366: Thomas Larned - Orion Bank Failure, VR Labs Wire Fraud

FBI Case File Review

Jerri Williams

True Crime, Interviews, Fiction, History, Fbi, Government, Truecrime

4.6 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 August 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Retired agent Tom Larned reviews two fraud cases he investigated while assigned to the Fort Myers Resident Agency out of the Tampa Division, the Orion Bank failure and the VR Labs wire fraud investigations. At the time of Tom’s investigation, Orion was the largest privately owned bank in the state of Florida. The failure of the bank cost the FDIC $884 million. Tom investigated VR Labs owners Kay and Robert Gow and business partner John Williams for cheating Lee County, Florida, taxpayers out of $5 million and hundreds of potential jobs. Tom served in the FBI for 24 years.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to episode 366 of FBI case file review with Jerry Williams. I'm a retired agent on a mission
0:14.6	to show you who the FBI is and what the FBI does through my books, my blog, and my podcast case reviews with former colleagues.
0:23.6	Today we get to speak to retired agent Thomas Larner, who served in the FBI for 24 years.
0:31.3	In this episode, Tom reviews two fraud cases he investigated when assigned to the Fort Myers resident agency out of the Tampa
0:40.0	Division, the VR Labs, wire fraud investigation, and the Orion Bank Failure. At the time of Tom's
0:47.6	investigation, Orion was the largest privately owned bank in the state of Florida. The Orion Bank failure cost the FDIC $884 million.
1:01.1	In the second case, Tom reviews his investigation of VR Labs owners, Kay and Robert Gow, and business
1:09.2	partner John Williams, for cheating Lee County Florida's taxpayers
1:14.0	out of $5 million. During Tom's career, he assumed various roles as a case agent and as an FBI
1:22.6	senior executive. He was assigned to the Miami Division, the Boston Division, FBI headquarters, Iraq,
1:30.3	Canada, and the Tampa Division. As a special agent and field supervisor, Tom successfully investigated
1:38.0	transnational criminal organizations engaged in violent crime, drug trafficking, health care fraud, and financial institution fraud.
1:47.4	As the legal attach in Iraq, Tom directed FBI operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom,
1:54.0	managing over 130 personnel in collaboration with U.S. military and intelligence agencies. Tom later served as the FBI's legal
2:04.0	attesche in Canada. Tom was also an assistant special agent in charge, ASAC, in the Boston field office,
2:11.4	where he oversaw the Whitey Bulger Fugitive Investigation and Crisis Management Operations,
2:17.0	including SWAT hostage negotiations and
2:20.2	emergency response teams. He was also a team leader for the inspection division. Tom was recognized
2:27.3	three times as the United States Attorney's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for his
2:32.6	exceptional investigative leadership and impact on high-profile
2:36.5	cases. While leading the Orion Bank investigation, he received the Council of Inspector General's
2:43.0	Integrity and Efficiency Award for outstanding contributions to law enforcement oversight and
	...

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