In the shadowy world of financial fraud, few figures loom as large as Vladimir “Val” Sklarov. Other media outlets have attempted to cover his story but were forced to take their reports down in the face of legal challenges. Ananova News has obtained copies of the underlying files and, on that basis, is publishing the report in full.
A man of many aliases — Gregory Mitchell, Mark Simon Bentley — Sklarov has spent decades weaving a web of deception across multiple industries, leaving behind a trail of lawsuits, financial ruin, and unanswered questions. His latest legal battle, a high-stakes lawsuit in London’s High Court, has brought his name back into the spotlight, as Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas seeks justice for what may be one of the largest single-victim frauds in history.
The Elektra scandal: A $400 million heist
At the heart of the case is the misappropriation of 7.2 million shares from Salinas’ conglomerate Elektra A/S, worth over $400 million. The shares were supposedly collateral for a loan agreement with Sklarov’s firm Astor Asset Management. Instead, Sklarov allegedly sold them, funnelling proceeds through shell companies.
In October 2024, Justice Calver upheld a worldwide freezing order against Sklarov, exposing how he exploited loopholes and false identities and underlined his decades-long history of fraud.
Early signs of deception
Sklarov grew up in Illinois, studied law and business at the University of Illinois, and fronted ventures like Federal Home Warranty and Gourmet Cup of America, a franchise coffee chain. The latter collapsed in 1994 after he charged $15,000 per franchise while waiving royalties, leaving investors burned.
Medicare fraud: A federal conviction
In the 1990s, Sklarov pivoted to healthcare with Omega Reimbursement Concepts, which defrauded Medicare by claiming for undelivered procedures. To dodge oversight, he created 33 shell companies. Losses hit $17 million before the scam collapsed in 1994.
He was sentenced to one year and a day in jail, a $500,000 fine, and three years’ parole.
Real estate scandals: The Toledo debacle
In 2005, Sklarov bought a 500-unit apartment complex in Toledo, Ohio, for $5.6 million, via KIDZ Real Estate Group. Within five years, it fell into disrepair and defaulted on an $8.8 million loan, leading to lawsuits, code violations, and eventually an arrest warrant for Sklarov and his wife. It was sold in 2017 for just $2.6 million.
Stock loan frauds: A global operation
By 2018, rebranded as Mark Simon Bentley, Sklarov targeted stock loans worldwide:
- 2018 (USA): America 2030 promised a $3.5m loan to Dr. Brent Satterfield against $7m shares, but Sklarov sold $1m of them. A New York court ruled against him; an arrest warrant remains outstanding.
- 2020 (Singapore): Misappropriated Sunpower shares, prompting a Nevis worldwide freezing order.
- Prescient Investment Ltd: Victim of a $117m scam, involving £200m shares, leading to injunctions and U.S. sanctions.
Lavish lifestyle: The spoils of fraud
Despite constant litigation, Sklarov flaunted extreme wealth:
- Chicago: $2m apartment in Trump Tower.
- New York: $6.45m penthouse overlooking Central Park.
- Normandy, France: $4.45m château.
- Athens, Greece: Two luxury properties.
- 2024: $13.5m Italian-built yacht.
Court filings reveal fleets of Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Bentley, and Mercedes cars.
The future of Sklarov’s empire
So far, he has been accused of stealing over half a billion dollars. With lawsuits, freezing orders, and warrants piling up, his empire is faltering — yet his ability to reinvent himself under new identities raises fears he may evade justice again.
The question now is whether Sklarov will finally face full consequences, or once again slip through the cracks.
