November 24, 2004 — (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — The Grand Rapids Press reported on Wednesday that Barton Watson, founder and chairman of Web hosting provider The CyberNET Group (cybernet-usa.com), was found dead at his home in Kent County, Michigan. Watson?s body was found in an upstairs bedroom at 9:15 am after a standoff with police.
According to the report, Watson was at home alone with a gun when he called police authorities at 12:08 am saying he wanted to hurt himself. The authorities came to the house between 1:00 am and 1:30 am, Roger Parent of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department told 24 Hour News 8, in an effort to prevent Watson from following through on his threat. Upon their arrival, gunshots were reportedly heard.
After arriving, police spoke with Watson and, at 2:00 a.m., were reportedly making progress, the Grand Rapids Press said. Watson said he would not hurt himself and wanted to come out. At approximately 3:50 a.m., police reported another gunshot. From that time on, police did not have any contact with Watson.
The incident came on the heels of last week’s raid on The CyberNET Group’s offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Federal agents from five agencies, including the FBI and IRS, took part in the operation, reportedly seizing computers and other equipment.
While the reason for the raid was not revealed, sources say the investigation is related to massive wire mail and bank fraud. Watson’s home has reportedly been searched as part of the investigation.
Last week, Illinois-based lender Charter One filed suit against the company, the Grand Rapids Press reported, accusing it of attempting to defraud it and other creditors.
Watson was convicted of fraud in the early 1980s.
Daniel Yeomans, acting on behalf of Charter One and up to 46 banks who have lent money to the company, told the Grand Rapids Press that the owners of the company enjoyed lavish lifestyles that included leased luxury vehicles, original paintings and plush furniture.
Yeomans said the company has an 800-page filing listing all liens on property used for business purposes. A typical large business has only serveral pages.
