Last November, Bill Omar Carrasquillo, better known by his online handle ‘OMI IN A HELLCAT’, revealed that he’d been subjected to a massive raid by the FBI.
Some of his followers, who had admired his pirate IPTV service Gears Reloaded and his extraordinary fleet of luxury cars, doubted the claims were real and were actually some kind of publicity stunt. As time passed and evidence built, however, the possibility that this was an elaborate hoax designed to generate social media clicks quickly began to fade.
No Stunt, No Hoax, The Raid Happened
In December 2019, Carrasquillo presented new evidence showing that $5.2m had been liberated from one of his bank accounts on the day of the raid. CCTV footage showed dozens of federal officers, some armed, arriving at one of his addresses, with another 30 targeting one of Carrasquillo’s properties in Philadelphia.
Subsequent photos showed a prized Lamborghini being taken away on a trailer. A list of cars including a Lamborghini Huracan, an Aventador, and an Urus, a couple of Bentleys, an Audi R8, plus a mind-boggling range of other performance vehicles and motorcycles began appearing in government documents.
This was no absolutely no hoax but questions remained. Where was the case against Carrasquillo and why wasn’t the investigation against him being made public? Moreover, why hasn’t he been indicted nine months later?
What we know from Carrasquillo himself is that his problems are linked to the Gears IPTV service and (perhaps related) unpaid taxes. This February he said he was hoping to settle his case with the IRS but at the time of writing, that doesn’t appear to have happened, not least since the investigation against him is still ongoing.
Investigation into Carrasquillo and Gears Still Ongoing
Court documents obtained by TorrentFreak show the United States Government seeking an extension of time in respect of the massive haul of property seized from Carrasquillo last year. They reveal that not one but two federal search and seizure warrants were obtained last year to target Carrasquillo’s properties on November 21 (as previously reported) and December 16, an event that appears to have gone under the radar.
The document acknowledges the massive seizure of property (full list below) and then notes that actions last year were part of a much bigger operation.
“The search and seizure is part of a larger, ongoing federal investigation,” the filing reads.
According to the US Government, around January 17, 2020, the FBI sent Carrasquillo notices advising him that they intended to forfeit the assets. On February 19, 2020, he wrote back through counsel demanding that the property was returned.
In forfeiture cases, the US Government is required to obtain an indictment listing the property, file a civil complaint, or obtain an extension of time, in this case before May 19, 2020. However, the coronavirus pandemic threw a wrench in the works, something which allowed the Government more time to conduct its investigation.
Court Filings Suggest Work Still To Be Done, Big Plans For Carrasquillo
“The government is continuing to collect and review evidence regarding the seizure of the Seized Assets. That collection and review has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic in several ways. First, because no grand jury has sat in this district since early March 2020, the government has been unable to collect witness testimony,” the US Government filing reads.
“Second, certain evidence, including dozens of hard drives containing terabytes of information stored on servers belonging to the targets of the investigation, is being collected from foreign countries, including Canada, by way of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties.
“Even after receipt of the evidence, the government will require substantial time to review and analyze the voluminous responsive data. Third, witness interviews and analysis of evidence has been delayed because of the COVID-19 precautions,” it adds.
All things considered, a district court in Pennsylvania was happy to grant the Government the time it needs to move the case forward.
“The time period within which the government must obtain an indictment or file a complaint in this matter with regard to the claim filed by Bill Omar Carrasquillo is extended to October 16, 2020,” the Court’s order reads.
The US Government filing and subsequent order can be found here (pdf).
The seized assets listed for forfeiture are as follows:
1. 2019 Jeep Wrangler, VIN# 1C4HJXEG6KW570874;
2. 2018 Dodge Commercial ProMaster 2500 159″ W.B. High Roof, VIN# 3C6TRVDG7JE148833;
3. 2020 Lamborghini Huracan, VIN # ZHWUF4ZF9LLA12725;
4. 2019 Suzuki Motorcycle, VIN # JS1SK44A0K7101007;
5. 2019 Chevrolet Camaro, VIN # 1G1FH1R79K0108119;
6. 2018 Dodge Durango, VIN # 1C4SDJGJ4JC416019;
7. 2019 Suzuki DRZ400 Motorcycle, VIN # JS1SK44A3K7100952
8. 2019 Yamaha 700R 4-Wheel Off Road Vehicle, VIN # 5Y4AM8631KA104297;
9. 2020 Jeep Gladiator, VIN# 1C6JJTBG2LL101726;
10. 2019 Dodge Challenger, VIN # 2C3CDZL9XKH591151;
11. 2018 Suzuki DRZ400 Motorcycle, VIN # JS1SK44A9J2102474;
12. 2017 Ford F350, VIN # 1FT8W3DT9HED56274;
13. $20,020.00 U.S. Currency seized on November 20, 2019, from 3412 North Hope St., Philadelphia, PA;
14. 2019 Can-Am Ryker, VIN # 3JB2FEG49KJ002752;
15. 2019 Audi A7, VIN# WAUS2AF24KN105368;
16. $1,190.00 U.S. Currency seized on November 20, 2019, from 1407 Lorimer Avenue,
Huntingdon Valley, PA;
17. $20,850.00 U.S. Currency seized from a 2020 Bentley Continental VIN: SCBCG2ZG1LC074750 registered to and in possession of Bill Omar Carrasquillo;
18. $80,000 U.S. Currency seized from a 2018 Mercedes Benz AMG VIN: WDD7X8KB9KA001903 registered to Claudio Roman, Jr. and in possession of Bill Omar Carrasquillo;
19. 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke Motorcycle, VIN# VBKV39400JM987624;
20. 2019 Ford Mustang, VIN# 1FA6P8TH2K5180423;
21. 2019 Acura NSX, VIN# 19UNC1B0XKY000173;
22. 2015 Lamborghini Huracan, VIN # ZHWUC1ZF4FLA02602;
23. 2019 Lamborghini Aventador, VIN # ZHWUV4ZD0KLA07980;
24. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, VIN # 1C4RJFN91JC405394;
25. 2019 Mercedes Benz GLE Class Utility AMG Sports Coupe, VIN #4JGED6EB4KA139824;
26. 2020 Toyota Supra, VIN # WZ1DB4C05LW022111;
27. Bentley Continental GT / SuperSport Coupe, VIN # SCBCG2ZG1LC074750;
28. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 4WD 6.2L V8 Supercharged, VIN # 1C4RJFN93JC224779;
29. 2016 Ford Mustang, VIN # 1FA6P8CF0G5319034;
30. 2016 Dodge Charger, VIN # 2C3CDXL9XGH312311;
31. 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, VIN # 1GNSKDEC8HR228971;
32. 2019 Honda Civic, VIN # SHHFK8G70KU200613;
33. 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, VIN #1G1BL52P0TR122129;
34. 2020 BMW M8, VIN #WBSAE0C00LBM08405
35. 2019 Chevrolet Corvette, VIN #1G1YY2D77K5104515;
36. 2019 Dodge Ram, VIN #1C6SRFHT8KN533937;
37. Backdraft Roadster Coupe, VIN #AE9BMAAH3H1MT1025;
38. 2016 Dodge Challenger, VIN #2C3CDZC91GH113370;
39. Mercedes Benz GT63C4S, VIN #WDD7X8KB9KA001903;
40. Dodge Grand Caravan SE, VIN #2C4RDGBG5KR751876;
41. 2018 Polaris Outlaw, VIN #RF3YAK05XJT065024;
42. 2019 Polaris Ranger XP with Plow, VIN #4XARRW990K8546570;
43. 2019 Yamaha 50 Child’s Motorcycle, VIN #LBPCA0230K0013324;
44. 2020 Yamaha PW50, VIN #JYA3PT136LA028317;
45. 2018 KTM 690 Duke, VIN #VBKLDV401JM714429;
46. 2019 Yamaha Raptor ATV, VIN #RF3AB1131KT004006;
47. 2019 Honda 110 Motorcycle, VIN #LALJE024XK3101900;
48. 2019 Polaris RZR ATV, VIN #RF3YAV171KT029290;
49. 2019 Honda TRX ATV, VIN #1HFTE2733K4801310;
50. 2019 Honda 110 Motorcycle, VIN #LALJE0245K3102145;
51. 2019 KTM 790 Duke, VIN #VBKTU6406KM739334;
52. 2019 KTM 390 Duke Motorcycle, VIN #MD2JPJ401KC216497;
53. 2019 KTM 390 Duke Motorcycle, VIN #MD2JPJ402KC206710;
54. 2018 Honda CTX700N Motorcycle, VIN #JH2RC6840JK300174;
55. 2019 Honda Rebel 500 Motorcycle, VIN #MLHPC5605K5201678;
56. 2018 Honda Rebel 500 Motorcycle, VIN #MLHPC5601J5100071;
57. 2019 KTM 790 Motorcycle, VIN #VBKTR3409KM765748;
58. 2019 Honda CRF450L Motorcycle, VIN #JH2PD1115KK002373;
59. 2019 Yamaha YZ125 Motorcycle, VIN #JYACE16C6KA039562;
60. 2019 Lamborghini URUS 2019, VIN #ZPBUA1ZL9KLA01398;
61. 2020 Audi R8, VIN #WUAEEAFX1L7900342;
62. Net Proceeds of $6,000.00 from sale of 2018 Yamaha Raptor 700 seized on December 17, 2019
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Source : OMI IN A HELLCAT: FBI Collecting Terabytes of Piracy Evidence From Foreign Countries
