Latest news with #MedellínCartel
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
CEO who owned rights to Pablo Escobar's name arrested for fraud, money laundering
The CEO of a company that owned the rights to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's name and likeness was arrested and extradited to L.A. to face fraud and money laundering charges. Olaf Kyros Gustafsson, 31, also known as 'El Silencio,' is a Swedish national who owned Escobar Inc., a corporation registered in Puerto Rico that held successor-in-interest rights to the persona and legacy of Pablo Escobar, the Colombian narcoterrorist and head of the Medellín Cartel who died in 1993. The company used Escobar's persona to market and sell a variety of products to the public including victims across Southern California, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. From July 2019 to November 2023, Gustafsson found existing products in the marketplace and used Escobar's persona to advertise similar products at a much lower price than the competition, court documents said. Some of the items he allegedly sold included an Escobar Flamethrower, an Escobar Fold Phone, an Escobar Gold 11 Pro Phone, and Escobar Cash (marketed as a 'physical cryptocurrency'). Gustafsson would receive payments for these items through PayPal, Stripe, Coinbase and other online payment platforms. However, despite receiving the money, Gustafsson reportedly did not send any merchandise to customers because the products did not exist, prosecutors said. To further his scheme, Gustafsson had sent 'crudely made samples' of Escobar-branded items to online tech reviewers and social media influencers to try and create demand for the products. One of the items he allegedly sent to reviewers was a Samsung Galaxy Fold phone wrapped in gold foil and disguised as Escobar Inc. phones, court documents said. Instead of sending the merchandise to customers, Gustafsson allegedly mailed them a 'Certificate of Ownership,' a book or other company promotional materials just to have an official mailing record. When a customer didn't receive the item and tried to get a refund, he would allegedly refer to the mailing receipt as proof that the item had been shipped before denying all refund requests. He also allegedly opened bank accounts, to be used as funnel accounts, into which he deposited and withdrew money earned from his schemes. The accounts were located in the United States, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. Gustafsson was arrested in Spain in December 2023. He was extradited to the U.S. and arrived in Los Angeles on March 28, 2025. He was charged with: 41 counts of money laundering 35 counts of international money laundering 25 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity 9 counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud 1 count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering On Friday, he was arraigned on a 115-count federal indictment in a U.S. District Court in downtown L.A. where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial date is set for May 20. He remains in federal custody. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pablo Escobar's Forgotten Passion: The Story of His Porsche 911 Carrera RSR
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Pablo Escobar is remembered as the notorious leader of the Medellín Cartel, one of history's most powerful and dangerous drug lords. However, beyond his empire of crime, Escobar had a little-known passion—racing cars. Among his most prized vehicles was a 1974 3.0 RSR IROC, a rare classic once driven by Emerson Fittipaldi. This Porsche, originally built for the first International Race of Champions (IROC) season, would later find its way into Escobar's hands. But like everything in his life, its journey was far from ordinary. Before Escobar, this Porsche had already made a name for itself. The car was first owned by Roger Penske, who entered it into the inaugural IROC season in 1974. It was driven by Emerson Fittipaldi, one of the world's top racing drivers at the time. After its IROC career, the car found its way into the hands of John Tunstall, who raced it in IMSA events, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Then, in a surprising turn, it was sold to Pablo Escobar in Colombia, where it would take on a new life under the drug lord's ownership. Long before Escobar built his drug empire, he was obsessed with speed—not the kind he smuggled, but the kind he could feel behind the wheel. His racing career started in the Copa Renault 4 series in the 1970s, where he competed alongside Colombian drivers like Ricardo 'Cuchilla' Londoño. When Escobar acquired the Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, he modified it to look like a Porsche 935 slant-nose, fitting it with Martini Racing livery. He raced it in hill climbs and road races across South America, even betting he could finish within 15 seconds of Londoño in a hill climb event—a bet he won, a moment he reportedly bragged about for years. However, as his cartel empire grew in the 1980s, Escobar had less time for racing. His illegal fortune funded other drivers, including an unsuccessful attempt to place Londoño in Formula 1. After Escobar's death in 1993, many of his cars were destroyed by rivals or seized by authorities. However, his Porsche 911 RSR survived. The car was eventually restored to its original 1974 IROC specifications, removing Escobar's modifications and returning it to its Sahara Beige paint and race decals. In 2021, the Porsche made headlines again when it was listed for sale, reminding the world of its bizarre and historic journey—from IROC competition to the hands of the world's most infamous drug lord. With only 15 examples of the 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR IROC ever built, this car was already a rare and valuable piece of racing history. But its connection to Emerson Fittipaldi, Roger Penske, and Pablo Escobar makes it truly one-of-a-kind. It's not just a classic Porsche—it's a car that raced at the top level, became part of a cartel kingpin's personal collection, and ultimately returned to its rightful place among the world's most coveted race cars. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
