E-bullion Founder Arrested

Source: http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_Parking_Structure_Attack_352595C.shtml

Stab victim husband arrested on money crime claim

By JACOB ADELMAN

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

The estranged husband of a woman killed this week in a parking garage was arrested on federal charges unrelated to the murder, an FBI spokeswoman said Saturday.

James Fayed was arrested Friday at his home in Ventura County on charges that were not being made public because the indictment was sealed, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

James Fayed's lawyer, Mark Werksman, said prosecutors told him the charges involved running a money exchange without a license but he had not seen the indictment.

A call to a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles seeking details of the complaint was not immediately returned Saturday.

Eimiller said the indictment followed an FBI investigation that predated and was not connected to the murder of Pamela Fayed, 45, who was repeatedly stabbed and had her throat cut in front of witnesses at a Century City garage on Monday.

Los Angeles police are investigating the killing. No arrests or suspects have been announced.

James Fayed reportedly filed for divorce from his wife last October.

The Fayeds owned a gold-trading business called Goldfinger Coin & Bullion Sales, along with an associated Internet firm.

The FBI has been investigating possible fraud at Goldfinger, an official with knowledge of the investigation told the Associated Press Friday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the ongoing probe.

However, Werksman said Saturday that any suspicions of wrongdoing involving Goldfinger were unfounded and that he was concerned with the timing of James Fayed's arrest.

"This prosecution appears to have been accelerated in reaction to Pam's death on Monday," Werksman said. "It appears to be maximizing pressure on him at the time that he's most vulnerable, having suffered this tragedy."

Published: Saturday, August 2, 2008 13:31 PDT