John Adams – Public Crusader Fund

John Adams

Independent Australian Economist, Public Crusader and Private Eye

In early 2021, two individual Australians approached John Adams with a massive conspiracy theory involving a tale of systemic financial crime that touches the highest levels of Australian business, politics, sport and entertainment and has allegedly been occurring within Australia for at least a decade, if not longer.

While initially skeptical about the nature and the scale of the allegations of financial crime, John Adams was alarmed at the potential implications to the Australian public (including to both individuals and the economy more broadly) if the conspiracy was indeed true.

As a long-standing public crusader defending the public interest, John Adams could not rest until he discovered the truth.

Having:

• led the national campaign to defeat the Morrison Government’s $AUD 10,000 cash transaction ban;

• forced the RBA to be more transparent about their gold holdings;

• expose the silver problems at the Perth Mint; and

• taking on and defeating the financial might of Kitco Metals Incorporated;

John Adams was ready to take on his next and most daunting challenge.

With a limited understanding of Australian law, the rules of evidence or how to conduct an actual corporate investigation, John Adams went deep undercover in the largest covert full-time operation of his life. This operation involved conducting his own private self-funded investigation between June 2021 to April 2022.

During the course of his investigation, Adams engaged the following professionals:

• barristers and lawyers;

• consultants;

• accountants and audits;

• licensed private investigators; and

• subject matter experts.

The collection of real admissible evidence was a lengthy and painstaking operation, yet it painted a disturbing picture.

Based on the evidence assembled, John Adams had no choice but to lodge an official report of alleged misconduct with Australia’s corporate and financial market law enforcement agency - the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

The official report lodged by Adams called on ASIC to commence an official investigation under section 13 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.

However, the chance of ASIC commencing an investigation was extraordinarily low. For example, during the 2020 - 2021 financial year (FY 20-21), ASIC received:

• 10,711 reports of alleged misconduct from the Australian public;

• 3,609 breach reports from license holders and auditors; and

• 517 supplementary liquidator reports.

Or in total, 14,837 total reports of alleged misconduct were lodged with ASIC in FY 20-21, and yet ASIC commenced only 110 formal investigations during the financial year – representing an investigation to reports of alleged misconduct ratio of only 0.74%.

Nevertheless, even with the chance of justice so low, John Adams traveled to ASIC’s Sydney office on 6 April 2022 and submitted a 608-page report of alleged misconduct comprising of:

• a 3-page cover letter;

• a 53-page complaint; and

• 103 exhibits of evidence.

The Adams operation for justice was an expensive and time-consuming undertaking.

It was full of risks in collecting sensitive evidence and piecing together a complex web of alleged lies and deceit.

It was conducted on a 9-month full-time basis, not knowing where the evidence would take him and what prospects there would be to get the ASIC to investigate.

The expense of the operation was approximately $AUD 50,000 in direct costs (i.e., in direct money spent) and more than $AUD 100,000 was lost in potential income, given that Adams largely ceased all professional work during this period.

Yet, despite the scale of the challenge, the amazing news is that on 27 July 2022, ASIC confirmed in writing to John Adams that an official investigation had been declared and is now underway.

It is now up to ASIC to utilise its extraordinary legal powers to determine the truth and to deliver the ultimate justice for the Australian people and the nation as a whole.

This is an extraordinary journey of determination against the odds.

With no legal or investigative expertise, John Adams risked $50,000 and 9 months of his life on a 0.74% chance to achieve a feat that many across Australia (including professional lawyers and barristers) have failed at.

Yet once again, Adams has delivered consistently with his commitment to serving the interests of the people.

This campaign is seeking to raise funds that will allow John Adams to meet some ongoing costs resulting from his extraordinary journey and to fund other initiatives led by John Adams in pursuit of the public interest.

Any contributions are very much welcomed.