Russell Simmons’ claim that his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons stole stock to help pay her new husband, Tim Leissner, bail out of jail has been denounced by the federal government.
According to reports, a memorandum has been filed by the U.S. government to have Simmons’ claim dismissed. In the document, the feds state that the media mogul has no stock in the energy drink company that he claims Kimora took money from.
They revealed a couple of reasons why his claim is false. According to them, Simmons was a minority shareholder in the company and shareholders don’t own any assets. Secondly, the government said that a stock sale or transfer never happened, and lastly, the feds claim that Simmons gave up his interest in the company, which is Celsius.
During an interview, Russell Simmons stood by his claim about the Celsius stock. “I was very generous and tried to be supportive. We were together 15 years, Kimora and I,” he said. “And for eight years, we were married. And together for seven, before that. And then, I was best friends with Kimora throughout the entire raising of my children.”
He continued, “So, I tried to be flexible, and accommodating, and supportive. And sometimes, things don’t work out. You’ve seen the lawsuit. I had no choice. I think Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, anybody would have sued. She gave what is now, today, based on the value of the stock, $800 million to the government illegally, and now I’m fighting to get my half of it back.”
Back in 2018, Tim Lessiner pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He also faced the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Around this time Simmons accused Kimora Lee Simmons of taking $44 million in stock to use as bond for Leissner.