Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:10:49 GMT (1686301849264)
Failed 'CityGuru' business under state investigation
Drew Morrison
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SEATTLE -- For nearly two hours, former businessman Drew Morrison was contrite yet combative and apologetic while argumentative.
"I'm not a quitter and I am obscenely stubborn," he said.
Morrison is a contradiction, as a charming man with unshakeable problems.
In September, the KOMO Investigators revealed Morrison's issues with his event company CityGuru.com and his failed payment to the Pink Gene breast cancer foundation.
Morrison gave them zero dollars despite promising the "proceeds of all sales" to go to charity according to postings for the event---a showing of the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight in May.
"I don't remember one where it said all proceeds. And if it did, as I said, that's a mistake then," Morrison said during an interview.
Morrison bristled at the suggestion partygoers were duped and said expenses had to be paid before charities.
He had promised at least $1,500 by the end of July but as of late November, he still had not given Pink Gene anything.
"I mean, you know things definitely did change from then," Morrison said.
He said CityGuru wasn't able to stay afloat and shut down. A number of investors bought shares in the now-defunct company. Morrison couldn't explain what happens next and if they'll be paid back.
The state Department of Financial Institutions, which looks into securities fraud, recently launched an investigation into CityGuru.
Morrison had no knowledge of the investigation but did address the problems with his previous company Path Investments.
"It was just one of those, it was a company that kind of went somewhere that just didn't," Morrison said.
The Arizona-based foreclosure business went belly up too.
Investor Gary Woolever won a lawsuit earlier this year alleging Morrison spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on himself instead of the business.
Records from the lawsuit expose wild charges by Morrison, who admitted he was the only one with access to Path's business accounts.
"Can we track what pennies are whose, and what it went to? No we can't," Morrison said.
At heart of the suit were promissory notes Morrison signed but never paid, calling the deal more personal than paperwork.
Records show that there were multiple contempt orders for Morrison's refusal to hand over records.
He didn't even show up for a number of hearings.
"I didn't get my day in court. And I believe I lost on some technicalities you know, because I'm not an attorney," he said. "There's truth and there's process. Maybe you're a very black and white person, fine," Morrison said.
Morrison lost another lawsuit by default in Arizona in June. He didn't in court again when a different Path investor accused him of pocketing a $55,000 loan.
All told, Morrison owes more than $1.4 million in court judgments and fees.
The state Department of Financial Institutions couldn't reveal much about its current investigation, but Morrison was clear: Despite the court's ruling he doesn't believe he owes Woolever a cent.
"I'm not a quitter and I am obscenely stubborn," he said.
Morrison is a contradiction, as a charming man with unshakeable problems.
In September, the KOMO Investigators revealed Morrison's issues with his event company CityGuru.com and his failed payment to the Pink Gene breast cancer foundation.
Morrison gave them zero dollars despite promising the "proceeds of all sales" to go to charity according to postings for the event---a showing of the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight in May.
"I don't remember one where it said all proceeds. And if it did, as I said, that's a mistake then," Morrison said during an interview.
Morrison bristled at the suggestion partygoers were duped and said expenses had to be paid before charities.
He had promised at least $1,500 by the end of July but as of late November, he still had not given Pink Gene anything.
"I mean, you know things definitely did change from then," Morrison said.
He said CityGuru wasn't able to stay afloat and shut down. A number of investors bought shares in the now-defunct company. Morrison couldn't explain what happens next and if they'll be paid back.
The state Department of Financial Institutions, which looks into securities fraud, recently launched an investigation into CityGuru.
Morrison had no knowledge of the investigation but did address the problems with his previous company Path Investments.
"It was just one of those, it was a company that kind of went somewhere that just didn't," Morrison said.
The Arizona-based foreclosure business went belly up too.
Investor Gary Woolever won a lawsuit earlier this year alleging Morrison spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on himself instead of the business.
Records from the lawsuit expose wild charges by Morrison, who admitted he was the only one with access to Path's business accounts.
"Can we track what pennies are whose, and what it went to? No we can't," Morrison said.
At heart of the suit were promissory notes Morrison signed but never paid, calling the deal more personal than paperwork.
Records show that there were multiple contempt orders for Morrison's refusal to hand over records.
He didn't even show up for a number of hearings.
"I didn't get my day in court. And I believe I lost on some technicalities you know, because I'm not an attorney," he said. "There's truth and there's process. Maybe you're a very black and white person, fine," Morrison said.
Morrison lost another lawsuit by default in Arizona in June. He didn't in court again when a different Path investor accused him of pocketing a $55,000 loan.
All told, Morrison owes more than $1.4 million in court judgments and fees.
The state Department of Financial Institutions couldn't reveal much about its current investigation, but Morrison was clear: Despite the court's ruling he doesn't believe he owes Woolever a cent.
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