PLAYMATE': REWALD AIDED ME THROUGH DIVORCE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90-00552R000605490046-9
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 30, 2011
Sequence Number: 
46
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 19, 1985
Content Type: 
OPEN SOURCE
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PDF icon CIA-RDP90-00552R000605490046-9.pdf128.99 KB
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0 Approved For Release 2011/06/30: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605490046-9 HONOLULU ADVERTISER 19 September 1985 `Playmate': Rewald aided me. through divorce By Walter Wright Uc UNv SUN WOW When Cynthia Michelle Brooks appeared as Playboy Magazine's centerfold in April. the important numbers were 34.23.34. But when the former Hono- lulu model testified in federal court here yesterday, the ques- tions were about other numbers big numbers with dollar stigns in front of them. Brooks, 33, took the stand be- fore a standing-room-only audi- ence in the trial of Ronald Re- wald on 98 counts of fraud, tax evasion and perjury. U.S. Dis. trict Judge Harold Fong, noting the crowd. told her that her testimony "outdrew Jack Lord," another celebrity wit- ness in the case. Brooks testified she invested 518.000 in Rewald's firm and that Rewald once gave her $3,000 to help her through her divorce. Brooks said Rewald told her "he had more money than he could ever spend in a Lifetime." She said she met Rewald at ,h.a Hawaii Polo Club, where She went to get a chanLe to ride horses by exercising them for polo team members. "I was holding a horse he was getting on, and we just met." she said. Brooks said Rewald offered to give her money "all the time" after they met. But she said the $3.000 gift and Re- wald's offer to pay the legal fees for her divorce were the Cynthia (rooks Standing-room-only auafencs Theresa dlaek Devastated" by lost money only times she accepted. And the ;aid she later learned that the $530 in legal fees was de- ducted from her account at Re- wald's firm, Bishop Baldwin Rewald Dillingham & Wang, Asked why Rewald pressed money on her. Brooks said, "in my opinion, Mr. Rewald always seemed like he had great wealth, and was always con. cerned about my welfare." He often said things like, "Let me lust write you a check" or "Do you reed anything'" she said. Did she accept the money? "No. no. no because it scared me," Brooks said. But then in August 1982, she said, "I came to him at that time" and told Rewald about her desire to move out of her husband's house and into an apartment of her own, and he wrote the $3,000 check. Company records show Brooks also received checks for $2,000 and 55,000 from Re- Approved For Release 2011/06/30: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605490046-9 Approved For Release 2011/06/30: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605490046-9 wald's firm and that the She was skeptical. and even people's money she obtained amounts were not deducted declined when Rewald once for an investment with Rewald. from her ace" t. t. offered to open an account for The bankruptcy trustee hat She tes%dled she didn't her with his own funds. taken action to recover all the remember Meivitig or cashing Then. In February 1962. she money Rewald gave tiziuma the $,2,000 check. although she and her husband gave Rewald andvtd d wino omen i cokes to o says aeknowl d that the signs- a check for $8000 to open an tuts ammroing the check look- account company. ed like hers. Her father urged her instead linuma said that as a result She was not asked about the to open an IRA account. she she owes the trustee $55.000 $5000 check said, but Rewald discouraged and will lose her home. Brooks' account was debited her from withdrawing her Another investor in Bishop for other withdrawals she money for that purpose. saying Baldwin. widow Theresa Black made, but showed an $18.000 she was getting a much bigger testified yesterday she gave balance - including Rewald': return at Bishop Baldwin. Rewald more than MO,060 in promised 20-percent-plus inter- She said she thought Rewald insurance proceeds the receiv- !tt .. when the company col- was "very keen. He seemed to ed when her husband and twc tossed in August 198& have the right answer for any of her sons were killed in the 'I'mo trUet e in the company's question. Every turn I made, he crash of their skydiving plane bankruptcy Is insisting that was sundinj there with a rea- in 1181. Brooks may $3,000 she with- son why 11 should keep my The loss of the money, she drew in May 1983 because all money there ... He was really said. "devastated" her and forc- u within 90 days before convincing." ed her to leave Hawaii and a nkruptey must be returned In other testimony yesterday, move in with relatives in Texas to be shared equally with all former insurance saleswoman because she can no longer af. creditors. Jane Iinuma said Rewald paid ford to live here. Brooks is fighting the trustee. her more than $100,000 from Attorney Dana Smith, who and a bankruptcy judge took December 1980 to July 1983 to incorporated Bishop Baldwin the dispute under submission be his traveling companion and and several sporting goods Tuesday. mistress, firms for Rewald. said yester- If she rettvns the $3,000. she linurna said Rewald at first day he knew nothing of finan. will have a net loss of $2.456 in paid her $1,000 a month, but cial statements claiming the her dealings with Rewald and increased the payments to sporting goods operations were said2 million. the firm, company records indi- weeks. Sa month he said he also paid worth cat someone had at- e. After their meeting at the many of her expenses, includ- tached letters from him to the Polo Club. Brooks testified. she ing doctor bills, school tuition financial statements. and had got to know Rewald better. and car payments. and gave changed the date on one of the seeing him occasionally at the her $20,000 for a European trip letters. club. in the spring of 1983. Smith said the sporting goods Rewald told her of his Invest- linuma said she had put $65.- companies never made money ment program, with guaranteed 500 of her own money into Re- and seemed to survive only be- 20 percent interest, tax defer- wald's firm. and then was cause Rewald kept loaning red income and insured ac- promised on aboa ut $perce ~ commis- other them money drawn from h- counts. she said. op Baldwin's checking Approved For Release 2011/06/30: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605490046-9