A once-successful businesswoman who planned a year-round ski-and-golf resort with thousands of homes in Colorado appears to be living life akin to a fugitive rather than a mogul.
Marise Cipriani, 66, is being sued by her sister Valeria Fontana in Denver District Court and is allegedly evading creditors and engaging in elaborate offshore schemes, including smuggling precious gems, the Colorado Sun reported.
The lawsuit outlines a web of intricate international maneuvers employed by Cipriani as her business empire collapsed.
Her son, Guilherme Cipriani, faced federal charges earlier this year for attempting to smuggle a cache of diamonds, and subsequent investigations raised questions about the legality and business activities of several mining entities associated with the Cipriani family.
Fontana, who had lent Cipriani $19 million in 2013, claims Cipriani allegedly uses shell companies under the names of her acquaintances to conceal assets and accuses her of fraudulent transfers and violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.
It’s a far cry from the days when Cipriani and her husband embarked on the ambitious Granby Ranch project, envisioning a sprawling resort encompassing 4,300 homes and commercial spaces along the Fraser River, as well as a ski resort and an 18-hole golf course.
But the project was sold in 2017 and the resort was surrendered to an investment company in 2019.
Legal troubles continued to mount for Cipriani, including the 2019 lawsuit filed by Fontana over a defaulted loan, which was settled with an agreement for repayment.
The recent lawsuit, however, raises more alarming allegations. It asserts that Cipriani’s purported efforts to conceal funds and assets through an elaborate network of shell entities extended beyond the boundaries of legitimate business practices, potentially constituting a pattern of racketeering under Colorado law.
— Ted Glanzer
