TelexFree Trustee Stephen Darr received court approval yesterday to subpoena several companies connected to the defunct pyramid scheme. The court also granted Darr permission to conduct depositions with individuals from these firms. Five motions were filed by Darr, with three approved as proposed.

Alvares and Marsal, financial consultants to TelexFree, objected only to sharing emails between the firm and its legal counsel. Darr agreed to this condition, reserving the right to request the emails later if needed. Alvares and Marsal consented, provided they retained the right to appeal any such future requests.

No public order has yet appeared regarding Darr's request to subpoena TelexFree's law firm, Greenberg Traurig. News reports, however, suggest permission was granted for all five subpoena requests.

Darr explained the need for these requests to the Worcester Telegram. "There are no employees left. There's no insurance. There never was insurance," he stated. "I have no money to start up the business. I just don't know if there ever was a business. I'm hampered by a lack of records."

HSI and FBI agents seized TelexFree's electronic equipment and paper records during a raid on the company's headquarters. Darr does not currently have access to these seized assets, likely because authorities are using them to collect evidence for ongoing court proceedings against TelexFree. The "insurance" Darr mentioned may refer to Carlos Costa's repeated claims that affiliate investments with TelexFree were insured.

Fugitive TelexFree owner Carlos Wanzeler, currently hiding in Brazil, is believed to control millions of dollars in hidden TelexFree funds. Wanzeler has refused to relinquish control of these assets to either the SEC or the Trustee, a clear breach of a preliminary injunction granted last month. It remains unclear if Darr has had direct contact with Wanzeler. Darr justified his subpoena requests by noting that "TelexFree's principals are unavailable."

Darr hopes to gain a clearer picture of the company's operations by subpoenaing firms that communicated with TelexFree before its shutdown. He has met with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney's office to discuss the case.

Darr notified TelexFree's landlord that he would terminate the company's $6,000-a-month lease for five offices, three conference rooms, and cubicle space in Marlboro. Office furniture from the premises will be auctioned off.