Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Vinita theme park backer claims he was duped out of $60 million for failed project
Vinita theme park backer claims he was duped out of $60 million for failed projectThe financial backer of the proposed $2 billion American Heartland theme park in Vinita has sued three individuals associated with the development, claiming the project failed after the three bilked him out of $60 million in part by sending encouraging texts and emails to him that purported to come from God.
-snip-
“Silanskas and Wilhite executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation — convincing Gene, through fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him both to finance the park’s construction and to grant Silanskas and Wilhite two-third ownership over the completed venture, which was to be worth $2 billion,” the lawsuit states.
-snip-
Their efforts included sending Bicknell anonymous texts and emails that pretended to come from God and another religious figure.
-snip-
“And after years of conning Gene out of more than $60 million and spending all of that money, including on themselves and their family members, defendants constructed nothing more than a fence and a gravel road,” referring to the Craig County site where the groundbreaking took place.
-------
Link to article; requires Tulsa World subscription.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_c8c6bacd-1cb5-4b8d-8ea4-f1fa2ff340e6.html
Gene Bicknell is 92 years old and built his fortune as owner of the world’s largest Pizza Hut franchise, as well as Mansion Entertainment in Branson, MO.
===================
7 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
FAFO. If somebody tells you that God wants you to spend your money on them they are
lying. BTW a theme park in Vinita, Oklahoma? 
