Gambling boss with dubious reputation and “golden” passport – investor at Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint

Gambling boss of dubious reputation Sean Scott and banker John Baldwin have received Bulgarian “golden” passports for investment. Through the Bulgarian “BC HoldCo

they are partners in BC Industries

, which invests in a complex on a plot of 143.7 acres opposite the “golden“ parking lot

of Razmig Chakarian – Ami of Kapitan Andreevo. Part of the land was sold to investors from Chakaryan. In May 2022 FIB financed the project with EUR 51.5 million in credit.

For the two investors with Bulgarian passports is understood from
a publication
of the Capital newspaper. The investment plan from 2020 includes the construction of a complex with a hotel, restaurants, a spa and Turkish baths, a shopping and business center, an arena for sports and entertainment events, car and bus parks. Land deals were made in 2021 and 2022, with sellers being”Progressive Building 2016

” of Razmig Chakarian – Ami and Svilengrad Municipality – informed the newspaper “Capital”.

The California Gambling Boss

According to the Washington Post

, Sean Andre Scott’s career in the gambling business began in 1994, when he received a casino license in Nevada, USA. Subsequently, Scott bought or developed dozens of gambling businesses.

Due to evidence of poor financial management, irregular accounting practices,
hidden partnerships
and offshore companies, Scott was revoked or failed to obtain a gambling license in five states. Publications also linked Scott to problems with the authorities of gambling businesses with his participation in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and others.

Sean Scott and John Baldwin are partners at Bridge Capital LLC

“, registered on the island of Saipan, part of the Pacific Mariana Islands, which in its portfolio announces investments in Bulgaria. Both are partners in Angkor Capital Specialized Bank

, registered

in Cambodia.

Investing in “golden” passports

American Sean Andre Scott became a Bulgarian citizen by decree 74 of 13.09.2017 under file number 1570/2017. John Kevin Baldwin (John Kevin Baldwin) became a Bulgarian citizen by Decree 61 of 09.05.2018 under file number 5993/2017. Documents filed with the Trade Register show that Baldwin has also retained his US citizenship.

A check in the Property Register shows that Scott and Baldwin do not own properties in Bulgaria as individuals. Both are involved in a common 4 companies in Bulgaria, including in the two companies investing in Kapitan Andreevo. When they apply for Bulgarian citizenship, however, they still have no participation in the companies.

Sean Scott becomes sole owner of BBC HoldCo

” Only on 08.03.2018, already as a Bulgarian citizen. Subsequently, and John Baldwin, again as a Bulgarian citizen, became a partner on 31.05.2018 by endorsement of 25,000 shares with a nominal value of BGN 1 each.

At the time of applying for Bulgarian citizenship, both had not invested in the real economy. They probably bought government securities or deposited money on deposit with a Bulgarian bank, as the Bulgarian Citizenship Act gave opportunities at the time.

The increase in the capital of the companies investing in Kapitan Andreevo took place after Scott and Baldwin became Bulgarian citizens. “BC HoldCo” was initially registered with a capital of BGN 50,000. Its capital has been doubled: by EUR 3.1 million. Lv. on 16.12.2021 and by 3 million. Lv. on 27.01.2022 “BC Industries“” is registered with a capital of BGN 2. Subsequently, its capital was increased by four times: by 3.4m euros. Lv. on 01.12.2021, by EUR 3 million. Lv. on 31.01.2022, by EUR 6.4 million. Lv. on 09.06.2022 and by another EUR 1.7 million. Lv. On 26.07.2022, the last increase in the capital of BC Industries on 03.08.2022 is a non-cash installment, representing receivables under a loan agreement granted by BC HoldCo AD.

So far in “Golden Passports”

The BRRD has data on those who have received golden passports as investors and makes a journalistic study of their relations with business and politics.

Among the newly-minted Bulgarians are top bankers of Russia: Dmitry Kushaev – director of Credit Suisse Moscow, Roman Nagaev – former director of investment banking of the Russian bank VTB Capital, and Igor Finogenov – former director of the Eurasian Development Bank and close to the authorities, as evidenced by his photos with the former president and prime minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev.

The Prosecutor General has already requested the revocation of the Bulgarian passport of a top Russian banker. According to unofficial information from
Mediapool
is about the Russian banker
Igor Finogenov
, revealed earlier by the BRRD.

Ilshat Hairullin,

the former richest lawmaker and billionaire from Putin’s party, has a Bulgarian “golden passport” from 2019. Another Kremlin official with a golden passport in Bulgaria is Roman Savushkin

, director of the United Wagon Company, a structure-defining enterprise in Russia. The owner of a Russian oil company Sergei Zakharov

also turned out to be a Bulgarian with a “golden passport”.

Russian businessman Yevgeny Mulyukov, who caused a political scandal in Estonia, has received a Bulgarian “golden passport”, Mediapool revealed

.

Bulgarian “golden passport” was also received by a hacker

who from Bulgarian territory attacked Ukraine to demonstrate the capabilities of a system of denial of service to a high-ranking Russian FSB agent, our investigation also found.

Lead photo: Sean Scott, photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette /Centralmaine.com/

***

Разследващата журналистика е разузнаването на гражданите. BIRD се финансира от дарения. Ние не публикуваме реклами. Не получаваме държавни субсидии. Не разчитаме на грантове. Финансирането чрез малки дарения от читатели е гаранция за нашата независимост. Включете се, за да продължим да разкриваме злоупотреби и да държим отговорни властимащите. Използваме Вашите пари за хонорари на журналистите, командировки, изграждане и поддръжка на нашите информационни системи, такси за фирмени и имотни регистри у нас и по света, придобиване на техника и специално оборудване, осигуряване на нашата безопасност и други важни работни мисии. Важно: Ако дарявате всеки месец това ще ни даде възможност да планираме и организираме нашата работа. Благодарим Ви! Нас ни има, защото Вас Ви има!

This post is also available in: Български (Bulgarian)