Roman Balanko, CEO of PaymentWorld USA, has denied his company's direct responsibility for over $13 million transferred through Payza, funds sought by the Zeek Rewards Receiver. In a June 14th filing during contempt proceedings, PaymentWorld USA asserted its distinct corporate identity from its Hong Kong and Moldovan counterparts.

The Zeek Rewards Receiver, pursuing recovery for victims of the $600 million Ponzi scheme, has sued PaymentWorld as a single entity. The Receiver alleges Balanko and PaymentWorld USA had access to and control over the relevant information and funds. This legal action targets money that flowed through Payza, a payment processor frequently utilized by fraudulent operations.

PaymentWorld USA, responding to the contempt proceedings and supported by three declarations from Balanko, claims the Receiver ignores crucial distinctions. The company maintains Balanko controlled only PW-USA, which held no contractual relationship with Victoriabank, the Moldovan institution central to the fund transfers.

The Receiver, according to PaymentWorld USA, wrongly assumes that operating the payment gateway for merchant transactions implies control over funds moving in and out of Victoriabank. PaymentWorld USA argues this assumption disregards the operational and corporate differences between PW-USA, PaymentWorld Limited (PW-HK) in Hong Kong, and PaymentWorld LTD SRL (PW-SRL) in Moldova. It also fails to acknowledge the varied functions performed by different entities within the credit card processing industry.

PaymentWorld USA's defense hinges on the separation of these three entities. The company states its role in the Payza fund transfer arrangement was specific and limited, asserting it never controlled the actual movement of funds in or out of any bank.

However, documents obtained by investigators directly contradict PaymentWorld USA's claims, suggesting a more integrated operational structure.

PaymentWorld USA is a California-based member-managed limited liability company, formed on April 27, 2010. Roman Balanko and Faina Rozen own and control it equally, 50-50. The company states it has no unity of ownership or control with either PW-SRL or PW-HK.

PW-HK was established by Alexander Korkin, a Russian citizen from Moscow. PW-SRL is believed to have been formed by Vyacheslav Platon, a Moldovan resident and former majority shareholder of Victoriabank. This ownership divergence forms the basis of PaymentWorld USA's argument for corporate independence.

PaymentWorld USA describes its function as distinct from a banking institution. It states it never acts as a bank or controls the direct movement of funds. Instead, PW-USA works with banks and merchants, assisting banks with risk monitoring and providing monthly statements to merchants. The company also staffs customer service desks for merchant inquiries and offers ongoing technical support. For these services, PW-USA receives a monthly fee from the bank.

On or about November 18, 2010, PW-HK contracted PW-USA to provide processing services for its international clients. Despite this agreement, PaymentWorld USA asserts that PW-USA and PW-HK operated as two distinct, independent entities, each with its own responsibilities and lack of control over the other's financial operations or banking relationships.

The Receiver continues to pursue the $13 million judgment, citing the alleged inconsistencies in PaymentWorld USA's corporate separation claims.