The Blogfather

$14 million in attachments filed in alleged Harwich embezzler case

Cambium Learning, Inc., accused embezzler's former employer, files attachments for $14 million on Windle properties in 3 counties

• Two subcontractors file liens totalling $271,ooo on the Florida property; attachment lists Windles' cars
• Windle's attorney files for an extension to work out a potential plea agreement
• New! Pictures of Jeffrey's boats and waterfront landscaping in Florida
  
• Windle almost bought another Harwich Port $4.9 million property in late summer of 2007

Earlier this week,  Cambium Learning, Inc., the company in which accused embezzler Jeffrey Windle of Harwich Port formerly worked as Director of Budget and Finance,  filed attachments on properties in 3 counties where Jeffrey Windle owned property--Barnstable and Plymouth Counties in Massachusetts, and Charlotte County in Florida.    Jeffrey Windle was arrested in Harwich Port on May 2 on charges that he allegedly embezzled between $5 - $12 million from his company, as well as between $200,000 and $400,00 from the South Dennis Congregational Church, where he was volunteer treasurer.     With the alleged embezzled funds, he purchased 6 cars, 6 boats, a $1.9 million house in Harwich Port,  a house in Duxbury, and two houses in Florida.  See links to recent stories about Jeffey Windle at the bottom of this article.

When an entity files an attachment on a property, it basically means that the  entities named as defendants cannot sell the assets named in the attachment without satisfaction up to the amount claimed by the filing entity.   The attachment is granted by a judge on behalf of creditors.

 
The Duxbury house purchased by E & S Realty Trust in February 2007. The attachment, which is accessible online at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds and can be accessed by searching for "E & S Realty Trust" lists houses, bank accounts, and vehicles belonging to Jeffrey and/or his wife Jeannine Windle.   In order to see this document,  you have to download a separate program.  And you can't print it  out (without joining, which is a snail mail, not online, procedure. ) And you can't take a screen shot.  But, nothing prevents you (or me) from taking a digital photo of your computer screen, which I have done.  The pages worth looking at are the ones here, here, and here which list the properties, bank accounts, and cars. 

A total of 4 houses purchased

I ran across a couple of new names in my digging today:  Carol Hanson and Kevin Hanson.  My sources tell me that Carol Hanson is Jeannine Windle's mother, and Kevin Hanson is her stepbrother.

Through online Registry of Deeds research I have found that various trusts and family members of both Jeffrey and Jeannine Windle were involved in the purchase of 4 properties since 2004. 

There is E & S Family LLC, registered in Florida, to Jeffrey & Jeannine Windle.

There is E & S Realty Trust, registered in Massachusetts.  The trustees include William Windle  & Jeffrey Windle , with Carol Hanson being assigned as successor trustee on July 21, 2007, which means she is named as a defendant in the attachment along with her daughter.  E & S are the initals of Jeffrey and Jeannine's two children.

E & S Realty Trust, along with William Windle (purportedly Jeffrey's brother),  purchased the home ( named Wychview) on 652 Main Street, Harwich Port for$1.9 million in 2004 and a house for $520,000 at 621 Cresecent Street in Duxbury, MA on Feb. 7, 2007.    Assessor's records say that the Duxbury house is in care of Kevin Hanson, believed to be Jeannine Windle's stepfather. 

Most recently,  the same two entities (E & S Realty Trust and William Windle) became the holders of the mortgage for $470,000 for a property at 528 Route 6A in Dennis.   The mortgagor is Marjorie Ulrich of Cape Cod Associates Real Estate and the building currently houses one of that company's offices.  Michael Ulrich of the same company was the owner of the house at 652 Main Street, Harwich Port before Jeffrey Windle bought it.

Will the Florida oasis dry up?

E & S Family LLC,  incorporated in Florida, purchased two adjacent houses in 2006 and 2007 at 270 Capstan Drive in Placida, Florida for more than $2.5 million combined, and then began extensive renovations and landscaping .

Two subcontractors working on the renovations on the Florida property have filed liens.  One is by Hazeltine Landscaping, which claims it is owed $145,491, another is by Leo Pfliger Construction, claiming $125,991.    Very extensive landscaping only recently put in is now at risk of rapidily deteriorating. Area residents have emailed me concerned about the property; with all Jeffrey's bank accounts frozen and no one to maintain and water the property, the Florida heat will soon turn this oasis into a brown, unsightly  mess with vermin as a bonus.

Above: Boats and newly finished landscaping on a canal connecting to the Intracoastal Waterway behind Jeffrey Windle's property in Placida, FL.

See end of article for two new pictures of his Florida property.

Houses, bank accounts, and cars listed in attachment; but not boats

Here is a list of the cars named in the attachment:
2007 GMC Sierra

2004 Mercedes E320

2005 Jeep Wrangler

2005 Mercedes CLK500 convertible (license WYCH2)]

1974 VW convertible

2007 Mercedes GL450 (license WYCHVU)

I was immediately curious as to why Jeffreys' 6 boats were not included in the attachment.  A spokesperson from Cambium Learning  informed me that the boats had already been "arrested" or frozen, prior to the issuance of this attachment by the U.S. District Attorney,  due to the direct evidence linking them to the allegedly embezzled money, so there was no need to include them in the recent attachment.

Windle's attorney files Joint Motion to Exclude Time

 John Moscardelli, the attorney representing Jeffrey Windle, recently filed a Joint Motion to Exclude Time on May 20, 2008. You can read the full three pages here.   Basically, his attorney is requesting that 30 days be added to the time before which Jeffrey needs to charged by indictment or information, in order to give both parties time to work out a potential plea agreement.  The document states that "the parties agreed to set up a meeting in which the defendent will make a proffer in an effort to coooperate and assist the government in locating assets and fraud proceeds, in the interest of making restitution to the victim."  The meeting is set for May 27.

Almost bought a $4.9 million home; backed out the night before closing

Also named in the attachment is  a property located very close to the Windles'  Harwich Port home.   The property does not belong to the Windles or any of their associated trusts.  It is a stone's throw from the beautiful Wychmere Harbor Club and consists of three buildings overlooking Wychmere Harbor.   (The picture on the right is the view of Wychmere Harbor from the house.)  It is owned by NIC Limited Partnership c/o GTI Properties Inc., located in Boston.   It is currently listed for sale by Kinlin Grover for $4.9 million.  GTI lawyers tell me that it is a mistake that the property was put on the attachment;  Jeffrey signed a purchase and sale agreement for this property late last summer and then backed out.  The property is legally unencumbered and the reference to it on the attachment is going to be removed.

Above:  View of canal connecting to the Intracoastal Waterway behind Jeffrey's house, with boat lift.

Above: View of canal connecting to the Intracoastal Waterway behind Jeffrey's house, plus two of Jeffrey's boats..

I have received many emails and calls with tips about this case.  All are appreciated.

Call or email me:   Julie Brooks --508-385-0003 x 106
Past postings related to the Windle case:

Alleged Harwich Port embezzler built lavish compound in Florida

Alleged embezzler's attorney arrested for gun threat

Accused embezzler's mark on Dennis

Googleable: A Tale of Two Houses