The Trust

Your firm has been selected by the courts to conduct the forensic analysis on the Smith Trust. There are 3 brothers, Andy, Don, and Scott, who have been in charge of this trust. The trustee of the trust has changed from one brother to another over the past 15 years. The 4th brother, Mike, has asked the court to conduct the forensic analysis as he feels that the 3 brothers have been stealing from the trust. His belief is based on the fact that he has repeatedly asked for copies of receipts and has not received any. The Judge granted his wish. When the trust began, Mike was a juvenile and could not run the Trust even though he received benefits. Mike could not steal any funds as he has never had any access to them.

Andy:

Married, 2 children; 42 YOA. Owns his own construction company; Makes $200,000 a year; Drives a 2014 Ford Lariat Truck; Lives in a ranch style home on 5-acres; Enjoys family, fishing, hunting, and boating

Don:

Married; 4 children; 40 YOA Owns his own CPA firm; Makes $200,000 a year; Drives a 2014 Cadillac SUV; Lives in a Penthouse Condo on the Beach; Enjoys dining out and traveling

Scott:

Married; 2 children; 40 YOA He is the twin brother of Don; Owns landscaping business; Makes $150,000 a year; Drives a 2013 Harley Davidson Model F-150 Ford Truck; Lives in a ranch-style home, on 1-acre; Enjoys fishing, sports games, and pubs

Briefly, what would you do to begin your investigation?

1. What items would you ask for to examine? 2. Who would you interview first? 3. How would you start the interview?