Stefan Eriksson
Encyclopedia
Bo Stefan M. Eriksson is a Swedish
criminal from Uppsala
involved in the UK gaming company Gizmondo
until it became insolvent in 2005. In 2006 he became known for wrecking an Enzo Ferrari
in southern California, USA. He was the leader of the loose criminal organization "Uppsalamaffian" (The Uppsala mafia) until he began to develop the Gizmondo
together with Carl Freer
.
, some 60 km north of Stockholm
. An auto body shop worker, he started his criminal career with thefts and a three-month prison term in 1981, followed in 1988 by another term of 3½ years for cocaine and arms-related convictions.
In the early 90s, Eriksson became the head of a group the Swedish press dubbed Uppsalamaffian (the "Uppsala mafia" or "Uppsala mob"), responsible for some high-profile violent crimes rarely seen in the country. Known as a playboy
, he often showed off a 1200 hp, 63' Sea Ray
offshore race boat
, capable of 56 kn (68.2 mph; 109.8 km/h). He named it Snövit (Snow White
), and docked it on a small river in downtown Uppsala
. He was also seen driving a Mercedes SL
with the license plate reading "GEO" (in Swedish pronounced similar to the Cuban slang llello for cocaine
, used by Al Pacino
in the 1983 movie Scarface
.) With a legal front Kanoninkasso ("Cannon debt collectors"), the group collected debts using threats and violence. Establishing a reputation, they started to dress in expensive suits and hold "business meetings" in exclusive Stockholm hotels. Attempting to defraud the Swedish Bank Giro Central of 22 million kronor
, Eriksson and Peter Uf, the other future executive of Gizmondo, were found guilty of fraud and counterfeiting. In 1993 and 1994, Eriksson was sentenced to ten years in prison, only to serve half his sentence. Court documents show Eriksson and a partner broke into a man's home, smashed his apartment and punched him repeatedly in the face, that Eriksson held a knife to the man's throat and threatened to cut off his fingers, and finally shoved a gun into the man's mouth. The Swedish police had great difficulties in finding people who dared to testify, and the head witness later survived two bomb attacks.
in the UK based company Gizmondo
, which intended to rival Nintendo
and Sony
for the handheld videogames
market. Through some innovative financial transactions, Freer had been able to take his British electronics company onto the Nasdaq exchange and raise millions. Eriksson's salary in 2004 was £1.1 million with bonuses amounting to another £145,000, and a car allowance of £5,000 per month.
In an attempt to promote the product, Eriksson competed at the 24 hours of Le Mans
. He arrived in a grey Enzo Ferrari
and entered the race in the Gizmondo-sponsored Ferrari 360 Modena GTC in 2005 but would retire into the morning with mechanical troubles. In October 2005, a Swedish paper revealed irregularities in the business dealings of Gizmondo, and the criminal past of some members of management, including Eriksson. Eriksson, Freer and others resigned, and the company filed for bankruptcy
after using up $300M, 90% in its last six months. The company was also involved in various litigation: Swedish Ogilvy Group, MTV
, and former Formula 1 team Jordan Grand Prix
all filed million dollar suits. In August, shortly before his resignation, Gizmondo relocated Eriksson to California for its US launch. Subsequently, questions arose around how a convicted felon like Eriksson was able to enter the country . In early 2006, with ideas similar to now defunct Gizmondo's Smart Adds, the virtual mobile operator (MVNO) XeroMobile http://www.xeromobile.com/http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=23408830&postID=114981755131507537 was started through Eriksson's earlier partners.
that was racing the Ferrari. Neither Dietrich nor the Mercedes were to be found, and the police concluded at the time that Eriksson was the driver and Karney the passenger, and that neither "Dietrich" nor the McLaren existed. Furthermore, the extent of Eriksson's injuries amounted to a cut lip, and blood was found on the driver-side airbag
.
Investigators confirmed the existence of the videotape of the accident shot from inside the car. The video showed the speedometer giving the 199 mi/h reading right before it malfunctioned due to the crash. The tape is believed to be with Karney.
Eriksson brandished a business card
claiming to be a deputy police commissioner with the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority
(whose founder was later arrested for perjury in connection with the case), and Karney borrowed a phone in a passerby's car where he tucked away a magazine
for a Glock
pistol. Two men showed up to speak with Eriksson, claiming to be from the Department of Homeland Security.
On March 29, 2006, Nicole Persson, Eriksson's fiancee, was pulled over while driving a 2005 Mercedes-Benz
SLR McLaren. She was pulled over because the officer found the car's European license plate suspicious. It was discovered that Persson did not have a valid driver's license. The police found the car to be unregistered, carrying British license plates, and illegally exported from Britain. Further investigation revealed that the crashed red Enzo, a second black Enzo, and two other Mercedes-Benz
cars were also unregistered and illegally exported. It was found that all five cars valued at $10.8 million were leased in Britain. Moreover, lease payments for them had ceased; and that after the export, the Mercedes was reported stolen in Britain with insurance pay-out. Footage of Eriksson in his black Enzo Ferrari, shot by the founders of a car enthusiast website, Car-parazzi.com, was held as evidence against him by European authorities.
, grand theft auto
, drunken driving
, cocaine possession
, and weapons charges stemming from a Magnum handgun encountered during the search. He initially faced up to 14 years in prison, which was later reduced in a plea bargain
. In May, misdemeanor hit and run
and driving without a California license and insurance were added in relation to a Porsche Cayenne
allegedly driven by Eriksson rear-ending an SUV near his Bel Air home on January 4.
On April 26, 2006, Eriksson's accomplice Carl Freer was arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer
, perjury
, and other unspecified charges stemming from the discovery of 12 rifles and four handguns during searches of his estate and his 100 feet (30.5 m) yacht docked at Marina del Rey.
On May 9, 2006, police raided the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority (a minor bus service for area senior citizens), arresting its owner and confiscating guns, badges, and a vehicle equipped to be an unmarked police car.
On November 3, 2006, a mistrial was declared after a two week trial, when the jury was deadlocked 10-2 toward convicting Eriksson. Eriksson was represented at trial by Jim Parkman, who successfully represented former Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy
. Eriksson was also represented by Parkman's partner, William White, as well as Los Angeles criminal attorney Alec Rose. The prosecution has indicated their intent to retry the case. http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/11/03/513019.html
Eriksson accepted a plea bargain for three years in jail and deportation
. He pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement and one count of illegal gun possession. He avoided an auto theft charge.
Eriksson was released from prison on January 21, 2008.
He has since been deported back to Sweden where he is currently being held on suspicion of extortion
and aggravated assault.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
criminal from Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
involved in the UK gaming company Gizmondo
Gizmondo
The Gizmondo is a handheld gaming console which was released by Tiger Telematics in March 2005. The electronics design was undertaken by Plextek Limited and the industrial design by Rick Dickinson....
until it became insolvent in 2005. In 2006 he became known for wrecking an Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari (car)
The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite...
in southern California, USA. He was the leader of the loose criminal organization "Uppsalamaffian" (The Uppsala mafia) until he began to develop the Gizmondo
Gizmondo
The Gizmondo is a handheld gaming console which was released by Tiger Telematics in March 2005. The electronics design was undertaken by Plextek Limited and the industrial design by Rick Dickinson....
together with Carl Freer
Carl Freer
Carl Johan Freer is a Swedish businessman and technology entrepreneur.-Business activities:Freer founded Gizmondo in 2002, and was Chairman of the board of directors at Gizmondo Europe until he resigned his position in October 2005....
.
Early life
Eriksson became known by the Swedish police as Tjock-Steffe ("Fat Steve") or as The Banker by the local mob in the city of UppsalaUppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, some 60 km north of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. An auto body shop worker, he started his criminal career with thefts and a three-month prison term in 1981, followed in 1988 by another term of 3½ years for cocaine and arms-related convictions.
In the early 90s, Eriksson became the head of a group the Swedish press dubbed Uppsalamaffian (the "Uppsala mafia" or "Uppsala mob"), responsible for some high-profile violent crimes rarely seen in the country. Known as a playboy
Playboy (lifestyle)
A playboy is a modern version of a public Casanova — a man of means with ample time for leisure, who demonstratively appreciates the pleasures of the world.The term has also been applied to a flashy womanizer, such as a player, pappagallo, or Don Juan....
, he often showed off a 1200 hp, 63' Sea Ray
Sea Ray
Sea Ray is a brand of pleasure boats produced and sold around the world. The company currently operates as part of the Brunswick Boat Group, a division of the Brunswick Corporation.-History:...
offshore race boat
Go-fast boat
A go-fast boat, or cigarette boat, is a small, fast boat designed with a long narrow platform and a planing hull to enable it to reach high speeds....
, capable of 56 kn (68.2 mph; 109.8 km/h). He named it Snövit (Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
), and docked it on a small river in downtown Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. He was also seen driving a Mercedes SL
Mercedes-Benz R129
The Mercedes-Benz R129 automobiles were produced from 1989 through 2002. They were sold under the SL-Class model names. The R129 replaced the R107 SL-Class in 1989 and was in its turn replaced by the R230 in 2003 .-Models:-Model history:...
with the license plate reading "GEO" (in Swedish pronounced similar to the Cuban slang llello for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, used by Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
in the 1983 movie Scarface
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
.) With a legal front Kanoninkasso ("Cannon debt collectors"), the group collected debts using threats and violence. Establishing a reputation, they started to dress in expensive suits and hold "business meetings" in exclusive Stockholm hotels. Attempting to defraud the Swedish Bank Giro Central of 22 million kronor
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
, Eriksson and Peter Uf, the other future executive of Gizmondo, were found guilty of fraud and counterfeiting. In 1993 and 1994, Eriksson was sentenced to ten years in prison, only to serve half his sentence. Court documents show Eriksson and a partner broke into a man's home, smashed his apartment and punched him repeatedly in the face, that Eriksson held a knife to the man's throat and threatened to cut off his fingers, and finally shoved a gun into the man's mouth. The Swedish police had great difficulties in finding people who dared to testify, and the head witness later survived two bomb attacks.
Gizmondo
In 2001, Eriksson joined Carl FreerCarl Freer
Carl Johan Freer is a Swedish businessman and technology entrepreneur.-Business activities:Freer founded Gizmondo in 2002, and was Chairman of the board of directors at Gizmondo Europe until he resigned his position in October 2005....
in the UK based company Gizmondo
Gizmondo
The Gizmondo is a handheld gaming console which was released by Tiger Telematics in March 2005. The electronics design was undertaken by Plextek Limited and the industrial design by Rick Dickinson....
, which intended to rival Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
and Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
for the handheld videogames
VideoGames
VideoGames may refer to:*VideoGames, a mid-1990s magazine about video games.*Video games in general....
market. Through some innovative financial transactions, Freer had been able to take his British electronics company onto the Nasdaq exchange and raise millions. Eriksson's salary in 2004 was £1.1 million with bonuses amounting to another £145,000, and a car allowance of £5,000 per month.
In an attempt to promote the product, Eriksson competed at the 24 hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
. He arrived in a grey Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari (car)
The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite...
and entered the race in the Gizmondo-sponsored Ferrari 360 Modena GTC in 2005 but would retire into the morning with mechanical troubles. In October 2005, a Swedish paper revealed irregularities in the business dealings of Gizmondo, and the criminal past of some members of management, including Eriksson. Eriksson, Freer and others resigned, and the company filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
after using up $300M, 90% in its last six months. The company was also involved in various litigation: Swedish Ogilvy Group, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, and former Formula 1 team Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
all filed million dollar suits. In August, shortly before his resignation, Gizmondo relocated Eriksson to California for its US launch. Subsequently, questions arose around how a convicted felon like Eriksson was able to enter the country . In early 2006, with ideas similar to now defunct Gizmondo's Smart Adds, the virtual mobile operator (MVNO) XeroMobile http://www.xeromobile.com/http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=23408830&postID=114981755131507537 was started through Eriksson's earlier partners.
Car crash
On February 21, 2006, Eriksson lost control of an Enzo Ferrari sports car, valued at over USD2,000,000, while allegedly driving at a high speed and intoxicated along Pacific Coast Highway in California. The car careened off an embankment outside Malibu and hit a pole at about 162 miles per hour (72.4 m/s). The impact of the crash was so violent, it split the car in half. Eriksson and the Irish-born American Karney were found at the site. Eriksson claimed to be a passenger of the Ferrari, and that a man he only knew as "Dietrich" was the driver. Karney claimed to be the passenger of a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLarenMercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is an Anglo-German grand tourer car jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in Portsmouth and the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England and sold from 2003 to 2009...
that was racing the Ferrari. Neither Dietrich nor the Mercedes were to be found, and the police concluded at the time that Eriksson was the driver and Karney the passenger, and that neither "Dietrich" nor the McLaren existed. Furthermore, the extent of Eriksson's injuries amounted to a cut lip, and blood was found on the driver-side airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
.
Investigators confirmed the existence of the videotape of the accident shot from inside the car. The video showed the speedometer giving the 199 mi/h reading right before it malfunctioned due to the crash. The tape is believed to be with Karney.
Eriksson brandished a business card
Business card
Business cards are cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid. A business card typically includes the giver's name, company affiliation and contact information such as street addresses, telephone...
claiming to be a deputy police commissioner with the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority
San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority
The San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority was a very small private bus transit provider in Los Angeles County, California providing free transport services to seniors and the disabled in the cities of Monrovia and Sierra Madre. The operator claimed this was done via Memoranda of Understanding ...
(whose founder was later arrested for perjury in connection with the case), and Karney borrowed a phone in a passerby's car where he tucked away a magazine
Magazine (firearm)
A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm or removable . The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action...
for a Glock
Glock
Glock Ges.m.b.H. is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock...
pistol. Two men showed up to speak with Eriksson, claiming to be from the Department of Homeland Security.
On March 29, 2006, Nicole Persson, Eriksson's fiancee, was pulled over while driving a 2005 Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
SLR McLaren. She was pulled over because the officer found the car's European license plate suspicious. It was discovered that Persson did not have a valid driver's license. The police found the car to be unregistered, carrying British license plates, and illegally exported from Britain. Further investigation revealed that the crashed red Enzo, a second black Enzo, and two other Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
cars were also unregistered and illegally exported. It was found that all five cars valued at $10.8 million were leased in Britain. Moreover, lease payments for them had ceased; and that after the export, the Mercedes was reported stolen in Britain with insurance pay-out. Footage of Eriksson in his black Enzo Ferrari, shot by the founders of a car enthusiast website, Car-parazzi.com, was held as evidence against him by European authorities.
Police investigation
Police raided Eriksson's Bel Air home and on April 8, 2006. Eriksson, preparing to leave the US, was arrested on suspicion of embezzlementEmbezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
, grand theft auto
Motor vehicle theft
Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle...
, drunken driving
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
, cocaine possession
Drug possession
Drug possession is the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one's possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise. Illegal drugs fall into different categories and sentences vary depending on the amount, type of drug, circumstances, and jurisdiction.A person has...
, and weapons charges stemming from a Magnum handgun encountered during the search. He initially faced up to 14 years in prison, which was later reduced in a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
. In May, misdemeanor hit and run
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
and driving without a California license and insurance were added in relation to a Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a five seat mid-size luxury crossover manufactured by the German manufacturer Porsche since 2002, with North American sales beginning in 2003. Its platform was developed by Porsche and is shared with the Volkswagen Touareg and the Audi Q7. It is the first V8-engined vehicle...
allegedly driven by Eriksson rear-ending an SUV near his Bel Air home on January 4.
On April 26, 2006, Eriksson's accomplice Carl Freer was arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer
Identity fraud
Identity fraud may occur when someone steals personal information, opens credit card accounts in the victim's name without permission, and charges merchandise to those accounts. Conversely, identity fraud does not occur when a credit card is simply stolen. Stealing one’s credit card may be consumer...
, perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
, and other unspecified charges stemming from the discovery of 12 rifles and four handguns during searches of his estate and his 100 feet (30.5 m) yacht docked at Marina del Rey.
On May 9, 2006, police raided the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority (a minor bus service for area senior citizens), arresting its owner and confiscating guns, badges, and a vehicle equipped to be an unmarked police car.
On November 3, 2006, a mistrial was declared after a two week trial, when the jury was deadlocked 10-2 toward convicting Eriksson. Eriksson was represented at trial by Jim Parkman, who successfully represented former Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy
Richard M. Scrushy
Richard Marin Scrushy is an American business man and founder of HealthSouth Corporation, a global healthcare company based in Birmingham, Alabama....
. Eriksson was also represented by Parkman's partner, William White, as well as Los Angeles criminal attorney Alec Rose. The prosecution has indicated their intent to retry the case. http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/11/03/513019.html
Eriksson accepted a plea bargain for three years in jail and deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
. He pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement and one count of illegal gun possession. He avoided an auto theft charge.
Eriksson was released from prison on January 21, 2008.
He has since been deported back to Sweden where he is currently being held on suspicion of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and aggravated assault.
External links
- LA Times Life in Fast Lane Long Before Ferrari Crash, Published May 15, 2006
- http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/03/local/me-ferrari-guy4 'Ferrari Guy' Back behind bars, Published April 3, 2009