FBI to Seize Assets of ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Producer Red Granite (Report)
In one of the biggest asset seizures in U.S. history, Federal prosecutors are expected to file civil lawsuits against “The Wolf of Wall Street” producer and financier Red Granite Pictures, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday.
Billions of dollars were allegedly drained out of a Malaysian
government fund since it launched in 2009. The money trail led to Red
Granite co-founder Riza Aziz, whose stepfather is the Prime Minister of
Malaysia. Authorities are expected to seize millions in assets including
properties and other belongings tied to the company.
A spokesperson for Red Granite was not available for comment. Aziz has consistently denied any wrong doing.
The Malaysian fund, known as 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB,)
was supposed to help the country’s economy, but according to the
F.B.I., the money was instead pumped into real estate in New York and
Los Angeles–Aziz reportedly spent $50 million on two homes–and later
funded Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s
box office smash hit, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which grossed nearly
$400 million worldwide in 2013. The film was deemed too raunchy and was
not allowed to be screened in Malaysia.
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