Well, they caught up with Chris Gardner

Update. The case against Gardner was dismissed today after the death of an essential witness.

 

Please elaborate. Is it Gardner?

 

No, my 77-yr old partner Richard Mueller died, his wife will take the wheel and we will finish the race against TL90108 LLC. Gardner will be released any day now.

 

I've followed the Swatters case, this new Ocean Joe play seems a take off on swatters/Ferrari as he died midstream the litigation.

Question:

Does the Death of Richard A. MUELLER mean he is replaced by a new ""Heiress"": Katherine Mueller?

How does the Estate Probate manage suspicious litigation that could be libelous with a large counterclaim ?

How does Ford proceed when the case was dismissed for 1. the fbi forensics claiming there were no forgeries 2. interpol confirmed Mueller was paid with the Heiress cashing the check and the death of Mueller?

( i heard there were 10 issues with case against Gardener that the DOJ found unable to overcome , thus the dismissal was much more than Fords single reason post on the death of Mueller)

How did Mueller die?

 

Congratulations to Chris Gardner on the dismissal with prejudice of the U.S. government's criminal case against him. I just now saw Ocean Joe's May 29 update relating this fact. What brought me back to this thread was that today I happened to check in on OJ's state court case, Mueller & Ford v. TL90108 LLC. There I found another pivotal update: that on June 11, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals had entered an order to affirm the ruling of the trial court to deny enforcement of a purported settlement agreement. In response, the trial court has filed an order to calendar a December 4 hearing on a Motion for Summary Judgment (without identifying the moving party), and to calendar trial for June 2, 2025.

Given that both OJ and the defendant LLC have agreed to seal the record at both the trial court and the appellate court levels, we members of the peanut gallery have had very little factual information to go on. The Court of Appeals opinion does not add much, beyond this summary statement of facts:

. . . [A] full-day mediation took place on October 29, 2021, with former Magistrate Judge David E. Jones. At the conclusion of the mediation, the parties signed a two-page Settlement-in-Principal Term Sheet (“SIP”), which included a “Financial Terms” section and a “Releases and Dismissal of Claims” section. In the “Releases and Dismissal of Claims” section, the SIP included the following bullet points:

• The parties will negotiate and agree to the terms of a final settlement agreement in good faith.
• The mediator will resolve any disputes involving the final settlement agreement.
• The terms of the final settlement agreement will include mutual confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions.
• The only public statements that Ford and Mueller on the one hand and TL on the other hand will make in respect to their settlement are the following: “We amicably resolved our dispute.”
• The parties agree that this Term Sheet contains all material terms and is fully enforceable under [WIS. STAT. §] 807.05.

Subsequently, Ford’s counsel filed a letter advising the court that the parties agreed to settle the lawsuit.​

In its opinion the Court of Appeals did not share the contents of the "Financial Terms" section of this settlement agreement, which I expect to have been the only interesting peanut gallery fodder. All we know is that the order to affirm turned on the rule that a contract, to be enforceable, must be certain as to all its material terms; that the SIP failed adequately to define the "mutual confidentiality" and "non-disparagement" provisions; and that therefore the SIP does not constitute an enforceable settlement agreement. Pretty dry stuff.

So now, with the federal criminal case coming to an end, and with it the on-line access to all its pleadings, and the Wisconsin state court case returning to the land of sealed filings, we can expect nothing much to report until December.

 

End of Year Summary - Case Against Ocean Joe

This story was hard to follow even with 180-Out ‘s legal context. I thought I’d post its long and winding road , now in year 15. This saga started on this thread as a scheme to get back a dilapidated carcass of a Ferrari that laid in a field. A handful of posters on the thread provided untruthful statements used in several courts. Ocean Joe ( not the water ocean but Ocean 11 movie character) managed to insert claims walking into a London Court were it was adjudicated he had no claims against the 375+ of Swatters. During the 375 Ferrari litigation OJ filed bankruptcy. That happened in the middle of a trial brought on by several posters on this thread each promised rewards by OJ. He didn’t pay them, and they sued.

Workman has a collection of Ferraris that include a GTO. He owns a Talbot Lago Teardrop Coupe worth $10’000’000. OJ claimed a 90% share in the Workman Talbot car if he aligned with the 2005 seller of the Talbot to Gardner to undo the sale. Workman was approached by OJ at Cavallino offering ‘detective services’’. OJ's ploy was help Workman recover money on the Talbot bought from Paul Russell who paid Gardner. That led Workman to the surrender of Talbot documents to OJ gratis. The tables turned on Workman with OJ starting replevin litigation. According to the FBI OJ is a CHS (confidential human source).

In OJ's bankruptcy he gave the Talbot a $1 value. In another court he inserted claims against Workman for damages. The bankruptcy spawned a fraud charge against OJ and a $21'000'000 claim by Workman. Workman took the role as a creditor in OJs bankruptcy. OJ didn’t give notice to Workman who is pursuing OJ as a creditor. The latest Workman hearing took place on 11/22/2024;

https://www.courtlistener.com/audio/95447/tl90108-llc-v-joseph-ford-iii/

Workman’s plea before the Judge was ; ‘’OJ tried to perfect a scheme of a fraudster by failing to send notice to his creditor Workman. Then OJ ran back to Wisconsin to secure a position on Workman’s Talbot car.’’ The BR Judge stated ‘’I wouldn’t trust Mr Ford from one end this court room to the other’. OJ was fined $25’000 in sanctions.

A criminal case was started based OJ’s narrative that the Talbot was allegedly stolen in 2001. OJ was photographed in 2007 with Talbot during restoration but failed to disclose that to the FBI. OJ later said he prepared sale documents for Gardner who purchased it. According to the FBI report there where several high-level car dealers from Camarillo, California and Ontario, Canada at the location of an alleged theft in 2001. OJ inserted Gardner with hearsay claims to the FBI. The FBI took the case into their newly funded ‘’Art Crime Division’.

According to lawyers in the case the heir Richard Allen Mueller died in May 2024. Mueller admitted signing a bill of sale to Gardner in front of a notary. Former FBI and Secret Service forensic agents deemed the Gardner sale documents authentic. Mueller’s signature was deemed genuine. Gardner's payment was still in the banks archives as genuine. Homeland Security records showed Gardner was not in the USA at the time of the alleged burglary in 2001 and he was not s suspect. Swiss border crossing and airport ledgers debunked the narrative all together. The FBI looked past the evidence racking up huge case cost. In 2024 a key government witness recanted his testimony on the date of the alleged parts theft. Police photos of the Talbot title and the parts Gardner bought in 2005 were taken by the police after the alleged theft report of 2001. Gardner restored the car over a 10-year period while Ford waited quietly for Gardner to finish the restoration. When Russell sold the Talbot to Workman OJ moved in on his billionaire mark.

The FBI avoided the Swiss Authorities when told that they were forbidden to contact Gardner according to Swiss law. Once informed that Gardner was a peaceful resident for over 20 years the FBI circumvented the Swiss authorities and sent a Pebble Beach Judge (RA) to act as a CHS providing photos and chassis numbers of several car collectors while he gain their confidence judging them.

The case lost clarity. The FBI shifted to a new storyline that the Talbot was counterfeit. That entailed 52 FBI agents and 5 months of testing at the FBI Firearm and Toolmarks Laboratory in Virginia. The metallurgical test on the chassis highlighted interesting forensic facts that every Ferrari owner should find insightful. It's worth a read. Those tests cost the ‘’Art Crime’’ FBI division $880’000. It included drilling the frame of another one of Paul Russell’s clients’ cars to use for comparison. The test was deemed inconclusive.

It was never considered how a local Wisconsin beat cop altered a 25-year-old theft report adding a different identification number to match the restored car that Workman bought. The FBI theft report of 2001 showed no Talbot Lago number of the car Gardner bought in 2005. The new numbers were only added after OJ refocused the FBI to circumvent the 2001 theft report and focus on Gardner. A new twist was that the local Wisconsin cop, the most worshipful Senior Grand Deacon was a brotherly member of the fraternal order of the Wisconsin Freemasons. He was vetting confidential police information on ‘’background’ checks for the Freemason’s membership. He led the initial investigation at OJ’s direction. The cop, Jeffery Thiele was in the same Freemason order as Ford’s accomplice Mueller, who sold the Talbot to Gardner in 2005.

As the DOJ’s cost of the case topped $4’000’000 the DOJ changed the storyline to state that the engine Gardner rebuilt wasn’t original because it had new pistons. That served a theory that something ‘’original ‘’ had more value than something restored. The stolen and counterfeit issues faded. A plea deal of one count using the terms ‘’authentic’’ and ‘’original’’ ran down the clock to a trial date. Gardner refused to take a plea insisting on a trial. The case was dismissed by the DOJ in May 2024.

Defense attorneys said to me the case against Gardner was empty and lawless. It should have never been brought forth. The dismissal of the entire complaint came with prejudice marking an end to the lengthy saga. It revealed wrongdoings with several witnesses. “The decision to dismiss the misguided federal case with prejudice against Mr Gardner is a major victory showing that the rule of law prevailed”. Gardner was detained and refused medical care . The complex case was long considered straightforward. It was littered with dubious witnesses for the FBI and only hearsay provided by OJ. There always was extensive documentation that Gardner purchased the Talbot, restored it authentically and sold it transparently. The case should have never been brought.

Meanwhile OJ is in his 7th year litigating with Workman. Workman is now faced with paying off Ocean Joe in nuance money or taking him on in the civil case in Wisconsin. The civil case is sealed for unknown reasons.

 

Holy ****, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
Thank you for this mesmerizing update...

 

I suffered Brain Freeze somewhere in the second paragraph.

 

All I know is that I have always lusted after the Tear Drop Coupe.'

 

These legal threads are quite obscene and disgusting.

There should be a new fchat section: "Lawsuits and bottom dwelling creatures."

I don't mean bottom of the ocean but bottom of sewers.

 

"LAWYER CHAT" .COM ??

 

Ambulancechaser.com

 

Almost a year now, and no reply from Joe...


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The Million Dollar Car Detective - by Stayton Bonner is released on August 26, highlighting our Ocean Joe's career moves from FBI informant to Ferrari expert. the Book is up on X by the author

A stolen car worth $7 million. A broke private investigator. Best friends turned worst enemies.

And the global manhunt neither saw coming. In 2001, thieves parked a box truck in front of an aging tycoon's factory, cut the phone lines, and used an overhead crane to lift out their prize: a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop coupe--"the most beautiful car in the world" and one of only two in existence--then they disappeared into the night. The tycoon died. The trail went cold. End of story.
Until it wasn't.

In 2015, Joe Ford was a PI trying to scrape together enough money to help his daughter, who suffers from a disease causing her to go blind, when he got a tip; a mechanic in the French Alps had been burned by a thief and had a secret to share: the location of the missing Talbot-Lago.

The reward for finding the car would mean Joe could not only save his daughter's sight but also set his family up for life.Using skills gleaned from his mentor Chris Gardner, who taught Joe everything he knew about the business of rare luxury cars, the investigation would span a decade and involve the FBI, Interpol, a global crime ring ... and a shocking betrayal.

Elite racing machines, high-end thefts, and billionaires who will stop at nothing for a moment of glory--The Million-Dollar Car Detective is unlike any heist story ever told.

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I read The Million-Dollar Car Detective in a mere 1hr 30 mins expecting a proper deep dive into the Talbot-Lago saga and something new to hear, but what you really get is the never-ending soap opera of Gardner vs. Ford.

Gardner is painted as slippery and evasive, always claiming persecution, while Ford comes off just as obsessive and petty, unable to let go of a personal vendetta.

The result isn’t an investigation so much as a feud laid out in print.

Yes, Gardner walked free after the criminal case collapsed, but let’s not forget the civil fraud trial - TL90108 LLC v. Christopher Gardner (Cook County, Illinois, Case No. 2020-L-008773)- is still running.

The book skirts around that, leaving the whole story feeling unfinished. Instead of clarity, readers get a rehash of transcripts, emails, and mud-slinging.

In truth, this reads like Ford’s swan song - one last attempt to spin his vendetta into a payday, maybe even a Netflix deal if anyone can be bothered to make it.

The result is more ego than insight, and by the end neither man looks respectable.

 

Sewer justice and reading.

This thread should be flushed down.

 

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The Million Dollar Car Detective Review for F-Chat Members

A Review of the Ocean Joe Book - The narrative of "The Million Dollar Car Detective" by Slayton Bonner purports to be factual, but inconsistencies and fabrications are woven throughout. Notably, the book fails to mention the business deal between the author Stayton Bonner and Ford to sell a story as far back as 2017, before Gardner was tarred and feathered as the villain. Ford's involvement in any classic car deal often seems to be marked by his genius contracts installing himself as the principal into Gardner contracts as he did with the 375 Ferrari parts. The book lays out he’s at it again with the Talbot Teardrop parts. He conceals the most dubious agreements and secretly lays in waiting. The Talbot Teardrop case, the hot topic of the book, has been ongoing for 12 years, a prime example of Ford's vacillating tactics.

At its core is Joe Ford, a questionable Walter Mitty-ist figure with a history of failure and dubious ethics. Ford's next target is Billionaire Dr. Rich Workman, another Ferrari collector. Ford's scheme begins with Gardner, who restores an abandoned Teardrop Talbot he purchased from another collector’s estate. Ford facilitates the purchase in 2006, and conceals this from the FBI as he attempts a vendetta against Gardner. Ford orchestrates a plan with the teardrop estate seller to falsely claim the Teardrop was never sold to Gardner. Its the same game he used on Swaters in Belgium.

This new setup is to involve law enforcement after Gardner sells the Teardrop to Paul Russell. Ford gets the local police to add the chassis number of Gardner’s legitimate car to a 20 year old alleged theft report that has another talbot number. In the FBI report it lists ‘’guys’’ from Canada and California as the 2001 suspects, although it’s questionable if there ever was the theft of the Talbot Workman has. The police photos a day after the alleged theft show much of the parts and surprisingly the actual title to the Talbot in police hands after the alleged theft of pieces.

Ford then approaches Billionaire Workman at Cavallino with a proposal to assist in recovering his investment. Workman takes the bait. Ford turns on Workman, suing him. Ford claims he had purchased 90% of the Teardrop , as a consequence from the same seller who had previously sold it to Gardner, but now for $250’000 restored. Despite Gardner's possession of all relevant purchase documents, the FBI sends an undercover informant to gather information after being warned this is a violation of Swiss law. Pebble Beach car judge Richard Adatto is hired by the FBI and takes photos of Gardner at a Swiss Concours show. The story twists further as Ford manipulates the investigation and collaborates with the book's author on what seemingly is a lucrative book deal. They link up at Pebble Beach, fertile ground for people with too much money. The stage is set, only a villain is needed now. The book follows Ford, the now Detective. Hence Ford is in place as the Hero and as a Magnum PI version comparison.

At the center of the story is Joe Ford, a dubious character with a history of failure and questionable ethics. After working over the Swaters as the villains of the Ferrari world he’s now back in Wisconsin going after his new mark - Billionaire Dr. Rich Workman. Ford waits for Gardner to finish restoring an abandoned Teardrop Talbot and once delivered to Workman goes after Mr. Deep-pockets having actually done the legal work for Gardner on the teardrop purchase. Once Gardner throws Ford under the 375 Plus bus at Bonhams, Ford plots with the seller of the Teardrop to just say he never sold it to Gardner. Ford reels in the police as soon as Gardner sells the teardrop to Paul Russell. The entire time, Ford is an FBI informant undercover.

Ford's exploits as a car detective are supposedly heroic, but reveals a pattern of deceit and exploitation. He’s recovered only one actual stolen car in his life and since he’s the smoke and mirrors expert playing both sides with the FBI secretly manipulating the situation to his advantage. Like his favorite character mentor Verbal Kine in ‘’Usual Suspects’’, Ford works all the rooms. As Ford pursues the Teardrop he targets Gardner, his former employer. Gardner , for him , has been a thorn in Ford's side and it’s time to finish Gardner off. The narrative takes a dark turn as Ford's actions lead to Gardner's imprisonment on false federal charges. Ford's methods including extortion are used on Gardner while in jail for $20’000’000, and on Workman threatening to damage his classic car collection. According to Ford’s inside jail contacts Gardner was looking for a hit-man especially for him prompting Ford to carry a pistol in his waistband at all times with his head on a swivel.

The denouement of the story showcases Ford's cunning and ruthlessness. He emerges from his Swater’s scam with a substantial sum of money, over $2 million, however, Ford's victory is short-lived. He is forced into bankruptcy by David and Debbie Clark, regular car hustlers on F-Chat. The Clarks who exposed Ford's promises to share his winnings for slanted statements, then stiffed them, along with a long list of other ‘’partners’’. Ford rats out on the Clark's, prompting the the FBI going after them on dirt Ford digs up, much like a Terri Meyers repeat . It’s evident that this is a typical pattern of tying up Ferrari Chat victims with an asset list in his Bankruptcy that makes homeless people look rich.

Throughout the book, Bonner's prose is engaging, but it's clear that Ford is using his enticement of a huge score and police connections to manipulate others and further his own interests. The story's taken in with complex and intriguing turns. Shari, Joe’s girlfriend , who worked elderly clients at the bars of resorts in the Palm Beaches is offered up by Joe to CG for a night. This over-nighter sparks a newfound appreciation and soon there’s an exchange of Valentine Cards. At dinner Shari gazes at Joe and asks "Why can't you be like CG?" . His motivation seems to stem from a deep-seated resentment towards Gardner, fueled by a sense of inferiority. Ford aligns the entire Gardner universe like a scorned woman from David Clark to son's of girlfriends.

In the realm of high-stakes intrigue, the Talbot Lago case unraveled like a masterfully woven tapestry suddenly torn apart. Gardner, the man installed by Bonner as the Villain , stood steadfast, his alibi : he was in Europe, continents away from the alleged theft. The FBI knew it. Yet, the pursuit was relentless, their $4 million investment in the overfunded Art Crime Division a testament to the buy in of Ford’s story line . But as the investigation teetered on the brink of collapse, inconsistencies emerged like cracks in a once-impenetrable fortress.

Key witnesses recanted, detectives' reputations were called into question, a dirty cop emerged, the Teardrop conveyances docs were deemed original by Secret Service and Forensic FBI specialists. When it was apparent that the Teardrop was in fact bought legally, the FBI assigned 52 agents and the entire 9/11 forensic teams to rack up $880’000 in metallurgy test in an attempt to hold the case together against Gardner. The results failed them and the DOJ's case crumbled like dust in the wind. The grand spectacle ended with a whimper, the FBI wanted poster for Gardner issued after he'd already surrendered, a peculiar timing that reeked of a publicity stunt gone array. Ultimately, the DOJ was forced to drop the case, releasing Gardner.

The epilogue, which speculates about the theft of the 007 James Bond Aston Martin, feels like a distraction from Ford's egregious behavior. The author's apparent bias in portraying Gardner as the bad guy lumps him with a constant one-sided mantra throughout the story and paints Ford as someone deserving the lottery even despite his curve balls of trickery.

Ultimately, The Million Dollar Car Detective is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the corrupting influence of power in the hands of a troll who can manipulate the system without two nickels to rub together. It also rings the bell that showing yourself or your net worth on the internet is like chumming shark infested water with Ford looking for Big Tuna collectors without even a boat. Ford's character serves as a reminder that in the world of high-end cars there is new fraud and Ford is absolutely Captain Ocean Joe. While the book is an entertaining read, it's essential to separate fact from fiction with a critical eye. Given Ford's history on F-Chat and the numerous court documents that spell out an entirely different reality than the book portrays, I couldn't believe Ford comes out a winner of any race and predict he eventually hits the wall again..