Direct Examination

Can you please state your full name for the record?

Amari Simpson

Thank you Ms. Simpson. What is your profession?

I am the lead investigator for the U.S Attorneys Office State of Metropolitan Fraud Division

What does this job entail?

I specialize in investigating cases concerning fraud charges

Okay. How long have you been working with Metropolitan’s Fraud Division?

I have been working for Metropolitan’s Fraud Division since 2015

And when did you become the lead investigator?

I became the lead investigator in 2020

When did you begin working on the investigation concerning Ellis Kirwin?

I began investigating Kirwin in 2021

Who introduced you to the alleged fraud at Metropolitan University?

Jean Cote led me to investigate the allege fraud

What was her concern?

Jean Cote was concerned with suspicious illegal activity between Morris and Kirwin.

What was your reaction to this meeting with Ms. Cote?

I was intrigued by the situation given Morris’s companies and scheduled an interview with her for the next day.

Great. When did you meet with Ms. Morris?

I met with Ms Morris on September 15 2021

What was the topic of this conversation?

Ms. Morris explained how wealthy people were willing to spend a lot of money to get their children into prestigious universities.

After this encounter, did you continue to investigate the case?

Yes, I began to investigate the financial relationship between Morris and Kirwin

What, if anything, did this investigation uncover?

My investigation uncovered a financial scheme involving criminal payments made to Ellis Kirwin over a three year period.

Can you please elaborate on what this financial scheme was?

Morris would direct his wealthy clients to donate a large sum of money to the university during a fundraiser, in exchange for Kirwin granting their child acceptance. Ms. Morris would give herself and Kirwin part of the donated money as their profit. Kirwins portion of the money would go into a crypto currency account

What happened to the money in Morris and Kirwins crypto account immediately following Kirwin’s resignation?

Kirwin wiped the account clean right before fleeing the country

Who had access to the crypto currency account?

morris and kirwin were the only people who had access to the crypto account, not even kirwins accountant ola tang knew about the account

What was the implied reason for Kirwin’s takeoff?

Kirwin claimed to have left the country for medical treatment.

Did you uncover any proof whatsoever to support this claim?

No. There is no evidence that supports Kirwin was suffering from illness. I’m disgusted that he/she would lie about such a terrible thing.

Did you track Mr/Mrs. Kirwin down after he/she vanished from the country?

Yes, I tracked his/her location to Davonia.

What reputation, if any, does Davonia have regarding financing?

Davonia is known for its offshore and unmonitored crypto accounts.

So the place that Kirwin fled to is known for its offshore and unmonitored crypto accounts. Does this attribute make it an ideal location for hiding illegal monetary transactions?

Certainly.

Why would Kirwin have to hide his money in a crypto currency account if it was honestly earned money? 

kirwin used this account to hide his money that he made for taking bribes, not from hard work.