{"id":"court_ctb_2892_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":2892,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"UNKNOWN","filed_date":"2024-02-15","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION In re:","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n----------------------------------------------------- x\n\nIn re:\n\nHO WAN KWOK, *et al*.,1\n\nChapter 11\n\nCase No. 22-50073 (JAM)\n\nDebtors.\n\n(Jointly Administered)\n\n----------------------------------------------------- x\n\nLUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE,\n\nPlaintiff,\n\nAdv. Proceeding No. [ ]\n\nv.\n\nFebruary 15, 2024\n\nIHOTRY LTD\n\nDefendant.\n\n----------------------------------------------------- x\n\n# **COMPLAINT OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE SEEKING AVOIDANCE AND RECOVERY OF FRAUDULENT TRANSFERS AND RELATED RELIEF PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY CODE SECTIONS 544, 548, AND 550 AND NEW YORK DEBTOR & CREDITOR LAW SECTIONS 273, 274, AND 276**\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the\n\nchapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\") of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\" or \"Kwok\"), files this\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\nadversary complaint (the \"Complaint\") against defendant Ihotry Ltd (the \"Defendant\"), stating as follows:\n\n## **NATURE OF ACTION**\n\n1. The Trustee commences this adversary proceeding to avoid and recover: (a) transfers of the Debtor's property prior to the commencement of this Chapter 11 Case; and (b) transfers of property of the Debtor's chapter 11 estate after the commencement of this Chapter 11 Case and not authorized by the Bankruptcy Court or under Title 11 of the United States Code (the \"Bankruptcy Code\").\n\n2. The Debtor, through his alter ego shell company, Himalaya International Clearing Ltd (\"Himalaya\"), transferred funds in the amount of \\$17,079,662.38 prior to the Petition Date (as defined herein) to the Defendant as initial transferee.\n\n3. These transfers were actually fraudulent, because the Debtor effectuated them as part of his \"shell game,\" and they were made with the intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud the Debtor's creditors.\n\n#### **JURISDICTION AND VENUE**\n\n4. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this adversary proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b).\n\n5. This adversary proceeding has been referred to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(a).\n\n6. The statutory predicates for the relief sought herein include sections 544, 547, 548, 549, and 550 of the Bankruptcy Code and New York Debtor & Creditor Law sections 273, 274, and 2762 or any other applicable state law equivalents.\n\n## **THE PARTIES**\n\n7. The Trustee is the chapter 11 trustee in the Chapter 11 Case pursuant to the Bankruptcy Court's order entered on July 8, 2022 [Case No. 22-50073 (the \"Main Case\") Docket No. 523].\n\n8. The Defendant is Ihotry Ltd, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Marshall Islands and with an address at Trust Company Complex, Majuro, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands.\n\n## **FACTS**\n\n## **A. Chapter 11 Case**\n\n9. The Debtor filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the \"Bankruptcy Coufsarafrt\"), thus commencing the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n10. On March 21, 2022, the Office of the United States Trustee appointed an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in this Chapter 11 Case. No examiner has been appointed.\n\n11. The Debtor's bankruptcy schedules, filed in March 2022 with the Bankruptcy Court, claimed that he owned \\$3,850 in assets and had incurred hundreds of millions of dollars of liabilities.3 While the Debtor was, indeed, deeply indebted, his schedules failed to disclose the\n\n<sup>2</sup> All statutory references to New York Debtor and Creditor Law will hereinafter be referred to as \"N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law\". The New York Uniform Voidable Transactions Act (\"NYUVT\") replaced the New York Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act (\"NYUFC\") and became effective on April 4, 2020 and applies to transfers made or obligations incurred on or after April 4, 2020.\n\n<sup>3</sup> Schedule of Assets and Liabilities, at 1 [Main Case Docket No. 78].\n\nDebtor's property as held and/or transferred through his many alter ego shell companies, including Himalaya.\n\n12. On June 15, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court entered a memorandum of decision and order [Main Case Docket No. 465] directing the United States Trustee to appoint a chapter 11 trustee in the Chapter 11 Case. Pursuant to this order, the United States Trustee selected Luc A. Despins as the Trustee. On July 8, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order granting the appointment of Luc A. Despins as the Trustee in the Chapter 11 Case [Main Case Docket No. 523].\n\n#### **B. Debtor's Use of Shell Companies and Trustee's Adversary Proceedings**\n\n13. Himalaya is among the numerous alter ego shell companies used by the Debtor to hinder, delay, and/or defraud his creditors.4 For years, the Debtor has orchestrated a \"shell game,\" employing a convoluted web of shell companies, nominally owned by family members, lieutenants, and/or subordinates, but in reality, controlled by the Debtor. This shell game enabled the Debtor to use and spend and/or transfer millions of dollars of cash and other assets—while concealing his property from creditors.\n\n14. Since his appointment, the Trustee has commenced a number of adversary proceedings in the Chapter 11 Case to, among other things, establish that the Debtor's shell companies were his alter egos and/or that such companies and their assets were equitably owned\n\n<sup>4</sup> The Trustee has or will imminently commence an adversary proceeding against Himalaya, which adversary proceeding seeks, among other things, a declaratory judgment that Himalaya is the alter ego of the Debtor. The Trustee incorporates by reference herein, the Trustee's Complaint filed in such adversary proceeding.\n\nby the Debtor and in several adversary proceedings, the Bankruptcy Court has already granted such relief.5\n\n15. The fact patterns in these litigations consistently involve: (i) Debtor-controlled shell companies held by close family members and/or subordinates, (ii) assets purchased with cash from other Debtor-controlled entities and/or transferred to and among shell entities for no consideration, and (iii) the Debtor benefiting from and having control and dominion over such assets.\n\n### **C. Debtor's Conduct to Hinder, Delay, and/or Defraud Creditors**\n\n16. In addition to the matters addressed in the Trustee's adversary proceedings, the Bankruptcy Court has found that the Debtor was the beneficial owner of Ace Decade Limited (and through it, Dawn State Limited) and that the Debtor controlled and employed Ace Decade Limited's nominee shareholder, Yvette Wang.6\n\n17. The Bankruptcy Court has also found that the \"G Entities\" (Gettr, G Fashion, G Music, GClubs, GNews and GEdu), the New Federal State of China and the Rule of Law Foundation, as well as other purportedly independent entities and organizations, were controlled\n\n<sup>5</sup> These include the following adversary proceedings: (i) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, et al.* [Adv. Proc. No. 22-05003]; (ii) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Greenwich Land LLC, et al.* [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05005]; (iii) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Mei Guo* [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05008]; (iv) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. HCHK Technologies, Inc., et al.* [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05013]; (v) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Taurus Fund LLC, et al.* [Adv. Proc. No. 23- 05017]; (vi) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Golden Spring (New York) Limited* [Adv. Proc. 23-05018]; and (vii) *Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Lamp Capital LLC, et al.* [Adv. Proc. 23-05023].\n\n<sup>6</sup> Order Granting Motion to Hold Debtor in Contempt of Corporate Governance Order, ¶¶ 1, 4 (Jan. 24, 2023, Docket No. 1372 (\"Corp. Governance Contempt Order\").\n\nby the Debtor<sup>7</sup> , led by the Debtor8 and/or served \"the purposes of… and as business vehicles of\" the Debtor.9\n\n18. Prior to the Petition Date, Judge Liman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York found that Eastern Profit Corporation Limited, an entity originally owned by one of the Debtor's chefs before its transfer to Debtor's daughter, was \"in essence, a shell corporation\" for the Debtor.10\n\n19. The Debtor has gone to great lengths to hinder and delay the collection efforts of one of his largest creditors, *i.e.*, Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund, L.P. (\"PAX\"). In 2017, PAX sued the Debtor in the Supreme Court of the State of New York (the \"New York Court\"), Index No. 652077/2017 (the \"PAX Case\"), seeking judgment for monies owed. On February 3, 2021, PAX obtained a judgment from the New York Court against the Debtor in the sum of \\$116,402,019.57 (the \"PAX Judgment\"). PAX sought to enforce the PAX Judgment by levying the Debtor's assets—including the Lady May, which the Debtor falsely claimed was owned by his daughter, and the Debtor's luxury apartment in Manhattan, which the Debtor falsely claimed was held in trust for the Debtor's son. The Debtor's defiance of New York Court orders in postjudgment proceedings eventually resulted in the Debtor incurring contempt penalties of \\$134 million.\n\n 7 *Corrected Memorandum of Decision Granting in Part Motion for Preliminary Injunction*, ¶ 3 (Adv. Proc. No. 22-05032, January 13, 2023 (\"The Debtor also controls Saraca Media Group and a related entity 'GTV'\").\n\n<sup>8</sup> *Id*. at ¶ 7 (\"The Debtor is the leader of The Whistleblower Movement, NFSC, ROLF and Himalaya.\").\n\n<sup>9</sup> *Id*. (\"The Whistleblower Movement, NFSC, ROLF, GSeries, and Himalaya serve the purposes of the Debtor, serve as business vehicles for the Debtor, and their members are personally loyal to the Debtor.\").\n\n<sup>10</sup> *Eastern Profit Corp. Ltd. v. Strategic Vision US LLC*, No. 18-CV-2185 (LJL) 2021 WL 2554631, at \\*1 (S.D.N.Y. June 22, 2021).\n\n20. The Debtor also used his alter egos, including Himalaya, as personal piggy-banks, funding the lavish lifestyle to which he and his family had become accustomed, while concealing assets in these alter egos from his creditors and hindering and delaying creditors from recoveries on their claims. The transfers that the Debtor effectuated through these alter egos perpetuated the Debtor's fraudulent scheme.\n\n21. The Debtor has testified before the Bankruptcy Court that he has insufficient assets to pay his liabilities and that his luxurious lifestyle is funded by his family through businesses nominally held by family members.11 The Debtor scheduled only \\$3,850 in assets.12\n\n22. In March 2023, the Debtor was arrested and remains confined pending his trial on federal criminal charges of, among other things, wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering.\n\n23. In its criminal indictment of the Debtor, the United States Government asserts that the Debtor and his co-defendants \"utilized more than approximately 500 accounts held in the names of *at least 80 different entities or individuals* to launder more than \\$1 billion in fraud proceeds.\"13\n\n24. The property of the Debtor's alter egos, including Himalaya, was at all times prior to the Petition Date property of the Debtor.\n\n 11 Hearing on Debtor's Motion for Entry of Interim and Final DIP Orders (I) Authorizing the Debtor to Obtain Unsecured, Subordinated Postpetition Financing and (II) Scheduling Interim and Final Hearings, and (III) Granting Related Relief (Main Case, April 27, 2022)\n\n<sup>12</sup> *See* n.3\n\n<sup>13</sup> *See* Memorandum of Law of the United States of America in Opposition to Defendant Yanping Wang's Motion for Pretrial Release at 29, attached as Exhibit B in the Reply of Chapter 11 Trustee to G Club Operations LLC's Supplemental Objection to Trustee's Motion to Compel and Request for Related Relief (June 23, 2023, Main Case Docket No. 1934).\n\n25. At all times relevant herein, the Debtor conducted business in New York, New York, including direction of the prepetition transfers at issue in this Complaint.\n\n#### **D. Debtor's Shell Game and Fraud Continues Postpetition**\n\n26. As of the Petition Date, all of the Debtor's property held through his alter egos, including Himalaya, became property of the chapter 11 estate. *See* 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(1).\n\n27. Following the Petition Date, the Debtor, with blatant disregard for the Bankruptcy Court and his obligations under the Bankruptcy Code, continued to effectuate transfers through numerous alter ego shell companies, including, without limitation, Himalaya.\n\n28. None of these postpetition transfers were authorized by the Bankruptcy Court nor were such transfers authorized under the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n## **E. Transfers Made with Intent to Hinder, Delay, or Defraud Creditors**\n\n29. The Transfers (as defined herein) at issue in this Complaint were made with the intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud the Debtor's creditors inasmuch as they were all made through the Debtor's alter ego shell companies operated as a part of the Debtor's shell game.\n\n30. The Debtor intentionally orchestrated his financial affairs in this manner in order to conceal and dissipate millions of dollars in assets while falsely pleading poverty to his many creditors. The Debtor claimed to be destitute while simultaneously spending heavily to maintain a billionaire lifestyle for himself and for his family members and close associates.\n\n31. The assets concealed and dissipated by the Debtor included funds that he obtained from the victims of his cryptocurrency, securities, and other fraud schemes. As a result of this conduct, the Debtor faces multiple felony fraud, money laundering, and racketeering charges in a criminal case pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. *See United States v. Ho Wan Kwok*, case no. 1:23-cr-00118-AT [ECF No. 215] (Jan. 3, 2024 S.D.N.Y.).\n\n32. The Debtor knew and intended that by concealing and dissipating his assets in this manner there would not be sufficient assets remaining to repay his creditors—including the many victims of his frauds. These transfers were thus necessarily made with the intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud the Debtor's creditors.\n\n#### **F. Transfers to Defendant**\n\n33. Prior to the Petition Date, the Debtor, using his alter ego shell company Himalaya, or otherwise, transferred the Debtor's property to the Defendant (collectively, the \"Transfers\"), including, without limitation, as follows:\n\nSee **SCHEDULE A** attached hereto and made a part hereof.\n\n34. At the time of the Transfers, the Debtor had outstanding obligations to creditors of the Debtor's estate.\n\n35. The Defendant was the initial transferee of the Transfers.\n\n#### **FIRST CLAIM**\n\n## **(Claim to Avoid and Recover Actual Fraudulent Transfers Pursuant to Bankruptcy Code Sections 548(a)(1)(A) and 550(a))**\n\n36. The Trustee repeats and realleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1-35 as if fully set forth herein.\n\n37. The Transfers were made by the Debtor through his alter ego, Himalaya, with the\n\nactual intent to hinder, delay and/or defraud his creditors.\n\n38. The Debtor's intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud his creditors in effectuating the\n\nTransfers is shown by, among other things:\n\n- a. The Transfers were effectuated using an alter ego shell company;\n- b. The Transfers were concealed from the Debtor's creditors;\n\nc. The Transfers were effectuated as part of the Debtor's \"shell game\" with the aid of the Debtor's family members and other lieutenants and subordinates that he controlled in an effort to conceal and shield assets;\n\nd. The Transfers furthered the Debtor's fraudulent conduct by enabling the Debtor to benefit from his fraud without subjecting his property to the reach of his creditors;\n\ne. The Transfers furthered the Debtor's fraudulent conduct by enabling the Debtor to profit from his fraud without subjecting his property to the reach of his creditors;\n\nf. At the time of the Transfers, the Debtor was being sued, including by PAX in the PAX Case; and\n\ng. At the time of the Transfers, the Debtor was insolvent or undercapitalized.\n\n39. The Transfers are avoidable by the Trustee pursuant to section 548(a)(1)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code and are recoverable pursuant to section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n### **SECOND CLAIM**\n\n## **(Claim to Avoid and Recover Actual Fraudulent Transfers pursuant to N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law Sections 273, 274, and 276, and Bankruptcy Code Sections 544(b) and 550(a))**\n\n40. The Trustee repeats and realleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1-35 as if fully set forth herein.\n\n41. The Transfers were made by the Debtor, through his alter ego, Himalaya, with the actual intent to hinder, delay and/or defraud his creditors.\n\n42. The Debtor's intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud his creditors in effectuating the Transfers is shown by, among other things:\n\n- a. The Transfers were effectuated using an alter ego shell company;\n- b. The Transfers were concealed from the Debtor's creditors;\n\nc. The Transfers were effectuated as part of the Debtor's \"shell game\" with the aid of the Debtor's family members and other lieutenants and subordinates that he controlled in an effort to conceal and shield assets;\n\nd. The Transfers furthered the Debtor's fraudulent conduct by enabling the Debtor to benefit from his fraud without subjecting his property to the reach of his creditors;\n\ne. The Transfers furthered the Debtor's fraudulent conduct by enabling the Debtor to profit from his fraud without subjecting his property to the reach of his creditors;\n\nf. At the time of the Transfers, the Debtor was being sued, including by PAX in the PAX Case; and\n\ng. At the time of the Transfers, the Debtor was insolvent or undercapitalized.\n\n43. The Transfers are avoidable by the Trustee pursuant to N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law sections 273(a)(1), 274, and 276, and section 544(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and recoverable pursuant to section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n### **PRAYER FOR RELIEF**\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the Trustee respectfully requests that judgment be entered as follows:\n\n1. On the First Claim, (a) an order declaring that the Transfers in an amount not less than \\$17,079,662.38 are avoided pursuant to section 548(a)(1)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) an order directing that the Transfers be set aside; and (c) recovery of the Transfers, or the value thereof at the Trustee's option, from the Defendant for the benefit of the Debtor's estate pursuant to section 550(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code;\n\n2. On the Second Claim, (a) an order declaring that the Transfers in an amount not less than \\$17,079,662.38 are avoided pursuant to section 544(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law sections 273(a)(2), 274 and 276; (b) an order directing that the Transfers be set aside; and (c) recovery of the Transfers, or the value thereof at the Trustee's option, from the Defendant for the benefit of the Debtor's estate pursuant to N.Y. Debt & Cred. Law section 276 and section 550(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code;\n\n3. Awarding the Trustee pre-judgment interest at the maximum legal rate from the date of the filing of this Complaint to the date of judgment herein; and\n\n4. Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just, proper, or equitable under the circumstances.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank.*]\n\nDated: February 15, 2024 New Haven, CT\n\nLUC A. DESPINS CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ Avram E. Luft*\n\n Avram E. Luft (admitted pro hac vice) Douglass Barron (admitted pro hac vice) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6000 aviluft@paulhastings.com douglassbarron@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 2892 Filed 02/15/24 Entered 02/15/24 12:19:51 Page 14 of 14\n\n## **SCHEDULE A**\n\nFiled Under Seal","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分部）\n\n----------------------------------------------------- x\n\n关于：\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，1\n\n第 11 章\n\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。\n\n（合并审理）\n\n----------------------------------------------------- x\n\nLUC A. DESPINS（卢克·A·德斯平斯），第 11 章托管人，\n\n原告，\n\n对抗性程序编号：[ ]\n\n诉\n\n2024年2月15日\n\nIHOTRY LTD（Ihotry有限公司）\n\n被告。\n\n----------------------------------------------------- x\n\n第 11 章托管人依据《破产法典》第 544、548 和 550 条以及《纽约州债务人与债权人法》第 273、274 和 276 条请求撤销并追回欺诈性转让及相关救济之诉状\n\nLuc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯）以在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，下称“债务人”或“郭”）的第 11 章案件（下称“第 11 章案件”）中获任命的第 11 章托管人（下称“托管人”）身份，针对被告 Ihotry Ltd（下称“被告”）提起本对抗性诉状（下称“诉状”），陈述如下：\n\n1 这些第 11 章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo、Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）和 Genever Holdings Corporation。托管人、Genever Holdings LLC 和 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok（仅用于接收通知和通信之目的）。\n\n诉讼性质\n\n1. 托管人提起本对抗性程序，以撤销并追回：(a) 在本第 11 章案件启动之前转移的债务人财产；以及 (b) 在本第 11 章案件启动之后转移的、未经破产法院或《美国法典》第 11 编（下称“《破产法典》”）授权的债务人第 11 章破产财产。\n\n2. 债务人通过其人格混同的壳公司 Himalaya International Clearing Ltd（喜马拉雅国际清算有限公司，下称“Himalaya”），在申请日（定义见下文）之前将金额为 $17,079,662.38 的资金转让给了作为初始受让人的被告。\n\n3. 这些转让属于实际欺诈性转让，因为债务人实施这些转让是其“皮包骗局”的一部分，且其做出这些转让的目的是意图阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈债务人的债权人。\n\n管辖权与审判地\n\n4. 根据 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b)，本法院对本对抗性程序具有标的管辖权。\n\n5. 根据 28 U.S.C. § 157(a)，本对抗性程序已移交本法院审理。\n\n6. 本文所寻求救济的法定依据包括《破产法典》第 544、547、548、549 和 550 条以及《纽约州债务人与债权人法》第 273、274 和 276 条2，或任何其他适用的具有同等效力的州法律。\n\n当事人\n\n7. 依据破产法院于 2022年7月8日 作出的命令[案号 22-50073（下称“主案”）案卷编号 523]，托管人为本第 11 章案件中的第 11 章托管人。\n\n8. 被告为 Ihotry Ltd，系一家依据马绍尔群岛法律设立的公司，地址为 Trust Company Complex, Majuro, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands。\n\n事实\n\nA. 第 11 章案件\n\n9. 债务人于 2022年2月15日（下称“申请日”）向 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区破产法院，下称“破产法院”）提交了依据《破产法典》第 11 章寻求救济的自愿申请书，从而启动了本第 11 章案件。\n\n10. 2022年3月21日，美国破产受托人办公室（Office of the United States Trustee）在本第 11 章案件中任命了无担保债权人官方委员会。本案尚未任命审查员。\n\n11. 债务人于 2022年3月 向破产法院提交的破产财产清单中声称，其拥有 $3,850 的资产，并负有数亿美元的负债。3 虽然债务人确实债台高筑，但其财产清单未能披露\n\n2 下文对《纽约州债务人与债权人法》（New York Debtor and Creditor Law）的所有法条引用均简称为“N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law”。《纽约州统一可撤销交易法》（NYUVT）取代了《纽约州统一欺诈性转让法》（NYUFC），于 2020年4月4日 生效，适用于 2020年4月4日 或之后发生的转让或产生的债务。\n\n3 资产与负债清单，第 1 页[主案案卷编号 78]。\n\n债务人通过其众多人格混同的壳公司（包括 Himalaya）持有和/或转让的财产。\n\n12. 2022年6月15日，破产法院作出一份裁定及命令备忘录[主案案卷编号 465]，指示美国破产受托人（United States Trustee）在本第 11 章案件中任命一名第 11 章托管人。根据该命令，美国破产受托人选任 Luc A. Despins 为托管人。2022年7月8日，破产法院作出命令，批准任命 Luc A. Despins 为本第 11 章案件的托管人[主案案卷编号 523]。\n\nB. 债务人对壳公司的使用及托管人的对抗性程序\n\n13. Himalaya 是债务人用来阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈其债权人的众多人格混同壳公司之一。4 多年来，债务人策划了一场“皮包骗局”，利用了一个错综复杂的壳公司网络，这些公司名义上由其家庭成员、主要亲信和/或下属拥有，但实际上由债务人控制。这种皮包骗局使债务人能够使用、花费和/或转移数以百万美元计的现金及其他资产——同时向债权人隐匿其财产。\n\n14. 自获任命以来，托管人已在本第 11 章案件中提起了多起对抗性程序，除其他事项外，旨在确立债务人的壳公司是其人格混同实体，和/或此类公司及其资产衡平归属\n\n4 托管人已经或即将对 Himalaya 提起对抗性程序，该对抗性程序除其他事项外，请求作出确认 Himalaya 为债务人人格混同实体的确认判决。托管人在此援引并纳入托管人在该对抗性程序中提交的诉状。\n\n于债务人，且在数起对抗性程序中，破产法院已经裁定准许了此类救济。5\n\n15. 这些诉讼中的事实模式始终包括：(i) 由近亲属和/或下属持有的债务人控制的壳公司，(ii) 用来自债务人控制的其他实体的现金购买的资产，和/或在各壳实体之间及向壳实体无对价转让的资产，以及 (iii) 债务人从中受益并对此类资产拥有控制权和支配权。\n\nC. 债务人阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈债权人的行为\n\n16. 除托管人的对抗性程序中涉及的事项外，破产法院已认定债务人是 Ace Decade Limited（以及通过该公司持有 Dawn State Limited）的实益拥有人，并且债务人控制并雇佣了 Ace Decade Limited 的名义股东 Yvette Wang（王雁平）。6\n\n17. 破产法院还认定，“G系列实体”（Gettr、G Fashion、G Music、GClubs、GNews 和 GEdu）、New Federal State of China（新中国联邦）和 Rule of Law Foundation（法治基金），以及其他声称独立的实体和组织，均受\n\n5 包括以下对抗性程序：(i) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, et al. [Adv. Proc. No. 22-05003]；(ii) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Greenwich Land LLC, et al. [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05005]；(iii) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Mei Guo [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05008]；(iv) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. HCHK Technologies, Inc., et al. [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05013]；(v) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Taurus Fund LLC, et al. [Adv. Proc. No. 23-05017]；(vi) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Golden Spring (New York) Limited [Adv. Proc. 23-05018]；以及 (vii) Luc A. Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Lamp Capital LLC, et al. [Adv. Proc. 23-05023]。\n\n6 《关于裁定债务人违反公司治理命令构成藐视法庭的动议准许令》，第 1、4 段（2023年1月24日，案卷编号 1372，“公司治理藐视法庭令”）。\n\n债务人控制7、由债务人领导8和/或“为了债务人的目的……并作为债务人的商业工具”而服务。9\n\n18. 在申请日之前，United States District Court for the Southern District of New York（美国纽约南区联邦地区法院）的 Liman 法官认定，Eastern Profit Corporation Limited（该公司在转让给债务人的女儿之前最初由债务人的一名厨师拥有）对债务人而言“实质上是一家壳公司”。10\n\n19. 债务人竭尽全力阻碍和拖延其最大债权人之一，即 Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund, L.P.（太盟亚洲机会基金有限公司，下称“PAX”）的追偿工作。2017年，PAX 在 Supreme Court of the State of New York（纽约州最高法院，下称“纽约法院”）起诉债务人，索引号 652077/2017（下称“PAX案”），请求就所欠款项作出判决。2021年2月3日，PAX 从纽约法院获得了针对债务人的金额为 $116,402,019.57 的判决（下称“PAX判决”）。PAX 试图通过扣押债务人的资产来执行 PAX 判决——包括 Lady May 号游艇（债务人虚假声称该游艇归其女儿所有）以及债务人位于曼哈顿的豪华公寓（债务人虚假声称该公寓是为其儿子设立的信托财产）。债务人在判决后程序中对纽约法院命令的抗拒，最终导致债务人被处以 1.34 亿美元的藐视法庭罚金。\n\n7 《关于部分准许初步禁令动议的修正裁定备忘录》，第 3 段（对抗性程序编号 22-05032，2023年1月13日）（“债务人亦控制 Saraca Media Group 以及一家关联实体‘GTV’”）。\n\n8 同上，第 7 段（“债务人是爆料革命、NFSC、ROLF 和 Himalaya 的领导人。”）。\n\n9 同上（“爆料革命、NFSC、ROLF、G系列以及 Himalaya 均为了债务人的目的而服务，作为债务人的商业工具，且其成员个人效忠于债务人。”）。\n\n10 Eastern Profit Corp. Ltd. v. Strategic Vision US LLC, No. 18-CV-2185 (LJL) 2021 WL 2554631, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. June 22, 2021).\n\n20. 债务人还将包括 Himalaya 在内的人格混同实体作为个人存钱罐，用于资助其本人及家人已习以为常的奢靡生活方式，同时在这些混同实体中向其债权人隐匿资产，并阻碍和拖延债权人追偿其债权。债务人通过这些混同实体实施的转让延续了债务人的欺诈计划。\n\n21. 债务人曾在破产法院作证称，其没有足够的资产来偿还其债务，其奢华的生活方式是由其家人通过名义上由家庭成员持有的企业资助的。11 债务人在财产清单中仅列出了 $3,850 的资产。12\n\n22. 2023年3月，债务人被捕，目前仍被羁押，等待就包括电汇欺诈、证券欺诈和洗钱在内的联邦刑事指控受审。\n\n23. 在对债务人的刑事起诉书中，美国政府指控债务人及其共同被告“利用了以至少 80 个不同实体或个人名义开立的约 500 多个账户，清洗了超过 10 亿美元的欺诈所得。”13\n\n24. 债务人的人格混同实体（包括 Himalaya）的财产，在申请日之前的所有时间内始终属于债务人的财产。\n\n11 关于债务人请求作出 (I) 授权债务人获得无担保、次级申请后融资及 (II) 安排临时和最终听证会，以及 (III) 准予相关救济的临时和最终破产保护期融资（DIP）命令之动议的听证会（主案，2022年4月27日）\n\n12 见注 3\n\n13 见《美利坚合众国反对被告 Yanping Wang（王雁平）审前释放动议的法律备忘录》第 29 页，作为《第 11 章受托人对 G Club Operations LLC 关于受托人强制作出动议及请求相关救济的补充异议之回复》的附件 B 附后（2023年6月23日，主案卷宗号 1934）。\n\n25. 在本案所有相关时间，债务人均在纽约州纽约市开展业务，包括指示本起诉状所涉的申请破产前转让。\n\nD. 债务人在申请破产后继续玩弄空壳把戏并进行欺诈\n\n26. 截至申请破产日，债务人通过其人格混同实体（包括 Himalaya）持有的所有财产均成为第 11 章破产财产。见 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(1)。\n\n27. 在申请破产日之后，债务人公然藐视破产法院及其在《破产法典》（Bankruptcy Code）项下的义务，继续通过众多人格混同空壳公司（包括但不限于 Himalaya）进行转让。\n\n28. 上述申请破产后的转让均未获得破产法院的授权，亦未根据《破产法典》获得授权。\n\nE. 怀有阻碍、拖延或欺诈债权人之意图进行的转让\n\n29. 本起诉状所涉的转让（如本文所定义）是怀有阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈债务人债权人之意图而进行的，因为这些转让全部是通过作为债务人空壳把戏一部分运作的债务人人格混同空壳公司进行的。\n\n30. 债务人蓄意以此种方式安排其财务事务，以便隐匿和挥霍数百万美元的资产，同时向其众多债权人虚假哭穷。债务人声称自己一贫如洗，同时却大肆挥霍，为自己、家人及亲信维持亿万富翁式的生活方式。\n\n31. 债务人隐匿和挥霍的资产包括其从加密货币、证券及其他欺诈计划的受害者处获得的资金。由于这一行为，债务人在美国纽约南区联邦地区法院（U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York）审理的一起刑事案件中面临多项重罪欺诈、洗钱和诈骗勒索罪名指控。见 United States v. Ho Wan Kwok（美利坚合众国 诉 郭文贵），案号 1:23-cr-00118-AT [ECF No. 215]（2024年1月3日 S.D.N.Y.）。\n\n32. 债务人明知并意图以此种方式隐匿和挥霍其资产将导致剩余资产不足以偿还其债权人——包括其欺诈行为的众多受害者。因此，这些转让必然是怀有阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈债务人债权人之意图而进行的。\n\nF. 向被告进行的转让\n\n33. 在申请破产日之前，债务人利用其人格混同空壳公司 Himalaya 或以其他方式，将债务人的财产转让给了被告（统称“上述转让”），包括但不限于如下所示：\n\n见随附并构成本文一部分的附表 A。\n\n34. 在进行上述转让时，债务人对债务人破产财产的债权人负有未清偿义务。\n\n35. 被告为上述转让的初始受让人。\n\n第一项诉讼请求\n（依据《破产法典》第 548(a)(1)(A) 条和第 550(a) 条撤销并追回实际欺诈性转让的请求）\n\n36. 受托人重申并重新主张第 1 至 35 段中包含的主张，犹如在此完整陈述。\n\n37. 上述转让系由债务人通过其人格混同实体 Himalaya 进行，且具有阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈其债权人的实际意图。\n\n38. 债务人在进行上述转让时阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈其债权人的意图由以下各项证明（其中包括）：\n\n- a. 上述转让是使用人格混同空壳公司进行的；\n- b. 上述转让对债务人的债权人进行了隐瞒；\n\nc. 上述转让是作为债务人“空壳把戏”的一部分，在其家庭成员及其控制的其他得力干将和下属的协助下进行的，旨在隐匿和庇护资产；\n\nd. 上述转让通过使债务人能够从其欺诈中获利而不使其财产落入债权人的追索范围，推进了债务人的欺诈行为；\n\ne. 上述转让通过使债务人能够从其欺诈中牟利而不使其财产落入债权人的追索范围，推进了债务人的欺诈行为；\n\nf. 在进行上述转让时，债务人正被起诉，包括在 PAX 案中被 PAX 起诉；以及\n\ng. 在进行上述转让时，债务人已无力偿债或资本不足。\n\n39. 受托人依据《破产法典》第 548(a)(1)(A) 条可撤销上述转让，并依据《破产法典》第 550(a) 条可追回上述转让。\n\n第二项诉讼请求\n（依据《纽约州债务人与债权人法》（N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law）第 273 条、第 274 条和第 276 条以及《破产法典》第 544(b) 条和第 550(a) 条撤销并追回实际欺诈性转让的请求）\n\n40. 受托人重申并重新主张第 1 至 35 段中包含的主张，犹如在此完整陈述。\n\n41. 上述转让系由债务人通过其人格混同实体 Himalaya 进行，且具有阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈其债权人的实际意图。\n\n42. 债务人在进行上述转让时阻碍、拖延和/或欺诈其债权人的意图由以下各项证明（其中包括）：\n\n- a. 上述转让是使用人格混同空壳公司进行的；\n- b. 上述转让对债务人的债权人进行了隐瞒；\n\nc. 上述转让是作为债务人“空壳把戏”的一部分，在其家庭成员及其控制的其他得力干将和下属的协助下进行的，旨在隐匿和庇护资产；\n\nd. 上述转让通过使债务人能够从其欺诈中获利而不使其财产落入债权人的追索范围，推进了债务人的欺诈行为；\n\ne. 上述转让通过使债务人能够从其欺诈中牟利而不使其财产落入债权人的追索范围，推进了债务人的欺诈行为；\n\nf. 在进行上述转让时，债务人正被起诉，包括在 PAX 案中被 PAX 起诉；以及\n\ng. 在进行上述转让时，债务人已无力偿债或资本不足。\n\n43. 受托人依据《纽约州债务人与债权人法》第 273(a)(1) 条、第 274 条和第 276 条以及《破产法典》第 544(b) 条可撤销上述转让，并依据《破产法典》第 550(a) 条可追回上述转让。\n\n判决请求\n\n为此，基于前述理由，受托人谨请求作出如下判决：\n\n1. 就第一项诉讼请求：(a) 作出一项命令，宣布依据《破产法典》第 548(a)(1)(A) 条撤销金额不少于 $17,079,662.38 的上述转让；(b) 作出一项命令，指示撤销上述转让；以及 (c) 依据《破产法典》第 550(a)(1) 条，为债务人破产财产的利益向被告追回上述转让，或由受托人选择追回其价值；\n\n2. 就第二项诉讼请求：(a) 作出一项命令，宣布依据《破产法典》第 544(b) 条及《纽约州债务人与债权人法》第 273(a)(2) 条、第 274 条和第 276 条撤销金额不少于 $17,079,662.38 的上述转让；(b) 作出一项命令，指示撤销上述转让；以及 (c) 依据《纽约州债务人与债权人法》第 276 条及《破产法典》第 550(a)(1) 条，为债务人破产财产的利益向被告追回上述转让，或由受托人选择追回其价值；\n\n3. 判给受托人自本起诉状提交之日起至本案作出判决之日止按最高法定利率计算的判决前利息；以及\n\n4. 法院在有关情况下认为公正、适当或公平的该等其他及进一步救济。\n\n[此页以下部分特意留白。]\n\n日期：2024年2月15日 康涅狄格州纽黑文\n\nLUC A. DESPINS\n第 11 章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Avram E. Luft\n\nAvram E. Luft（获准特许出庭）\nDouglass Barron（获准特许出庭）\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP\n200 Park Avenue\nNew York, New York 10166\n(212) 318-6000\navilufl@paulhastings.com\ndouglassbarron@paulhastings.com\n\n及\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616)\nPatrick R. Linsey (ct29437)\nNEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.\n195 Church Street, 13th Floor\nNew Haven, Connecticut 06510\n(203) 781-2847\ndskalka@npmlaw.com\nplinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n第 11 章受托人代理律师\n\n案号 22-50073 文件 2892 提交于 02/15/24 入卷于 02/15/24 12:19:51 第 14 页（共 14 页）\n\n附表 A\n\n封存提交","key_entities":["Himalaya","Despins","Je","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Guo","Paul Hastings","Miles Guo","Yanping Wang","HCHK","GTV","Saraca","GETTR"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":215,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":3225,"status":"published","published_at":"2024-02-15 00:00:00","created_at":"2024-02-15","updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:36:08"}