor Dean Cain's ranch in the Eagle County section of the Roaring Fork Valley. Wilson was trying to collect investors to buy the ranch, claiming he was going to launch an indoor organic vegetable growing operation, a claim that court records say he is accused of trying for many years in various parts of the country. Cain, who played Superman to Teri Hatcher's Lois Lane in the television series, "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, " was saved when his Aspen Realtor halted the alleged scam.
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Thomas Clay Wilson might have tried to con Superman, but Clay’s ex-wife is his kryptonite.
The accused con man who tried to tried to run a scam involving TV Superman Dean Cain’s Eagle County ranch was arrested in Connecticut. A judge ordered him to repay his ex-wife’s life savings he allegedly stole — almost $1 million. He didn’t do it, and he’ll soon be on his way to South Carolina to explain to Judge William Creech why.
Wilson’s history of real estate scams goes back decades and recently ran through Eagle County.
Connecticut authorities say Wilson was allegedly trying to run a scam for some land near Mystic, and may have been trying to put together a phony deal to raise money, ostensibly to buy a yacht, possibly in Connecticut and maybe another in North Carolina.
“They made the warrant extraditable, and we locked him up, ” said Det. Sgt. David Knowles with the Stonington, Conn., police.
Wilson is being held on $250, 000 bond in the Stonington, Conn., although he is currently in a hospital after complaining of an illness, Knowles said, something he has done many times before as his scams unraveled. Escape from the hospital isn’t likely. He’s under 24 hour guard, Knowles said.
Wilson, 59, showed up in a limousine at a Stone Ridge, a luxury senior housing development in Mystic, Conn., telling the management company he worked for an investment firm, and that he’d have his people send them the money. It turns out, though, that he doesn’t have any people, Knowles discovered.
Knowles connected the dots, and several of those dots led straight through Eagle County.
The arrest warrant says Wilson was convicted or investigated for scams in real estate, bogus investments and other scams in numerous states over the past 16 years. He’s a fugitive from justice, the warrant says.
Wilson’s history of real estate cons goes back to at least 1997, according to court documents and his son, Clay Wilson. Court documents list 23 residences in 14 years.
Conning Cain
Wilson’s alleged High Country cons began near Basalt, where he told folks he was collecting investors to buy 35 acres, build greenhouses and grow organic vegetables. The land he targeted is owned by actor Dean Cain, star of the television series, “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”
The ranch listed for $5.9 million ranch with Bob Stardoj, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Mason Morse Real Estate. Stardoj shut down the deal before anyone was scammed.
While he was in the area, Wilson also tried to scam the owners of Ruby on the River Ranch, a small resort along the Colorado River in Silt.
The owners, who asked that their name not be used, said Wilson called them in June, saying he wanted to buy their ranch. He said he was driving from Pocatello, Idaho, and would see them in two days.
Two days turned into two weeks, and he showed up without identification, but with a story about being mugged in Salt Lake City, and how the robbers had stolen everything. They put Wilson up in a local motel and loaned him some money. Two weeks later they told the Holiday Inn managers to lock the room because they weren’t paying anything more.
Wilson rolled into Eagle County this past summer from New Mexico, driving a brown Ford Excursion allegedly stolen from Rich Ford in Edgewood, N.M., with a hot check.
High Country cons
Wilson has been through the region before. He was picked up for fraud in Summit County in 2010. The case was moved to Eagle County, where court documents indicate he was under house arrest. When Wilson rolled into Eagle County last summer, driving that stolen Ford Excursion, he had fled New Mexico after investors lost $1.3 million in a real estate deal he put together.
A New Mexico judge ordered Wilson to repay the entire $1.3 million, but he only came up with $300, 000. He escaped New Mexico when he skipped a court appearance. His lawyer, Laurence Guggino, told the judge that Wilson was at the Heart Hospital in Albuquerque, claiming chest pain, pain down his left arm and shortness of breath.
Back in Stonington, Conn., where Wilson was arrested, Det. Knowles says that’s the same set of symptoms Wilson claims he’s suffering from … again.
Wilson went so far as to fake a suicide attempt in order to get a free hotel stay in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Court records show Wilson has run cons in Pitkin County, Lakewood, Denver and Bend Ore., which he lists as his address.
Wilson’s victims and enemies include his son, Clay Wilson, who claims his father earned his trust then stole his identity, car and dog. His son lives in the Denver metro area and is outspoken about his disdain for his father, calling him “a cowardly psychopath who has dragged my name, my credit and my ability to function down to the depths of hell.”
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at [protected] or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
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Stonington police arrest Oregon man on fugitive from justice charge
Published 01/02/2014 12:00 AMUpdated 01/02/2014 11:06 PM0
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Stonington — Police on Wednesday charged a man who has been convicted or investigated for being involved in real estate, investment and other scams in numerous states over the past 16 years, with being a fugitive from justice.
Police said a concerned resident who had recent dealings with the man called them to his residence at Whitehall Pond on Route 27 in Mystic at about 10:20 p.m. When they arrived, they found Thomas C. Wilson, 59, who gave them an address in Bend, Ore. A computer check of his name revealed that there was an arrest warrant for him in South Carolina for allegedly stealing the life savings of one of his ex-wives.
Police took Wilson into custody and held him in lieu of a $250, 000 bond pending his arraignment Thursday in New London Superior Court. That arraignment was postponed after police said he was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment of an unspecified medical issue.
Detective Sgt. David Knowles, who heads the police department's detective unit, said police here became aware of Wilson's background and that he was in town several weeks ago. At that time, there were no warrants for his arrest.
Media and court reports show that Wilson has been involved in investment and equity scams in Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Washington and other states.
Superman wasn’t scammed, but Thomas Clay Wilson tried.
Wilson told folks he was collecting investors to buy 35 acres near Basalt, build greenhouses and grow organic vegetables. The land is owned by actor Dean Cain, star of the television series, “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”
Realtor Bob Starodoj is Cain’s real estate agent, listing the $5.9 million ranch with Coldwell Banker Mason Morse Real Estate.
Starodoj has been in Roaring Fork real estate for decades, and said Wilson’s plan “didn’t pass the smell test.” He steered Cain and everyone else away from Wilson.
“This guy is extremely smart. Unfortunately he’s on the wrong side of the law, ” Starodoj said.
Police say Wilson’s whereabouts are unknown. Attempts to contact him at some of his phone numbers listed in court documents were unsuccessful.
Wilson’s history of real estate cons goes back to at least 1997, according to court documents and his son, Clay Wilson. Court documents list 23 residences in 14 years.
“My father masquerades as a businessman who is looking to build a greenhouse. He will claim to have investors, business partners, ” Clay said. “But let me tell you the truth. Mr. Wilson is now on the run.”
Court records say Wilson tried to pull similar scams in New Mexico, Michigan, Florida and the Pacific Northwest. There was a hydroponic tomato growing operation in Hickory, N.C., that didn’t exist.
Back in Eagle County
Wilson has been through Eagle County before. He was picked up for fraud in Summit County in 2010. The case was moved to Eagle County, where court documents indicate he was under house arrest.
Wilson popped up again in Eagle County earlier this month, driving a brown Ford Excursion stolen from a New Mexico Ford dealership. He left New Mexico after investors lost $1.3 million in a real estate deal he put together.
“This guy has left a trail of tears and broken dreams from coast to coast, ” said Dave Kraft, a Snowmass Village bus driver who said Wilson swindled him.
Kraft was camping last summer in the Roaring Fork Valley when he spotted Wilson sitting in a chair across the creek. As they chatted, Wilson also told him he was a hedge fund manager and was unwinding. Wilson told him he’d suffered a stroke and heart attack, Kraft said.
One night after work, Kraft checked on him and found Wilson with a power cord tied around his neck. The other end was wrapped around a hand hold above Wilson’s head with no slack in the line, Kraft said. Kraft cut him down and rushed him to the Aspen hospital.
When Wilson was discharged from the hospital, Kraft offered to share a hotel room with Wilson, to keep an eye on him. Wilson told Kraft that his company would pick up the tab for the hotel the rest of the month. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office got involved because the hotel bill had not been paid. Kraft said he was eventually stuck with the bill.
Stolen Excursion
Wilson arrived in Eagle County from New Mexico, driving a brown Ford Excursion allegedly stolen from Rich Ford in Edgewood, N.M. During May of this year, Wilson spent enough time hanging around the car lot that the employees got to know him. Rich Ford finance manager Braden Ebbesen said Wilson picked a day when he wasn’t around, wrote a hot check for the Excursion and drove away. Rich Ford’s insurance company covered the loss, Ebbesen said.
“He showed up on the right day with the right story. The law is completely flawed that he could be driving that thing, ” Ebbesen said.
A son done wrong
Wilson’s son, Clay Wilson, lives in the Denver metro area and is outspoken about his disdain for his father, calling him “a cowardly psychopath who has dragged my name, my credit and my ability to function down to the depths of hell.”
He said he hasn’t talked to Thomas since last October. He said he’s trying to resurrect his relationship with his mother, who tried to warn him about his father.
He said his father left his life in a shambles that could be the theme of a tragic country song. Clay lost his home, his truck and even his dog.
Clay was going to college in the Denver metro area when Thomas showed up and asked to stay for a few days, Clay said. A few days turned into a few weeks and a few months.
Clay said Thomas opened checking accounts around Denver using his son’s Social Security number, then wrote hot checks all over town. Clay was evicted from his apartment.
Thomas put both his dog and Clay’s dog in a kennel, then disappeared without paying the bill, Clay said. Eventually, the kennel turned the dog over to an animal shelter.
“He did the one thing I thought no parent could ever do. He used me, ” Clay said. “I lost everything because I trusted him. I am rebuilding my life. He’s nothing more than a sociopath. It’s heartbreaking for me to say that, but nothing he can do will surprise me.”
New Mexico mess
An Albuquerque Journal story outlines one of Wilson’s operations. He’s accused of intercepting $1.3 million in an ill-fated New Mexico land deal, and spending most of it. A judge ordered Wilson to turn the money over to the court, but only $300, 000 was.
Wilson’s attorneys told the Journal he was entitled to the money.
By the time he was ordered to return the money, Wilson had bought a new SUV, fishing equipment, made home repairs and paid lawyer fees and old debts.
When he missed a court appearance, a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Nine days later, Wilson filed for bankruptcy.
His New Mexico bankruptcy attorney, Bill Davis, said he hasn’t had contact with Wilson in five years.
Patricia Owens lost most of the money in New Mexico. She said she tried unsuccessfully to get law enforcement to investigate the New Mexico case, but police told her it was a civil matter.
“This is the most egregious act of fraud, deceit, concealment and thievery imaginable, ” Owens said in a complaint filed with police. “The halls of justice should be a cruel walk.”
A hearing was set for May 29, 2013, but Wilson didn’t appear. His lawyer, Laurence Guggino, told the judge that Wilson was at the Heart Hospital in Albuquerque with chest pain, pain down his left arm and shortness of breath.
Wooed and wounded
Sally Chickering is one of Wilson’s three ex-wives. The 60-year old nurse lives in South Carolina, and court documents say Wilson stole her life savings, $915, 891. The two were married in 2009. In 2011 she uncovered a box of documents outlining some of the frauds Wilson had pulled, and she moved out. By that time, though, Wilson had drained her bank account in Charleston, S.C., court records show.
Chickering even spent nine days in jail when Wilson accused her of trying to kill him.
On April 11, 2013, South Carolina’s 9th Circuit Court Judge Wayne Creech ordered Wilson to repay that money, plus penalties and legal costs.
So far, Chickering has not received a dime.
When it came time for him to explain his web of lies at their divorce trial, Wilson failed to appear, according to Chickering’s divorce ruling from Judge William Creech.
Another of his former wives estimates Wilson has more than 100 victims across the nation.
The real estate scams date back to at least 1997 when the New York District Court held him in contempt for lying and stonewalling when he was sued for bilking investors in a fraudulent real estate venture that a federal district court judge called a “shabby saga.”
Wilson is described by his victims as tall and heavy in the middle. He is 59 years old, dark wavy hair with a touch of gray, and no facial hair. He has a dark birthmark on his lower cheek. Chickering claims his IQ is off the charts.
His match.com profile, under “Klondikemydog, ” reads like this:
“Not sure who the perfect partner is. If I see it I will know it. I’m 57 and fly fish. My job allows me to travel and I’m working towards developing an agribusiness slowing down and giving back. I’m generous and very loyal to those around me. I think we should go out of our way to show acts of kindness and helpfulness everyday.”
Walking Between The Rain Drops by Derek Lancer
Thomas Clay Wilson Sr. : Is he the most brilliant conman in US history? This guy makes the characters in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels look like Boy Scouts earning merit badges.
He is reportedly working his trade in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado and beyond as far as Jackson Hole. Do not believe a word he says since Wilson has left a trail of financial ruin coast to coast. However, Tom Wilson is cautious not to commit criminal offenses, only civil offenses.
Wilson cannot be touched for his heinous acts because "he know all the holes in the legal system and is made of 100% Teflon" according to scam victim Patricia Owens who lost a reported 1.6 million dollars in New Mexico.
Wilson targets men and women with equal expertise and reportedly even conned a former New Mexico Supreme Court Justice, according to Owens. One victim said "Tom Wilson could charm a fox out of it's fir and the fox would give it up willingly".
Wilson knows more about real estate than most any broker. He understands more about finance than Harvard's most skilled MBAs and has proven it from Washington State to Florida and Maine to Arizona. Thomas Wilson is a legal shark and is more skilled at it's practice than most attorneys. His former wife, Sally Chickering, claims his IQ is off the charts.
Wilson is described by his victims as tall and heavy in the middle. He is 59 years old. Dark wavy hair with a touch of gray, no facial hair. Wilson has a dark birth mark on his lower cheek. Wilson's favorite scam target is buying distressed motels in semi-rural areas or ranches to build green houses. The funds to purchase the properties never materialize and yet he finds ways to walk away with thousands and sometimes millions of dollars. Wilson allegedly embezzles cars from dealerships and does so without consequences. He was last reported to be driving a brown ford excursion diesel that he took from Rich Ford in Edgewood, New Mexico. The dealership confirmed the embezzlement occurred in May 2013.
Thomas Clay Wilson Sr. was born May 12, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio to Glen and Helen Wilson until the family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wilson graduated from Bradford College in New Hampsphire. Wilson has lived all over the country. He reportedly scammed a Teton Valley, Idaho man out of over $60, 000 in electronics.
Wilson's third wife - Sally Chickering - was scammed for everything she owned. Chickering reported losing her life savings and was awarded a sizable settlement she feels will never be collected. Wilson falsely accused another x-wife of trying to extort from him. This unfortunate person spent 9 days in Jail and lost her house, job, retirement and her child's college fund.
Patricia Owens claims Wilson scammed for 1.6 million dollars. Owens spent hundreds of thousands trying to recover it. Wilson had already burned through a million in a couple weeks and then declared bankruptcy. Since Owens was low on the list to collect, she spent a reported $200, 000 to collect $300, 000 of the original 1.6 million dollars swindled.This is just a sampling of one former wife's estimated 100 plus victims nationwide.
The only defense against Tom Wilson is foreknowledge of his methods and distance from him in miles. Perhaps one day congress will pass the Thomas Clay Wilson Sr. Scam Prevention Act. Until then, beware!
Great information. I hope it saves others from being preyed on and becoming a victim. Check with US Bank in Seattle, they will verify that he opens accounts using false social security numbers. This individual is very dangerous and ruins lives.