New report discloses more dealings involving Timothy Roth

CHAMPAIGN — Previously unreported business dealings involving former Urbana money manager Timothy Roth continue to pop up in court filings, even as the court-appointed receiver for Roth's assets tries to wind down his work.

The latest report from court-appointed receiver Timothy Bertschy discloses at least three new business dealings:

— A $50,000 loan or investment to California-based First Blush Inc. Until 2010, Roth's brother, Anthony, was president of First Blush, which marketed several types of grape juice and tea.

— A loan of $100,000 or more to Anthony Roth or to the business Commerce Planet. Until 2009, Anthony Roth was president of Commerce Planet, which was an online marketing and telesales provider.

— An apparent $750,000 loan to Atish Doshi or to Rickshaw Media Group, a company owned and controlled by Doshi for development of a magazine or newspaper.

Bertschy reported to the court that Black Card Media Group LLC — also owned and controlled by Doshi — appeared to be the successor to Rickshaw Media.

"Doshi and these corporate entities operate The Booze News, a publication circulated on campus at the University of Illinois and possibly other universities," Bertschy said in his report.

In October, Timothy Roth pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Peoria to mail fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme that cost clients about $16 million.

The 56-year-old Stonington resident admitted defrauding 11 victims — including companies and individuals — by transferring, liquidating and removing mutual-fund shares from clients' accounts for his own business and personal use.

The biggest victim, according to the plea agreement, was Sentara Healthcare of Norfolk, Va., which was believed to have lost about $7.6 million.

Bertschy has said some of the money went to computer-related businesses that Timothy Roth was engaged in.

His involvement in three such businesses has been well-documented. Those businesses include:

— Mezolink, a data services company in Champaign.

— VCN Celect.org, an Evanston-based company that provided Web-based services to fraternities, sororities and faith-based organizations.

— A similar business, Toronto-based Vcomm Networks of Canada.

In Bertschy's latest report, the court-appointed receiver said the e-business and related assets of Celect and VComm have been purchased by All Web Network Inc.

That company made an initial down payment of $200,000, with two additional installments of $25,000 scheduled to be made this month and in February 2012, the report said.

Meanwhile, Bertschy said he is finalizing arrangements to sell the companies' "hard assets" to Integrity Global Solutions for $157,400.

Bertschy said he advertised the sale of the hard assets on the receiver's website, at SuperShopper.org and on Google. He said he received bids from about 20 entities for some or all of the assets.

The receiver said he is exploring the possibility of collecting royalties owed on software sublicenses that Roth may have granted to third parties. Bertschy is also considering selling rights to the sublicenses.

Additionally, the receiver is looking into at least $80,000 in revenue earned on PlanetEd Technoloiges products. Bertschy said Mezolink entered into an asset purchase agreement with PlanetEd that included a revenue-sharing plan between the two companies.

Bertschy said he's "continuing to investigate potential claims against responsible third parties" in connection with the case.

Timothy Roth was a representative for New Jersey-based Comprehensive Capital Management from 2005 until last February, when his position was terminated.

Bertschy said he is investigating claims against the Comprehensive Group — including Comprehensive Capital Management and Comprehensive Asset Management Servicing — and a provider of securities brokerage services and technology-based financial services.

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