Gary
Comment posted November 23, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
Frank Venes is as crooked as Lombard St in San Francisco. He knew exactly what he was doing. I personally dealt with the man, he was trying to bankrupt me through litigation in Florida over a parcel of land next to his Merritt Island pad at the time. In the end, I had to sell it to him because he would not let me build and the court was accommodating him. I also left the area after that debacle.
The first conviction in 1987 was for small change, he now earned the privilege to be Bernie Maddoff’s neighbor once the Feds are through with him. Maybe that he will try to buy off Bernie’s cell.
An article in Florida Today:
But Dragon Point remains tied up in court: Palumbo and his former business partner, Frank E. Vennes Jr., sued each other, and their cases remain unresolved.
And federal prosecutors allege Vennes was a key participant in a $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme. A criminal trial is under way in St. Paul, Minn.
Meanwhile, curious kayakers and boaters gawk at the post-apocalyptic appearance of the property. Overgrown vegetation reaches up to the mansion's battered roof, which is reduced to tar paper, rotting boards and splintery holes.
The cantilevered swimming pool contains brown, murky water and trash. Nearly all the stained glass windows -- which depicted colorful scenes of dragons, cranes and other creatures -- are broken out. Plants grow in the Jacuzzi.
"It's a Space Coast landmark. That is the most unique property in all of Brevard," Palumbo said. "It's very frustrating right now that I can't continue what I wanted to do. Everything is in receivership."
In the City Pages this week - The fourth graphic narrative of the Tom Petters trial.
