Olympia Entertainment and World Wide Entertainment/Jack Utsick Presents

from a photo gallery of the

10th Annual

Concert Industry Consortium Conference

L-R: Greg Young (Jack Utsick Presents/Entertainment Group Fund), Chris Patterson and Ned Collett (Olympia Entertainment), and Bob Baker (Peloton Creative Group).

Prior to joining Jack Utsick Presents/Entertainment Group Fund/World Wide Entertainment (World Wide Entertainment - Michigan, LLC), Young was executive producer at the Ilitch-owned Olympia Entertainment (Detroit's Fox Theater) from 1998-2003.

According to Daily Variety, Greg Young, formerly an Indianapolis-based independent producer of road revivals, was hired and moved to Detroit in 1998 by Olympia Entertainment partly to develop new Broadway-style productions with an eye toward the national marketplace.

Young is currently a partner at Allterra Capital Partners, LLC and Variety reports Young is involved with a revival of Bob Fosse's "Dancin" which is set to stage at New York's Studio 54 in Spring 2009.

Jack Utsick/Entertainment Group Fund and other related promoters are the targets of a $300 million fraud case filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Young, who is also reportedly the owner/operator of the Royal Oak Music Theater (ROMT) in the greater Detroit-area is also involved in the case. ROMT owed the World Wide Entertainment Group receivership $475,000.

Another Ilitch partner, Michael Malik, is also involved in the federal $300 million fraud case. Subsequent charges have been filed against Malik seeking his return of more than $2.1 million that a receivership alleges Malik received in a fraudulent transfer.

Homeland Security Questions raised about proposed Port Huron casino

10.20.07

Plaza project draws queries

By MIKE CONNELL
Times Herald

The deadline for public comments on the proposed $433 million expansion of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza has been extended to Dec. 10. Here's a look at some of the issues in a question-and-answer format:

Question: If Homeland Security is behind the plaza for safety reasons, then how can a casino be approved directly next to the bridge? That would seem to be contradictory.

Answer: In August 2002, just a month before the plaza study began, Gov. John Engler signed off on a deal with the Bay Mills Indian Community. The tribe gave up its claim to 110 acres at Charlotte Beach on the St. Mary River in exchange for 15 acres at the Edison Inn in Port Huron. The casino cannot be moved elsewhere in Port Huron without Gov. Jennifer Granholm's approval.

Architectural drawing for the casino-hotel show it rising high above the bridge. Suites on the upper floors, as well as a rooftop dining room, would look down on the bridge. Presumably, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is well aware of these plans. No objections have been raised publicly.

(Complete Q&A)

Was Michael Malik's "homeland security project" associated with Safe Travel LLC, SPidS?

Michael Malik's biography in recent years has included reference to a "homeland security project" with which he's involved; although, he's never been able to receive a license or a waiver from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. His biograhpy has suggested he apparently traveled to Ireland where he convened and moderated a panel on homeland security for Members of Congress and other international dignitaries. *

The homeland security project may likely have been associated with a Farmington Hills (Warren), MI, enterprise known as Safe Travel L.L.C. (also Safe Travel USA LLC). That enterprise had developed and apparently patented something called SPidS -- Secure Perimeter ID System.

Safe Travel, L.L.C. previously known as Secure Perimeter I.D. Systems, L.L.C., has failed to keep its records up to date with the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth since 2005. It's not known at this time whether or not the venture continues or perhaps continues on under another name.

Those known to have been associated with Safe Travel L.L.C. include Manager/CEO Ghassan Brikho (he's also associated with Secure Check Cashing Inc. and Secure Merchant Services, an entity located at the same address); Tom Shields (Marketing Resource Group); David C. Bloom (former Chief Information Officer); and Emmet Denha (joined Michael Malik as a donor to Michigan's Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow and GOP Rep. Candice Miller). Also at the same address is International Modern Investment, Inc., agent Mike Dikhow, d/b/a Liberty Wholesale Foods, Liberty International and Liberty International Wholesale.

SecuritySolutions.com previously provided this description of Safe Travel L.L.C.:

"Real-time biometrics may be embedded into airline boarding passes, according to Safe-Travel LLC, Farmington Hills, Mich., which has patented its Secure Perimeter Identification System ("SPIdS").

"SPIdS uses commercial facial and fingerprint recognition systems engineered by Imagis Technologies, Identix Inc., and Digital Persona.

"By combining fingerprint with facial recognition systems, through badge procedures, the possibility of a false-positive match is nearly eliminated."

Military & Aerospace electronics (PennWell) described the venture as:

"Safe-Travel develops biometric airplane ticket
"Safe-Travel LLC experts in Farmington Hills, Mich., are offering a biometrics system for airport security called Secure Perimeter Identification System, or SPIdS. Safe-Travel won the SPIdS patent in September 2000, which defines how to embed real-time biometrics on airline boarding passes.

"SPIdS uses commercial facial and fingerprint recognition systems from Imagis Technologies, Visionics, and Digital Persona, company officials say. Safe-Travel and its integration partners IBM, Toshiba TEC Corp., Factotem, American Barcode, Imaging Automation, and TeamLinux, provide security and quick access to facial and fingerprint biometrics.

"Combining fingerprint with facial recognition systems through badge procedures virtually eliminates the possibility of a false-positive match, Safe-Travel officials claim. SPIdS matches and tracks face, prints out a picture, and enables continuous monitoring of an individual within a secure perimeter, company officials say.

"The SPIdS Smart Station profiles first-time travelers at check-in through an identification process that includes pre-flight questions, a digital photograph, fingerprint, and a database query, company officials say. Once verified, this data flows into the SPIdS database for future identification. The database can also be networked to other databases, Safe-Travel official say.

"For more information on SPIdS or Safe-Travel contact the company by phone at 248-539-9400, by mail at 30777 Northwestern Highway, Suite 108, Farmington Hills, Mich. 48334, by e-mail at infor@safe-travel.com, or on the World Wide Web at http://www. safe-travel.com."

The enterprise's Web site is no longer active. Perhaps the venture failed?

*Most likely one of the lobbying excursions put together by a group like the Ripon Society -- Malik's casino syndication team has included the biographies of lobbyists from the D.C. firm Kessler & Associates when pitching their proposals but paid Kessler & Associates Business Services through another lobbying firm Wheat Government Relations. Richard Kessler heads the Ripon Society.

You may want to review these related posts:

• Casino syndicator tied to Ripon Society promoted Homeland Security project during boondoggle to Ireland
• UPDATED: Detroit casino syndicators had previously masked their $665,000 relationship with controversial D.C. Lobbyist
• Promoter found unsuitable for gambling license is intimately involved in Homeland Security matters

There can be no question why Michael Malik found Rep. Don Young to be such an attractive political figure

There should be no question why Michigan's Michael Malik was attracted to Alaska Rep. Don Young given Malik’s interests in expanding Indian gaming, real estate development, marine activity and national security ventures; particularly those ventures surrounding the Great Lakes region.

Given Rep. Don Young’s leadership clout and in particular his committee assignments the last ten years is it any wonder Detroit casino syndicator and deal broker Michael J. Malik, Sr. befriended Young?

During 106th Congress (1999-2000) Young was chairman of the House Resources Committee (oversight of Indian gaming and Native American affairs matters). Malik had been pushing for an off-reservation Indian casino for the Bay Mills Indian Community since the early 1990s and had made several attempts at marina development.

During the 107th Congress (2001-02), Young became chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; he stepped aside as chair (Rep. Richard Pombo became chairman) to become vice chairman of the House Resources Committee.

During the 108th Congress (2003-04) Young continued as chair of the House Transportation Committee; and vice-chairman of the House Resources Committee and was a member of the Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans subcommittee. He was appointed to the Select Committee on Homeland Security and its Infrastructure and Border Security subcommittee. It was during the 108th Congress that Malik and the Ilitch Family dramatically stepped up their political contributions and paid lobbying efforts.


Freshman Candice Miller introduced HR 831 in 2003 with Young as co-sponsor; and in 2004 Young had language inserted into the Transportation Spending Bill in an attampt to expedite aprovals of a Bay Mills Port Huron casino.

During the 109th Congress (2005-06) Young continued to chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and Young stepped down as vice-chair of the House Resources Committee but continued as a general member. Rep. Young also continued to serve on the Homeland Security Committee and its Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity Subcommittee.

Again an attempt was made in 2006 to insert language to approve the Port Huron casino into a Transportation Bill; attempts were also made to slip through a bill to require the Interior Secretary to immediately take up consideration of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s Federal recognition matter; Malik’s biography notes he’s involved in a homeland security project and that he put together and moderated an educational panel on Homeland Security at a Conference in Ireland for Members of Congress and officers from foreign embassies.

With the shift of congressional control moving to the Democrats, currently in the 110th Congress (2007-08) Young is no longer chair but continues as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and with Pombo’s departure from Congress, Young is now the ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee. Young lost his seat on the House Homeland Security Committee.

Promoter found unsuitable for gambling license is intimately involved in Homeland Security matters?

Background material distributed by a Detroit-based casino interest includes a biography for one of its principals, Michael J. Malik, Sr., that boasts the following:

“Mike is currently working on a homeland security project and recently served as the moderator of a homeland security panel in Ireland with Members of U.S. Congress, Senate and Foreign Embassy staff.”

In 1999, Detroit’s various news outlets reported Michael J. Malik, Sr. was disqualified from licensing by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) and as such was forced to sell any shares and founding interest he had in group behind Detroit’s MotorCity Casino; yet now, he’s working on a "Homeland Security project" and entrusted with briefing Members of Congress on homeland security matters.

If the MGCB found Malik unsuitable to own and operate a commercial gambling enterprise in downtown Detroit, how is it that he’s now intimately involved in matters of Homeland Security? Is someone trying to rehabilitate Malik's reputation by suggesting he's now involved in "Homeland Security" or is that phrase code for "promoting Matty Moroun's do-over Ambassador bridge project?"

You may want to review these related posts or click on 'labels' below to see additional posts categorized:

• Was Michael Malik's "homeland security project" associated with Safe Travel LLC, SPidS?
• There can be no question why Michael Malik found Rep. Don Young to be such an attractive political figure
• Casino syndicator tied to Ripon Society promoted Homeland Security project during boondoggle to Ireland

Casino syndicator tied to Ripon Society promoted Homeland Security project during boondoggle to Ireland

TVT has obtained background material distributed by Detroit-based casino interests that includes a biography for one of its principals, Michael J. Malik, Sr.

The Malik biography boasts the following:

“Mike is currently working on a homeland security project and recently served as the moderator of a homeland security panel in Ireland with member of U.S. Congress, Senate and Foreign Embassy staff.”

This sure sounds like one of those questionable Congressional boondoggles organized and funded by lobbying firms and their clients; trips to Ireland specifically that have come under greater scrutiny which were organized by Jack Abramoff and his associates, or Richard Kessler and his Ripon Society.

While TVT has not uncovered any direct relationship between Malik and Abramoff; in documents sent to TVT, Malik’s affiliates represent that Kessler is their lobbyist. Kessler has not filed any report with appropriate congressional offices to disclose he or his firm is (was) a lobbyist for Malik, Malik’s gaming partner Mrs. Marian Ilitch nor their affiliated businesses or partners.

TVT has discovered that the primary lobbying firm (Wheat Government Relations) representing Malik’s various casino/gambling interests apparently funneled $665,000 (most likely from Malik’s affiliates and partners) to Kessler’s lobbying firm Kessler & Associates between 2002 and 2005.

Information about the date of the trip and the names of those Members of Congress who attended the gathering would shed even more light on the appropriateness of Malik’s activity and those with whom he associates.

Among others, Malik is a patron, travel partner and political pal of Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) as well as former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA); individuals with key roles on committees overseeing matters of national security and appropriations and whose fundraising practices and relationships with various lobbying firms and their clients have prompted calls for investigations.

You may also want to review these posts:

• Lobbyist paid $515,000, secretly representing Ilitch syndication interests
• A Case of Abramoff-Lite: Pombo was doing favors for his Motor City Casino friends
• Public Citizen exposes Kessler, Ripon and the free junkets for Members of Congress
• Team Ilitch directed $40,000 to RICH Political Action Committee
• Rep. Don Young's Top 10 donor list includes prominent Great Lakes area families bankrolling 'off-reservation' casino projects
• Rep. Young (R-AK) flying around in Detroit Casino Developers' private jet
• Casino Developer who fronted travel & entertainment costs for Rep. Don Young (R-AK) did the same for former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)