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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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‘About That $200,000 …’

DALLAS (CN) - A Texan says a sports franchise owner who claimed his crew "had a close relationship with Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez" promised him a stake in a Peruvian mobile lottery operation, then took his $200,000 and waltzed with it.

Lee Purser sued Brent Coralli, Jet Text, Sting Group Holdings, Royal Nation, Texas Titans Futbol and Coralli Inc. in Federal Court.

Sting Group and Texas Titans are soccer clubs owned by Coralli. He also owns Royal Nations clothing store and Jet Text, according to the complaint.

Purser claims Coralli asked him to invest in an "emerging" gaming operation and bilked him out of $200,000.

"In the later part of 2007 and into 2008, Purser was approached by Coralli with an alleged investment proposition whereby Purser and others affiliated with Purser would be given an opportunity to buy into an 'emerging' gaming operation which would be licensed in Peru for the purposes of operating a Mobile Lottery as to which there would be no competition ('the Peruvian venture')," according to the complaint.

A mobile lottery allows players to buy chances through cell phones and text messaging, rather than paper tickets or scratch-off cards.

According to the complaint, Managed Gaming Solutions is a British mobile and interactive gaming company, with Corporacion Galena as its Peruvian affiliate. Silverstrings Investments and Systems Latin America are gaming industry experts and strategic partners of Managed Gaming Solutions. The companies are listed as "aiders and abettors," but not as defendants, in the complaint.

The complaint states: "In connection with the Peruvian venture, associates of Coralli boasted that they had a close relationship with Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez and could guarantee that an entity with which they were affiliated would receive valuable license to operate the lottery.

"Promising millions of dollars in gaming profits from Galena, a consortium was created whereby Galena would be owned 40 percent by MGS, 40 percent by Silverstrings and 20 percent by SLA.

"In turn, Coralli agreed with Purser that, for and in consideration of an investment of $400,000, Purser and his affiliates would own 10 percent of Silverstrings, which investment Coralli instructed Purser had to be funded through Jet Text, which in turn would see to it that Purser's investment would be protected."

Purser says he paid Jet Text $200,000 in December 2007 and January 2008.

He claims that at no time did Jet Text provide him with proof of his investment.

"On December 2, 2008, Galena was awarded the Lottery license, as predicted, as Coralli associates were assured by President Alan Garcia Perez, and the license rights for a twenty-year term were made official on January 23, 2009," the complaint states.

"The press release regarding the award of the license to Galena indicated that Galena had two shareholders.

"At the press conference, Tero Turunen, Galena's Chairman of the Board, boasted that in Peru, there were 9 million mobile users who were being targeted out of a total Peruvian population of 28.7 million Peruvians, a '... perfect opportunity ...' for success.

"Peruvians being among the world's poorest people, no comment was forthcoming from Chairman Turunen about the human suffering that would naturally come from Galena's bilking of an impoverished population." (Ellipses in complaint.)

Purser claims he has not heard from any of the players since then.

He believes that his money "never reached Galena or Silverstrings, but was rather used to fund fiscal shortages in the sports world of Sting, Royal and Titan."

"Purser further avers that the lure of the Peruvian venture was used by the defendant, individually and in concert one with the other to (i) launder money, (ii) engage in corrupt practices, (iii) further a criminal enterprise or several criminal enterprises, (iv) violate federal and state laws, (v) commit fraud, and (vi) otherwise cause damage to Purser and his interests."

Purser seeks treble damages for breach of contract and securities fraud. He is represented by Henry Klein, of New Orleans.

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