The indictment asserts that a group led by Scarfo and Pelullo falsely accused an FPFG board member of committing financial improprieties with company assets and then threatened to sue the board member unless the individual convinced the other board members to surrender control of FPFG.
After that, the new board approved deals that paid about $7 million and more than a million shares of FPFG stock to buy virtually worthless shell companies set up by Scarfo and Pelullo, according to the FBI, which led the investigation and called the FPFG situation "a criminal's dream." The new board also allegedly approved "consulting" agreements that resulted in the accused criminals' receiving several hundred thousand dollars in payments.
The attorneys include inside and outside counsel for FPFG. The CPA is accused of being hired on retainer by Pelullo to serve as FPFG's internal accountant.