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VOA标准英语2009年-Panic Follows Fraud Charges Against US Billiona

时间:2009-03-03 08:18:20

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Havoc1 and panic stemming from fraud charges against U.S. billionaire Allen Stanford have spread to Latin America, prompting several governments to swing into action.
 
Venezuelan policemen pass in front of a closed Stanford Bank office in Caracas, 19 Feb. 2009

Latin America is bearing much of the brunt of fallout from alleged2 fraud schemes perpetrated by banks and other financial firms owned by Allen Stanford. At least five nations have launched investigations4, suspended bank operations, or, in the case of Venezuela, seized control of local Stanford banking5 affiliates6.

Venezuelan Finance Minister Ali Rodriguez says the government was forced to act after panicked depositors withdrew tens of millions of dollars from more than a dozen bank branches in the country.

Rodriguez says massive withdrawals7 have brought about a highly precarious8 situation, which made it necessary for authorities to intervene and put the bank up for sale.

The finance minister said that, in the interim9, the government would back remaining deposits.

Other nations to take action include Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. British and European investigators10 are also reported to be probing Stanford's dealings.
 
Texas financier Allen Stanford (file)

The panic ensued after U.S. officials filed fraud charges and froze the assets of three companies controlled by Stanford, a flamboyant11 Texas billionaire who has donated vast sums to U.S. politicians and sponsored sporting events from the Caribbean to Britain. The banker had been knighted in Antigua, where Stanford International Bank is headquartered.

Tuesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused Stanford and several associates of orchestrating what officials termed a multi-billion dollar fraudulent investment scheme of "shocking magnitude" based on "false promises and fabricated historical return data."

The SEC posted an automated12 call-in message for Stanford investors13 detailing the assets seized and what will become of them, as mandated14 by a federal court.

"The receiver will take control of and operate the assets, and take steps to preserve the value of assets in order to prevent loss. The court further issued a temporary restraining order freezing all assets of the defendants15 and requiring preservation16 of documents. The SEC's investigation3 of this matter is ongoing," he said.

FBI officials contacted by VOA would not comment on a report by ABC News that, in addition to fraud charges, Stanford is under investigation for money laundering17 on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel.

Since the SEC's announcement, several high-raking former employees and business associates have come forward to state that they were aware of fraudulent or improper18 business dealings by Stanford.

"The published returns that many [Stanford] advisors19 used to present to clients and prospects20 - we knew that information was incorrect," said former Stanford investment broker21 Mark Tidwell.

The Stanford case is the second major alleged fraud scheme to be uncovered by U.S. authorities in recent months. Late last year, FBI agents arrested Wall Street businessman Bernie Madoff, who stands accused of swindling investors out of approximately $50 billion through what is known as a Ponzi scheme.


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1 havoc 9eyxY     
n.大破坏,浩劫,大混乱,大杂乱
参考例句:
  • The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
  • This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。
2 alleged gzaz3i     
a.被指控的,嫌疑的
参考例句:
  • It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
  • alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
3 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
4 investigations 02de25420938593f7db7bd4052010b32     
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
参考例句:
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
5 banking aySz20     
n.银行业,银行学,金融业
参考例句:
  • John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
  • He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
6 affiliates 8039227006b7ce850a1cb99be5471e50     
附属企业( affiliate的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She affiliates with an academic society. 她是某学术团体的成员。
  • For example, these security affiliates participated in the floating of 19,000,000,000 of issues in 1927. 例如,这些证券发行机构在1927年的流通证券中,就提供了一百九十亿美元的证券。
7 withdrawals e8b79ee63bd5060c582d7b93a43ec3dd     
n.收回,取回,撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 );撤退,撤走;收回[取回,撤回,撤退,撤走]的实例;推出(组织),提走(存款),戒除毒瘾,对说过的话收回,孤僻
参考例句:
  • He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句
8 precarious Lu5yV     
adj.不安定的,靠不住的;根据不足的
参考例句:
  • Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
  • He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家,他过得是朝不保夕的生活。
9 interim z5wxB     
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间
参考例句:
  • The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
  • It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。
10 investigators e970f9140785518a87fc81641b7c89f7     
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
  • The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 flamboyant QjKxl     
adj.火焰般的,华丽的,炫耀的
参考例句:
  • His clothes were rather flamboyant for such a serious occasion.他的衣着在这种严肃场合太浮夸了。
  • The King's flamboyant lifestyle is well known.国王的奢华生活方式是人尽皆知的。
12 automated fybzf9     
a.自动化的
参考例句:
  • The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
  • Automated Highway System (AHS) is recently regarded as one subsystem of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). 近年来自动公路系统(Automated Highway System,AHS),作为智能运输系统的子系统之一越来越受到重视。
13 investors dffc64354445b947454450e472276b99     
n.投资者,出资者( investor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
  • a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
14 mandated b1de99702d7654948b507d8fbbea9700     
adj. 委托统治的
参考例句:
  • Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
  • Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。
15 defendants 7d469c27ef878c3ccf7daf5b6ab392dc     
被告( defendant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
  • As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同,被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
16 preservation glnzYU     
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持
参考例句:
  • The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
  • The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。
17 laundering laundering     
n.洗涤(衣等),洗烫(衣等);洗(钱)v.洗(衣服等),洗烫(衣服等)( launder的现在分词 );洗(黑钱)(把非法收入改头换面,变为貌似合法的收入)
参考例句:
  • Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 improper b9txi     
adj.不适当的,不合适的,不正确的,不合礼仪的
参考例句:
  • Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
  • Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
19 advisors 9c02a9c1778f1533c47ade215559070d     
n.顾问,劝告者( advisor的名词复数 );(指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授
参考例句:
  • The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网
20 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
21 broker ESjyi     
n.中间人,经纪人;v.作为中间人来安排
参考例句:
  • He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
  • I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

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