David L. Paul

David L. Paul (born 1940) is an American banker, real estate developer, and founder of CenTrust Bank.

David L. Paul
Born
David L. Paul

1940 (age 80–81)
NationalityAmerican
Occupationreal estate developer, banker
Children2
Parent(s)Ruth Goldstein Paul
Isadore Paul
FamilyBruce Wolosoff (brother-in-law)

Biography

Paul was born in 1940[1] to a Jewish family, the son of Ruth (nee Goldstein) and Isadore Paul.[2] His father founded a chain of dry cleaning stores and died when he was ten.[2] His mother returned to New York City while her son remained in Florida where he was raised by a nurse and attended Catholic schools in Miami Beach, Florida[2]

He started his career in Connecticut where his company, David Paul Properties, built two controversial apartment buildings.[2] He then took control of a Massachusetts Real Estate Investment Trust called the Westport Company.[2] In 1979, Westport purchased the American Furniture Mart in Chicago for $6.5 million with plans to convert it into apartments.[3] In 1983, Paul purchased the near bankrupt Dade Savings and Loan Association through the transfer of 92% of his interest in Westport,[3] renaming it CenTrust Bank.[2] By 1988, CenTrust was the largest thrift institution in the southeastern United States with $8.2 billion in assets.[2] He built the $90 million, I.M. Pei-designed CenTrust Tower.[2] In 1989, CenTrust lost $119 million[2] and in 1990, Centrust lost $1.7 billion and was seized by the federal government[4] after "excessive and inappropriate expenses and investments."[2] Paul was ousted as chairman.[4]

Conviction

On November 25, 1993, Paul was convicted of fraud in Federal Court for making personal use of CenTrust's funds while the savings and loan was failing.[4] Paul was convicted on 68 counts consisting of 47 counts of bank fraud, 9 of misapplication of Centrust funds, 5 of filing false tax returns, 4 of mail fraud, 2 of obstruction of regulators, one count of conspiracy and one count of making false entries on Centrust books.[4] Facing a maximum of 350 years in prison[4] he was sentenced to 11 years in prison and ordered to pay $65 million ($60 million in restitution and a $5 million fine).[5] He was released in 2004.[6]

Philanthropy and political contributions

Paul donated $500,000 to the University of Miami and $100,000 to Barry University.[2] Paul served as the head of the governing body of Jackson Memorial Hospital.[2] Through his CenTrust Political Action Committee, Paul donated to both Joe Biden's and Richard Gephardt's presidential campaigns as well as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.[2]

Personal life

Paul has been married three times. He had two sons with his first wife before they divorced.[2] He was introduced to his second wife, Joy Fererh Germont Simons (sister of composer Bruce Wolosoff) by fellow real estate developer and sometimes partner Sol Atlas; they divorced 2 months later.[7][8] Paul's third marriage was to Sandy Paul.[2]

References
  1. Florida Trend Magazine: "Florida Icon - David L. Paul, Former chairman, CenTrust Savings Bank, age 71" by Mike Vogel July 1, 2010
  2. Washington Post: "The Banker's Toppled Tower" by Myra MacPherson March 19, 1990
  3. Chicago Tribune: "Developer Charges Bank Sabotaged 666 Project" by David Ibata March 04, 1985
  4. New York Times: "Ex-Chief of Centrust Bank Is Convicted on 68 Charges" November 25, 1993
  5. New York Times: "11-Year Sentence for Chief of Failed S.& L." December 2, 1994
  6. Orlando Sentinel: "Icon of S&I Extravagance, David Paul, Revels in freedom" by Maya Bell August 3, 2004
  7. St. Louis Post-Dispatch: " 'Extraordinary Tragedy' Of Judge Sol Wachtler" November 18, 1992 | "she married again. This time it was to David Paul, a divorced real estate developer and financial wunderkind who would be indicted years later in the Bush administration savings and loan scandal. They were introduced by her father's friend and sometime partner, mega-developer Sol Atlas. The marriage began in a Las Vegas wedding parlor and ended in annulment in Santo Domingo in less than two months"
  8. New York Times: "Judge and Heiress: The Rise and Fall of a Private Affair" by Catherine S. Manegold November 15, 1992
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