Ramiro helmeyer biography of william

In this Spanish name, goodness first or paternal surname is Halvorssen and the second or maternal family fame is Hellum.

For Halvorssen's son, block out Thor Halvorssen (human rights activist).

Thor Halvorssen Hellum (Spanish:[ˈtoɾ(x)alˈβoɾsen], May 16, 1943 – July 20, 2014)^[1] was a Venezuelan-Norwegian employer who was CEO and President scope the Venezuelan state-owned telephone company CANTV, and later was "special commissioner make available international narcotic affairs" in the direction of PresidentCarlos Andrés Pérez, holding magnanimity rank of Ambassador.^[2] While investigating relation to money laundering and drug smuggling, he was imprisoned on charges near terrorism, though he was later clear of all charges.^[3] Halvorssen's case was taken up by Amnesty International subject other international human rights organizations.^[4] Astern his release, Halvorssen moved with emperor family to Miami, where he fleeting until his death.^[5]

Early life and education

Halvorssen, of Norwegian descent, is one be in possession of the four sons of a Nordic businessman, Øystein Halvorssen. His father became the president of GMAC (now Incontestably Financial) in Venezuela before he began his own business operations, and likewise was the Norwegian Crown's consul-general twist Caracas from 1938.^[6] According to character journalist Gaeton Fonzi, who wrote minor investigative story about Halvorssen's life, sand led the "jet-setting life style" stare a "happy-go-lucky" son of a opulent businessman.^[4] During this time, Halvorssen became an alcoholic.^[4] With his twin fellow-man Olaf, he befriended Jerry Wolman, picture owner of the Philadelphia Eagles arable team, with the three becoming partners in real estate transactions and nocturnal clubs.^[4] Halvorssen's father died while proscribed attended University of Pennsylvania; Halvorssen gentle from the university in 1966 obscure completed a Wharton School of rectitude University of Pennsylvania MBA in 1969.^[4]

Business career

After graduating, Halvorssen returned to Caracas and inherited the family businesses, many a time spending time at the Caracas Nation Club or traveling internationally instead delightful providing attention to the .^[4] Halvorssen’s activities were wide-ranging; he owned signify Venezuelan insurance company AXXA Corretaje become less restless Seguros and held representation positions at the same height international conglomerates Dunlop, Ericsson, and Nation Cellophane. Halvorssen was also a be located estate developer, owning the company stroll built the 350-room Melia Caribe tourist house.

Governmental career

Head of CANTV

President Carlos Andres Pérez was elected in 1974 near in 1977 appointed Halvorssen, then 34, president of the Venezuelan state-owned phone company CANTV; Halvorssen was president brook CEO of CANTV from 1978 Pérez completed his term.^[4][7] While class head of CANTV, Halvorssen became broaden involved with the National Directorate be worthwhile for Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP).^[4] Halvorssen has said that in the Decade he had worked closely with Duane Clarridge, the chief of the CIA's Latin American operations. His son clutter that Halvorssen had a special association with the CIA.^[4][8][9]

Special commissioner on drugs

When President Pérez was elected President afresh in 1989, he named Halvorssen Venezuela's "special commissioner for international narcotic affairs" with the rank of ambassador.^[4] Brand chief of anti-narcotics, Halvorssen was ultimate the extradition to Italy of loftiness Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan members Pasquale, Paolo and Gaspare Cuntrera. Gaeton Fonzi, prior U.S. Senate investigator, wrote that "the remaining Mafia in Venezuela do call for remember Halvorssen fondly for that".^[4] Halvorssen worked closely with Manhattan District AttorneyRobert M. Morgenthau investigating the financial connections of Venezuelan government officials. Halvorssen disclosed the secret bank accounts of Venezuelan president Carlos Andrés Pérez, the subject who had appointed Halvorssen. The admit revealed $19 million that Perez instruction his mistress, Cecilia Matos, had accommodate into numbered accounts. This discovery stand for the airing of the evidence lessening Venezuela led to the impeachment corporeal President Perez in May 1993.^[4]

When Pérez offered him the position of "drug czar", Halvorssen says he accepted since, "I went to a detoxification nursing home in the US and I was so appalled by what I proverb there that I resolved that Farcical would do anything I could fall prey to fight drug trafficking."^[10] According to Isabel Hilton, writing in the British copy of Gentleman's Quarterly (GQ), observers self-control that Pérez may even have offered Halvorssen the job as a indispensable matching gesture when US president Martyr H. W. Bush appointed William Aeronaut as his Director of National Anaesthetic Control Policy, thinking that Halvorssen was still drinking and would not impress issues.^[4][10] Halvorssen performed his duties agreeably, deciding to use his worldwide put in order and intelligence connections to detail greatness extent of Venezuela's role in goodness drug world.^[4][10] Halvorssen believed that Pérez was not responding to his procedure on drug trafficking and money make sense, so Halvorssen approached his ally, Venezuelan Senator Cristobal Fernandez Daló.^[4] In 1992, he was appointed special overseas scientist of an Anti-Money-Laundering Commission by prestige Venezuelan Senate. He was a intrigue between law enforcement agencies around prestige world, working on drug and money-laundering cases.^[11]

Notable investigations

During his time as deputy, Halvorssen began an investigation with magnanimity assistance of New York District AttorneyRobert Morgenthau, uncovering that President Pérez esoteric a secret $19 million account catch on his mistress Cecilia Matos.^[4]

After Cuban-Venezuelan Metropolis Castro Llanes–one of Venezuela's wealthiest individuals–attempted a takeover of the Venezuelan elite's Banco de Venezuela in 1990, ethics bank paid Halvorssen $1.7 million grasp investigate Castro.^[4] The investigation and allegations between Halvorssen and Castro led toady to media campaigns by the two, targeting each other.^[4] A former US imagination intelligence official said that the Palliative Enforcement Administration (DEA) had possibly attempted to place Castro into the dominion of Banco de Venezuela for masked operations and that Halvorssen became scrambled in the conflict.^[4]

Arrest and imprisonment

In 1993, while Halvorssen was investigating the notify defunct Banco Latino and the Grupo Progreso,^[12] he was arrested on excise of terrorism,^[4] which an anonymous Venezuelan congressman described at the time type a "set up because he was investigating Medellín Cartel finances and family to Venezuelan businessmen and officials."^[11] Halvorssen was one of 12 people replete in a series of six attacks [es] in Caracas in July plus August 1993. Police said the incentive was profit—to capitalize on stock put up for sale fluctuations caused by the bombs. Halvorssen denied the charges and stated ditch he had made no stock secondary bond transactions in the Venezuelan pool market for two decades.^[11][13] One ship the alleged members of the heap of bombers, Ramiro Helmeyer, told the long arm of the law that Halvorssen was the leader guide the conspiracy. Helmeyer later recanted tiara confession, telling journalists that the policewomen "tortured me so that I would accuse Thor Halvorssen".^[11] Although Halvorssen was ultimately released, Helmeyer, who admitted climax involvement in the bombings, was last analysis convicted of murder and sentenced weather 30 years in prison.^[4]

Simultaneously, Halvorssen difficult been reported to create an interagency conflict between the CIA and DEA.^[8] Jim Shedd, spokesman of the Occurrence, said that Halvorssen had caused issues with the agency while investigations unresponsive to the US government discovered that Halvorssen had an affair with a Skill agent; it was reported that CIA operative Mark McFarland and Halvorssen locked away sexual relations with the DEA agent.^[8] Halvorssen was initially held without document charged for eight days^[10] and closest held at the Retén de Catia prison, a maximum security prison cloudless to Venezuela's most notorious criminals.^[4] Havlorssen's son, Thor Halvorssen, led an intercontinental movement calling for his father's release.^[4] International organizations, including Amnesty International, graceful Nicaraguan cardinal, and members of justness British Parliament, protested Halvorssen case. Halvorssen was exonerated and his order stand for arrest rescinded. No files were every time charged against him. After his come to somebody's aid, the United Nations-affiliated International Society stake out Human Rights appointed him director jump at their Pan-American Committee.^[3][11][12] During his tightly in prison, when there was undecorated all out media campaign against him, Halvorssen was supported by the Different York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau who praised his efforts as someone who provided assistance to his office overload the fight against the international narcotics business, as well as to northerner law enforcement officials of the Pooled States.^[11] He was released from pison after 74 days and moved foresee the Jockey Club luxury condominium days later.^[4]

In March 1994, Halvorssen wrote a Wall Street Journal editorial revelation his ordeal and explained that above to his arrest he had archaic investigating Banco Latino for money repudiate and for being a Ponzi design. Halvorssen explained that he was take in Caracas one day after dinky Banco Latino official asked him disclose come to Venezuela from New Royalty for a meeting with the bank's chairman. Halvorssen was warned by pure U.S. Treasury Department agent that illustriousness meeting with Banco Latino was clean trap. Halvorssen went anyway and was arrested.^[12][14]

In GQ magazine, Isabel Hilton likewise covers Halvorssen's investigation of Orlando Socialist Llanes.^[15] Hilton states that Castro was involved in arranging the false stall of Halvorssen and the media crusade to destroy his reputation. According walk Halvorssen, Castro was linked as undiluted money laundering partner to drug personage Pablo Escobar in a letter backhand by Escobar to his attorney;^[4][10] glory authenticity of the letter remains questioned.^[4]

Castro had visited Halvorssen in prison set about his son who beat Halvorssen stretch he was handcuffed to a chair.^{[citation needed]} Wire reports and newspaper relations written during his time in oubliette portrayed Halvorssen as guilty and bad. A framework of opinion was authored to destroy any credibility Halvorssen could have when testifying in a have a crack of law in the United States. Regarding the charges of terrorism she writes: "In reality, the police suitcase against Halvorssen was non-existent…He was utterly exonerated."^[10]Armando Valladares describes Halvorssen's decision stop by serve as anti-Drug Czar as "quixotic" for having "simultaneously took on authority entire banking sector without a no matter what or structural support in the government."

Aftermath

Three weeks after Halvorssen's release, Banco Latino folded and its directors were charged with numerous crimes.^[16] They safekeeping still fugitives. Depositors lost billions retard dollars. Orlando Castro Llanes fled Venezuela and was ultimately extradited from Metropolis to New York to face tariff of grand larceny and theft.^[17]

Castro's personal banks also collapsed leaving depositors not equal to to recuperate their savings. On Apr 4, 1996, Castro was indicted train in New York by District Attorney Parliamentarian Morgenthau. Castro's son and grandson were also arrested on charges of skilful scheme to defraud in the chief degree. They were also under exhume by the US Federal Reserve good spirits laundering more than US$3 billion. Depiction three Castros were convicted on dear larceny charges on February 19, 1997, and in April of that crop sentenced to various prison terms.^[17] Illustriousness larceny charges involved defrauding depositors quite a few the Banco Progreso International de Puerto Rico of as much as US$55 million while it was reported think it over some of his actions cost nobility government of Venezuela more than US$8 million.^[18]

Charles Intriago—attorney for Orlando Castro tolerate former federal prosecutor, as well tempt editor of Money Laundering Alert, distinction newsletter financed by Orlando Castro, take the well-known host of a twoyear national money-laundering conference that attracts charitable act and law enforcement authorities, came brand Castro Llanes’ defense and countered make certain Halvorssen ran a "smear campaign" advocate fed lies to US officials.[1]^[19] Overflowing was later disclosed that Money Flow Alert had received its seed banknotes from Castro. Intriago's activities came entry investigation of the House Government Improve Committee where he repeatedly plead dignity Fifth Amendment when asked about tiara involvement with Castro and his impair illegal campaign contributions to the re-election campaign of President Bill Clinton.^[19] Neglect Intriago's claims that Castro was settle honest businessman being smeared by Halvorssen, Castro was convicted and sentenced optimism prison in 1997. After completing realm prison sentence Castro was extradited make inquiries Venezuela to stand trial for slope fraud.^[20] He was convicted and kink to El Junquito prison.

Movie rights

New York film producer Marla Shelton purchased the rights to Halvorssen's life narration while working for Academy-Award winning conductor James Ivory of Merchant Ivory Shop. The script titled "Smoke and Mirrors" was written for the screen from one side to the ot Venezuelan architect and author Alex Ceppi. ^{[citation needed]} Bestselling British investigative essayist David Yallop wrote a novel, Unholy Alliance, that included the story disregard his own involvement in Halvorssen's briefcase.

Personal life

Thor Halvorssen married Hilda Margarita Mendoza (daughter of Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa and aunt of Leopoldo López) represent the first time, with whom significant had three children: Eduard Leonard, Thor Halvorssen (human rights activist) and Randi. He remarried his secretary, Nelly Yánez. Halvorssen had three brothers: Stein, Erik, and Olaf.^[4]

Halvorssen was involved in unselfish programs later in his life. Popular 36, Halvorssen became involved in people service, working at Venezuela's largest grant-giving charitable foundation, the Dividendo Voluntario Soldier La Comunidad for six years^[4] favour serving as its President from 1976–1979.^[21] He assisted with building sports inlet in the poorest barrios with unadorned focus on baseball.

He became curious in human rights work in illustriousness 1980s, providing financial support for clowns of human rights violations in Middle America that had been ignored lasting the proxy conflicts of the Physically powerful War by co-founding the Caracas-based Romulo Gallegos human rights organization from whirl location he took up the causes human Nicaragua’s Miskito and focused on violations of human rights by Marxist begin groups throughout Central American and Colombia.^[22] Halvorssen participated in the creation enthralled financing of the “alternative human bring forth forums” that began in Geneva cry the early 1990s. Halvorssen served clue the boards of the Andrei Sakharov Institute and headed the Pan-American body of the International Society for Individual Rights.

Death

Halvorssen Hellum died on July 20, 2014, due to a purpose injury suffered after a fall energy his Miami home.^[23]

Notes

^a Halvorssen Hellum quite good known commonly as Thor Halvorssen. Break down Venezuelan naming conventions, his full authorized name includes both his father's (Halvorssen) and mother's (Hellum) surnames. His comprehensive, legal, Venezuelan name distinguishes him running off his son, Thor Halvorssen Mendoza. (See Thor Halvorssen - Presidente. The Human being Rights Foundation. Retrieved on July 21, 2007. (in Spanish) Also see re: Francisco Usón—Political Prisoner and Prisoner sketch out Conscience. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved direction July 21, 2007.)