No doubt, most everyone who follows my ethics blog remembers the now famous, “College Admissions Scandal.” Parents with fame, privilege, social status and great wealth, were able to get their (undeserving) kids admitted to prestigious universities through sports programs. In doing so, deserving kids, who should have had a shot at the university, were shut out. The parents with fame and fortune on their side, did not even remotely care who they steam-rolled over. It was, arguably, one of the most egregious cases of “white privilege” in years.
The case of fraud I am about to present is obviously different in its mode of action, but there are elements of a similar dynamic in play that are unmistakable in their Hollywood and class arrogance
Allison Baver
Allison Baver, is a former Team USA Olympic short track speed skater. As an athlete, the high point in her career occurred in 2005 to 2006. She was, at one time, ranked the third best speed skater in the world. Even in a sport as obscure as speed skating, Olympians are not treated like the rest of us. She was a regular team member through 2010, competed internationally as was well regarded. She was twice an Olympic champion.
So, I am not accused of complete bias, I will allow that Baver was the founder of the Off the Ice Foundation, which provided skating sports and education programs and in 2016, was elected to a four-year term with the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association.
Baver appears to have done some modeling and endorsement work, and was undoubtedly smitten with that world. The lights, camera and action of Hollywood, are often an extension of the lights, camera and action of sports. Baver wanted that Hollywood world when she hung up her skates. How or where she met actor Elijah Wood is not important, but what is important is that she was approached – or volunteered (for a handsome payout) to help finance an Elijah Wood film entitled No Man of God. The title is rather prophetic.
Through connections, the two met, and Baver, posing as a movie producer under the banner of Allison Baver Entertainment devised a get rich “quick” scheme.
Payroll Protection?
Allison Baver wanted to be a player in Hollywood, much like she was a player at the Olympics, much like the Hollywood elite wanted the prestige of getting their kids into USC and other schools.
During the lockdown, she applied for PPP funds, claiming she had a company with more than 400 employees. She also claimed her fictitious company had a monthly payroll of $4 million. At best, it was unethical lunacy. She had no employees and no payroll. She offered Woods’ production company (SpectreVision) $10 million, paid for by defrauding the government.
What resonates with me here, was the absolute lack of ethics, undoubtedly spurred by her need money, power and fame. She unquestionably felt no doubt that there was no oversight in the midst of 2020 and that “government clowns,” or however she viewed the “little people,” would not have the intelligence to see through her scheme. Unfortunately for Baver, she was caught by the very same people for whom she had low regard.
Perhaps her rationalization (other than the lame excuse that everyone was doing it), might have been “Well, I’ll simply tell the government that Elijah Woods production company had several hundred employees.” Or perhaps she figured she would make back the money plus several million, and if caught, she would write someone – somewhere, a check.
While she was playing at being a player, thousands of small businesses were shutting their doors for a lack of funds,
On December 15, 2021, former Olympian, motivational speaker, “philanthropist,” and fashion designer Allison Baver was indicted on multiple counts. If convicted, she is looking at a lengthy prison sentence based on bank fraud and money laundering. The 41-year-old-woman, if found guilty on all counts, might not see the light of day for decades.
One wonders who advised her, who taught her ethics, and how did she become so isolated in her ethical framework that she was led down this road?
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