Timothy Ratliff's phone call logs
February 16, 2025 - 19:31
Voicemail: "Mr. Ratliff, this is Bart Nixon at the Wall Street Journal. I've been trying to reach you. I'm on a deadline. If you could call me back when you get this at [redacted]. It's somewhat urgent, so I hope to hear from you soon."
February 16, 2025 - 20:48
(ringing tone)
Bart: "Wall Street Journal, this is Bart."
Tim: "Yeah, it's Timothy Ratliff."
Bart: "Mr. Ratliff, thank you for taking my call. Do you have a minute?"
Tim: "Well, I'm in Thailand on vacation with my family. So, you know, a minute. Sure."
Bart: "I'm writing a piece on Kenneth Nguyen. Did you work with him in 2018 to set up a fund called Sho-Kel? Can you confirm that?"
Tim: *stammers* "Sorry. What is this article even about? Wh... "
Bart: "We're looking into Sho-Kel and Mr. Nguyen's relationship to the government of Brunei."
Tim: "Well, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much there because, uh, I mean, I know Kenny moved to Brunei, but I haven't seen or spoken to him for, I don't know, four years at least. Um..."
Bart: "Well-"
Tim: "Anyway, look, I... Like I said, uh, um, I'm on vacation with my family, and, uh..."
Bart: "I'm sorry, could you-"
Tim: "May... Why don't you put all your questions in an email, send it to my office, and I'll get back to you 'cause it's really... it's really not a good time."
Bart: "We're running the story this week."
Tim: "Well, you know, good luck with that. And, uh, thanks a lot. Bye-bye."
Bart: "Could you at least-"
(call ends)
February 16, 2025 - 20:51
Voicemail: "Kenny. It's Tim. I was just talking to a guy from the Wall Street Journal asking questions about Sho-Kel. You know about this? Anyway, uh, just... give me a call. I'm in Thailand, so I don't know... Whatever time it is, I'll try and pick up. But you... But call me, Kenny. Okay? Call me."
February 17, 2025 - 08:11
(ringing tone)
Sarah: "Hello?"
Tim: "Sarah, it's me. Sorry to call so late. Just checking in. Did... did Kenny Nguyen call?
Sarah: "No, he still hasn't."
Tim: "Really? Weaselly fսckеr. All right. Look, he's got my cell, but if he calls the office tomorrow, just put him through. Doesn't matter what time it is here. I... I really gotta talk to him."
Sarah: "Someone did call from the Washington Post, though."
Tim: "You mean the Wall Street Journal?"
Sarah: "No, no. He said the Washington Post. He was being very pushy. He said it was urgent. I'll send his info with all your calls in an email."
Tim: "Well, did... Did he say-"
(background chatter on Tim's end)
Tim: "Hey, I gotta go. But just put everything in the email and send it to me ASAP."
Sarah: "Will do."
Tim: "Thanks."
(call ends)
February 17, 2025 - 21:26
(ringing tone)
Kenny: "Tim, it's Kenny! I'm calling you from a burner."
(a voice in the background on Tim's end can be heard saying "Really, Tim?")
Tim: "All right. I'm gonna call you right back."
Kenny: "What?! But... but..." *stammers*
Tim to person in background: "I gotta take this, okay?"
(the same background voice from Tim's end can be heard annoyedly saying "Oh, god.")
Tim to Kenny: "Stay there, okay? Don't move."
(call ends)
February 17, 2025 - 21:29
(ringing tone)
Tim: "Why is the Wall Street Journal calling me, Kenny? Huh?"
Kenny: "I don't care about the fucking story!"
Tim: "Why not?"
Kenny: "Because 20 agents just raided my fսcking office! Fսck me, I'm done!"
Tim: "Oh, shit... Is... Is it..."
Kenny: "I'm gonna fսcking kіll myself!"
Tim: "Just tell me what happened."
Kenny: *panicked* "I can't go to fսcking prison! God..."
Tim: "Can you... Just..."
Kenny: *panicked* "God... FUCK!"
Tim: "You know, you told me this couldn't happen. Remember that? You fսcking swore that this could not happen!"
Kenny: "I didn't think some whistleblower bitch in my office was gonna rat me out to the media. Fսcking FBI! FUCK! Fuck me!"
Tim: *stammers* "All right. I just... Kenny."
Kenny: "God, she did me so dirty!"
Tim: "What exactly do they know?"
Kenny: "They have everything, Tim. My accounts, my emails..."
Tim: "Yeah, but what-"
Kenny: "...all the fսcking documents."
Tim: "What did you tell them? What did you say, Kenny?"
Kenny: "Nothing! I got a fսcking lawyer. I should have never gone to Brunei. I should've never taken that position. Everybody was making a killing."
Tim: "Kenny, Kenny-"
Kenny: "I figured, why not me?"
Tim: "Kenny! Will you shut the fսck up for one second?! Just tell me: am I implicated?"
Kenny: "Yes. For sure, Tim. Yes!"
Tim: *stammers* "What... What does that mean? Like... *stammers again* Yes? That's a definite yes?"
Kenny: "That's why I bought this burner, to call you. You need to get a good lawyer, like, yesterday!"
Tim: *exasperated sigh* "You've gotta be fսcking kidding me. You know, this was a favor to you. Remember that? I didn't want to do it. This is all you. Now I'm wrapped up in some fսcking money laundering, bribery situation? And I only made ten million dollars out of your stupid fսcking scheme?! Fսck!"
Kenny: *sobbing* "What am I gonna do?"
Tim: "I swear to God, Kenny, if you fսck me on this, I will... I will kill you. I will fսcking kill you! You hear me?"
Kenny: "If it makes you feel any better, I'm gonna fսcking kіll myself!"
Tim: "Good. You do that, you piece of shit!"
(call ends)
February 17, 2025 - 21:35
Assistant: "You've reached the office of Charlie Scott, attorney at law. How may I help you?"
Tim: "Yeah, it's Tim. Tim Ratliff. Can you put me through to Chuck please? I really need to talk to him."
Assistant: "Ah, Mr. Ratliff. I'm afraid Mr. Scott is currently in a meeting right now..."
Tim: *exasperated sigh*
Assistant: "But if you'd like to schedule your own meeting with him, I can-"
Tim: "Look, I don't have a lot of time to talk right now, so could you just get Chuck to call me, please? He has all my numbers."
Assistant: "And may I ask the reason for this call, please?"
Tim: "Because I need a lawyer immediately, like, yesterday."
Assistant: "Of course. I will have him call you as soon as he gets out of his meeting."
Tim: "Okay."
Assistant: "Okay? Thank you."
Tim: "Thank you."
(call ends)
February 18, 2025 - 04:58
Voicemail: "Joe, it's Tim. I got your texts and I'm gonna tell you everything. So, there's this associate of mine, Kenny Nguyen, I met like 15 years ago. Vietnamese guy, worked at Markham-Bradford, in the division in Asia. Anyway, I helped Kenny set up this fund called Sho-Kel... Look, this was not my idea. You gotta understand that. Please, find out whatever you can. I'm just gonna be waiting for your call. This is insane... Okay. Thanks."
February 18, 2025 - 08:07
Voicemail: "Tim, it's Sarah. There are two men here at the office from the FBI. They're looking for you. I gave them your number. Just call me as soon as you can."
February 18, 2025 - 08:30
Voicemail: "It's Chuck. I'm assuming you've heard. The FBI's obtained a warrant, and they're at your office. I wish I had better news. But I got called in, and I'm... I'm gonna get all the information on where everything stands. I'm sure you're crawling out of your skin right now, but listen, do not talk to anyone until you hear from me, okay? Let me do my job, and I'll get right back to you. All right? Hang tight."
February 18, 2025 - 10:52
Voicemail: "Tim. Ben Chwirka. I don't know where the hell you are, but the New York Times keeps calling my office asking me about your involvement in some white-collar scheme with a guy named Kenneth Nguyen through something called Sho-Kel? I don't know what this is about, but you better have a damn good explanation for this. You have my number."
February 18, 2025 - 14:17
Voicemail: "Hi Tim. I sent you an email earlier, but didn't get a response. I urgently need to talk to you. I wouldn't be calling you while you’re on vacation like this if it wasn't important. Please call me as soon as you get this. It's Zoe."
February 18, 2025 - 16:53
Voicemail: "Mr. Ratliff, what the fuck is going?! My phone is blowing up over here. Call me back now!"
February 19, 2025 - 07:49
Voicemail: "THEY’RE STILL COMING IN WITH THE CALLS! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! I’M GOING STIR CRAZY HERE! YOU NEED TO CALL ME NOW!”
February 19, 2025 - 19:50
Chuck: "Jesus, Tim, I've been trying to reach you for the last 24 hours."
Tim: "All right, what's going on, Chuck? Talk to me."
Chuck: "Kenny Nguyen is cooperating with the feds. He struck some kind of deal. We don't know all the details yet."
Tim: "Motherfucker! I knew it!"
Chuck: "He's told them everything. I think the best we can do is plead guilty and cut a deal."
Tim: "We're just going to roll over? Oh, you're not fucking serious!"
Chuck: "I don't know if we were ever gonna be able to fight this, but we're not gonna be able to fight this now."
Tim: "If I plead guilty, Chuck, it's the end of my career. You understand? I can't work in finance if I plead guilty to fucking embezzlement and fraud-"
Chuck: "Tim, that's the least of your problems. This is the kind of case these guys dream of. They're going to come after everything you have."
Tim: "Jesus fucking Christ. Well, I'll just... You know, I tried to move some things around last night..."
Chuck: "We're well beyond that. I'd be shocked if they haven't frozen your assets already."
Tim: "Frozen my assets? What, my accounts? Not the trust. Uh... And they can't take my house, can they?
Chuck: "They can take whatever they want."
Tim: "Am I going to lose my... Am I going to lose my fucking house?"
Chuck: "Kenny Nguyen is going to prison, that much I know."
Tim: "Yeah."
Chuck: "My hope is if we play ball, maybe they just focus on the money, and you just serve a few months."
Tim: "Oh, just... just a few months? In prison? Are you fucking retarded?!"
Chuck: "Federal prison. Most of them aren't too bad. I know a few guys who've come out fine. I can put you in touch with them."
Tim: "I'd rather die. You understand me? I would rather fucking die! What am... What am I supposed to tell my family, huh? We're fucking poor now, and I'm going to fucking prison? This is your best advice?"
Chuck: "Tim..."
Tim: "Why don't you get some better advice, you fucking dumbass?!"
(call ends)
Voicemail: "Mr. Ratliff, this is Bart Nixon at the Wall Street Journal. I've been trying to reach you. I'm on a deadline. If you could call me back when you get this at [redacted]. It's somewhat urgent, so I hope to hear from you soon."
February 16, 2025 - 20:48
(ringing tone)
Bart: "Wall Street Journal, this is Bart."
Tim: "Yeah, it's Timothy Ratliff."
Bart: "Mr. Ratliff, thank you for taking my call. Do you have a minute?"
Tim: "Well, I'm in Thailand on vacation with my family. So, you know, a minute. Sure."
Bart: "I'm writing a piece on Kenneth Nguyen. Did you work with him in 2018 to set up a fund called Sho-Kel? Can you confirm that?"
Tim: *stammers* "Sorry. What is this article even about? Wh... "
Bart: "We're looking into Sho-Kel and Mr. Nguyen's relationship to the government of Brunei."
Tim: "Well, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much there because, uh, I mean, I know Kenny moved to Brunei, but I haven't seen or spoken to him for, I don't know, four years at least. Um..."
Bart: "Well-"
Tim: "Anyway, look, I... Like I said, uh, um, I'm on vacation with my family, and, uh..."
Bart: "I'm sorry, could you-"
Tim: "May... Why don't you put all your questions in an email, send it to my office, and I'll get back to you 'cause it's really... it's really not a good time."
Bart: "We're running the story this week."
Tim: "Well, you know, good luck with that. And, uh, thanks a lot. Bye-bye."
Bart: "Could you at least-"
(call ends)
February 16, 2025 - 20:51
Voicemail: "Kenny. It's Tim. I was just talking to a guy from the Wall Street Journal asking questions about Sho-Kel. You know about this? Anyway, uh, just... give me a call. I'm in Thailand, so I don't know... Whatever time it is, I'll try and pick up. But you... But call me, Kenny. Okay? Call me."
February 17, 2025 - 08:11
(ringing tone)
Sarah: "Hello?"
Tim: "Sarah, it's me. Sorry to call so late. Just checking in. Did... did Kenny Nguyen call?
Sarah: "No, he still hasn't."
Tim: "Really? Weaselly fսckеr. All right. Look, he's got my cell, but if he calls the office tomorrow, just put him through. Doesn't matter what time it is here. I... I really gotta talk to him."
Sarah: "Someone did call from the Washington Post, though."
Tim: "You mean the Wall Street Journal?"
Sarah: "No, no. He said the Washington Post. He was being very pushy. He said it was urgent. I'll send his info with all your calls in an email."
Tim: "Well, did... Did he say-"
(background chatter on Tim's end)
Tim: "Hey, I gotta go. But just put everything in the email and send it to me ASAP."
Sarah: "Will do."
Tim: "Thanks."
(call ends)
February 17, 2025 - 21:26
(ringing tone)
Kenny: "Tim, it's Kenny! I'm calling you from a burner."
(a voice in the background on Tim's end can be heard saying "Really, Tim?")
Tim: "All right. I'm gonna call you right back."
Kenny: "What?! But... but..." *stammers*
Tim to person in background: "I gotta take this, okay?"
(the same background voice from Tim's end can be heard annoyedly saying "Oh, god.")
Tim to Kenny: "Stay there, okay? Don't move."
(call ends)
February 17, 2025 - 21:29
(ringing tone)
Tim: "Why is the Wall Street Journal calling me, Kenny? Huh?"
Kenny: "I don't care about the fucking story!"
Tim: "Why not?"
Kenny: "Because 20 agents just raided my fսcking office! Fսck me, I'm done!"
Tim: "Oh, shit... Is... Is it..."
Kenny: "I'm gonna fսcking kіll myself!"
Tim: "Just tell me what happened."
Kenny: *panicked* "I can't go to fսcking prison! God..."
Tim: "Can you... Just..."
Kenny: *panicked* "God... FUCK!"
Tim: "You know, you told me this couldn't happen. Remember that? You fսcking swore that this could not happen!"
Kenny: "I didn't think some whistleblower bitch in my office was gonna rat me out to the media. Fսcking FBI! FUCK! Fuck me!"
Tim: *stammers* "All right. I just... Kenny."
Kenny: "God, she did me so dirty!"
Tim: "What exactly do they know?"
Kenny: "They have everything, Tim. My accounts, my emails..."
Tim: "Yeah, but what-"
Kenny: "...all the fսcking documents."
Tim: "What did you tell them? What did you say, Kenny?"
Kenny: "Nothing! I got a fսcking lawyer. I should have never gone to Brunei. I should've never taken that position. Everybody was making a killing."
Tim: "Kenny, Kenny-"
Kenny: "I figured, why not me?"
Tim: "Kenny! Will you shut the fսck up for one second?! Just tell me: am I implicated?"
Kenny: "Yes. For sure, Tim. Yes!"
Tim: *stammers* "What... What does that mean? Like... *stammers again* Yes? That's a definite yes?"
Kenny: "That's why I bought this burner, to call you. You need to get a good lawyer, like, yesterday!"
Tim: *exasperated sigh* "You've gotta be fսcking kidding me. You know, this was a favor to you. Remember that? I didn't want to do it. This is all you. Now I'm wrapped up in some fսcking money laundering, bribery situation? And I only made ten million dollars out of your stupid fսcking scheme?! Fսck!"
Kenny: *sobbing* "What am I gonna do?"
Tim: "I swear to God, Kenny, if you fսck me on this, I will... I will kill you. I will fսcking kill you! You hear me?"
Kenny: "If it makes you feel any better, I'm gonna fսcking kіll myself!"
Tim: "Good. You do that, you piece of shit!"
(call ends)
February 17, 2025 - 21:35
Assistant: "You've reached the office of Charlie Scott, attorney at law. How may I help you?"
Tim: "Yeah, it's Tim. Tim Ratliff. Can you put me through to Chuck please? I really need to talk to him."
Assistant: "Ah, Mr. Ratliff. I'm afraid Mr. Scott is currently in a meeting right now..."
Tim: *exasperated sigh*
Assistant: "But if you'd like to schedule your own meeting with him, I can-"
Tim: "Look, I don't have a lot of time to talk right now, so could you just get Chuck to call me, please? He has all my numbers."
Assistant: "And may I ask the reason for this call, please?"
Tim: "Because I need a lawyer immediately, like, yesterday."
Assistant: "Of course. I will have him call you as soon as he gets out of his meeting."
Tim: "Okay."
Assistant: "Okay? Thank you."
Tim: "Thank you."
(call ends)
February 18, 2025 - 04:58
Voicemail: "Joe, it's Tim. I got your texts and I'm gonna tell you everything. So, there's this associate of mine, Kenny Nguyen, I met like 15 years ago. Vietnamese guy, worked at Markham-Bradford, in the division in Asia. Anyway, I helped Kenny set up this fund called Sho-Kel... Look, this was not my idea. You gotta understand that. Please, find out whatever you can. I'm just gonna be waiting for your call. This is insane... Okay. Thanks."
February 18, 2025 - 08:07
Voicemail: "Tim, it's Sarah. There are two men here at the office from the FBI. They're looking for you. I gave them your number. Just call me as soon as you can."
February 18, 2025 - 08:30
Voicemail: "It's Chuck. I'm assuming you've heard. The FBI's obtained a warrant, and they're at your office. I wish I had better news. But I got called in, and I'm... I'm gonna get all the information on where everything stands. I'm sure you're crawling out of your skin right now, but listen, do not talk to anyone until you hear from me, okay? Let me do my job, and I'll get right back to you. All right? Hang tight."
February 18, 2025 - 10:52
Voicemail: "Tim. Ben Chwirka. I don't know where the hell you are, but the New York Times keeps calling my office asking me about your involvement in some white-collar scheme with a guy named Kenneth Nguyen through something called Sho-Kel? I don't know what this is about, but you better have a damn good explanation for this. You have my number."
February 18, 2025 - 14:17
Voicemail: "Hi Tim. I sent you an email earlier, but didn't get a response. I urgently need to talk to you. I wouldn't be calling you while you’re on vacation like this if it wasn't important. Please call me as soon as you get this. It's Zoe."
February 18, 2025 - 16:53
Voicemail: "Mr. Ratliff, what the fuck is going?! My phone is blowing up over here. Call me back now!"
February 19, 2025 - 07:49
Voicemail: "THEY’RE STILL COMING IN WITH THE CALLS! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! I’M GOING STIR CRAZY HERE! YOU NEED TO CALL ME NOW!”
February 19, 2025 - 19:50
Chuck: "Jesus, Tim, I've been trying to reach you for the last 24 hours."
Tim: "All right, what's going on, Chuck? Talk to me."
Chuck: "Kenny Nguyen is cooperating with the feds. He struck some kind of deal. We don't know all the details yet."
Tim: "Motherfucker! I knew it!"
Chuck: "He's told them everything. I think the best we can do is plead guilty and cut a deal."
Tim: "We're just going to roll over? Oh, you're not fucking serious!"
Chuck: "I don't know if we were ever gonna be able to fight this, but we're not gonna be able to fight this now."
Tim: "If I plead guilty, Chuck, it's the end of my career. You understand? I can't work in finance if I plead guilty to fucking embezzlement and fraud-"
Chuck: "Tim, that's the least of your problems. This is the kind of case these guys dream of. They're going to come after everything you have."
Tim: "Jesus fucking Christ. Well, I'll just... You know, I tried to move some things around last night..."
Chuck: "We're well beyond that. I'd be shocked if they haven't frozen your assets already."
Tim: "Frozen my assets? What, my accounts? Not the trust. Uh... And they can't take my house, can they?
Chuck: "They can take whatever they want."
Tim: "Am I going to lose my... Am I going to lose my fucking house?"
Chuck: "Kenny Nguyen is going to prison, that much I know."
Tim: "Yeah."
Chuck: "My hope is if we play ball, maybe they just focus on the money, and you just serve a few months."
Tim: "Oh, just... just a few months? In prison? Are you fucking retarded?!"
Chuck: "Federal prison. Most of them aren't too bad. I know a few guys who've come out fine. I can put you in touch with them."
Tim: "I'd rather die. You understand me? I would rather fucking die! What am... What am I supposed to tell my family, huh? We're fucking poor now, and I'm going to fucking prison? This is your best advice?"
Chuck: "Tim..."
Tim: "Why don't you get some better advice, you fucking dumbass?!"
(call ends)
