A federal judge has ordered Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg to turn over all documents related to a $1,000 investment that could give a fugitive more than half ownership in the multi-billion-dollar social media giant, Techworm.com reported.
Judge Vernon Broderick of U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, requested all electronic mail, and correspondence pertaining to a deal in which Paul Ceglia made a $1,000 investment in then-startup Facebook, which Ceglia says entitled him to half of the company.
Ceglia is on the run right now from the authorities and is considered a fugitive. In a civil lawsuit, Ceglia claimed that he gave Zuckerberg startup money for Facebook. It is alleged that the documents Ceglia presented as evidence were forged and he was arrested in 2012 for creating false evidence in the lawsuit.
Ceglia cut off his GPS tracking device, and he and his family have fled. Law enforcement indicates he may be in another country, as reported by WGRZ. There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
But whether he is on the run or not, what is in question, the judge says, is the matter of a $1,000 investment Ceglia gave to Zuckerberg who in turn, promised a 50 percent ownership stake in Facebook. The investment deal was made when Zuckerberg was in Harvard and Facebook was nothing more than an idea on a college dorm table.
Judge Broderick said that his intent is to ensure a fair trial for Ceglia and for that reason, he has ordered the related documents to be turned over. The requested documents include any and all correspondence during an 18-month period starting in 2003.
A criminal case against Ceglia began following the dismissal of a 2010 civil lawsuit in which Ceglia claimed he gave $1,000 to Zuckerberg for a 50 percent share in Facebook.
Lawyers for Zuckerberg said that contrary to Ceglia's claims, Zuckerberg didn't think of the idea to create Facebook until months after a working relationship with Ceglia ended. Zuckerberg answered an online ad from Ceglia and signed a contract to create software for him, according to Techworm.com.
Ceglia's father said at a hearing last week that his son took off because he didn't believe his father would receive a fair trial.
