A senator on the hearing panel is just back from an investigative trip to Florida, with what he says are new details about the$200,000 money trail.
Meanwhile the University of Hawaii says the FBI continues to pursue a criminal investigation of how a promotion team allegedly bilked the university out of its concert deposit.
After a six-hour hearing last Monday, the Senate Special Committee on Accountability resumes Tuesday afternoon.
"We’re going to have (Stan Sheriff Center manager) Richard Sheriff come in, Chancellor (Tom) Apple, three of the board of regents to follow up on a number of questions that we had, as well as some of the new things,” said committee chair, Sen. Donna Mercado Kim.
Not planning to attend nor send testimony is local promoter Bob Peyton, who is hospitalized according to his attorney. The committee wanted also to hear from the Florida promoter that Peyton said required a $200,000 Stevie Wonder deposit — now unaccounted for. Any word back from Miami’s Epic Talent?
"No, they have not been, but we had our own investigator go over to Miami,” Kim said, “Sen. Sam Slom. I’m calling him Sherlock Slom."
Slom investigates in Florida
Slom told KHON2 he has concluded it was scam, but not a sophisticated one, and that anyone could have easily found out Epic Talent did not really represent Wonder “or anybody else for that matter.”
"Apparently he went and visited some of the addresses,” Kim said, “and I’m sure he’s going to have something to report on when he comes back."
Asked about the senator’s investigative trip, UH spokesperson Lynne Waters said: “From the university’s perspective this matter is in the hands of law enforcement, which is still actively investigating it."
Asked when was the last update from law enforcement, Waters responded: “We have been in contact with the FBI on this matter since we first reported it to the FBI on July 10/11, 2012, including contact with the FBI since last week’s Senate hearing. The FBI continues to actively pursue its criminal investigation of this matter."
The FBI declined any comment. Slom said the FBI is aware of his findings in Florida.
Who’s behind Epic Talent?
Epic Talent principals are Sean Barriero and Sannise "Sunny" Crosby — Crosby calls the two “engaged” on Facebook. They answer calls from KHON2 but hang up when asked for comment. Crosby books and promotes of local artists and DJs and works at a painting company. Business records show other active and inactive entities of hers and his, including Crosby’s Money In Da Mattress Entertainment. More than $80,000 in federal tax liens are also quick finds in public record.
The Senate panel says questions will go beyond this missing money
"Just so many things that we’re finding,” Kim said, “even more contracts now that money is being spent that was not reported or given to us."
KHON2 will stream the hearing live on our website, starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
