North Shore Brewing Company: Bad, Bad Ben!

Above: Truck that was used to bring alcohol into the defunct North Shore Brewing Company–a big no, no if you have a liquor license.

So, for those of you who didn’t believe me and thought I was making a fuss about nothing, and to those of you who kept telling me how nice he was…read this about Benjamin Osmanson:

A federal grand jury in Vermont has indicted a couple from Highgate on accusations they scammed mortgage lenders out of $26 million, pocketed more than $1.2 million, purchased dozens of houses in other people’s names, failed to make payments and ruined the credit of their investors.

Benjamin Osmanson, 29, and Jillian Protzman, 26, lived in and ran the Highgate Manor Inn, a bed and breakfast, while they carried out their scheme between January 2006 and April 2007, according to the 11-count indictment. During that time the couple purchased about 50 houses in four states — California, Florida, Kentucky and Vermont — and paid for them by taking out bank loans for $26 million in the names of 10 relatives and friends, the grand jury alleged.

It gets better, read more about Ben Osmanson & Jillian Protzman and don’t miss this nice little piece of info:

Court documents say Osmanson and Protzman — who signed her conditions of release Jillian Osmanson — are married, but that Osmanson also is married to a California woman.

It doesn’t mention that they also ran a nightclub in the neighborhood and pissed off the neighbors just like they did here in Fawnskin. Now this situation does not address the damages done here in the Big Bear Valley and I wonder if we will ever see those surface.

In case you didn’t know, Ben was telling everyone he owned the North Shore Brewing Company (when he didn’t) even posting such nonsense over at SoCalMountains.

I couldn’t (and still can’t) disclose some of the things I’ve been told…but I have to say that this is not the first time someone has come through town and been dishonest in a big way.

There have been a series of people through these parts who were not upstanding people.

Before Ben there was another guy who was hooked up with a couple of the local Fawnskin businesses and was running from the law.

Locals bought into some of his crazy stories and hired this unlicensed person to do roofing and other odd jobs. I happened to know someone who did a background check on him and so knew more than I really wanted to know.

The guy didn’t like me much because of it…imagine that!

Before him was the radio scam guy who tried to shut me up before he was exposed.

In years past there were more scammers that swept through the valley. Somehow people are taken for face value here.

I have to say that a little background check never seems to hurt and hope this becomes a more common practice before people give newbies the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks to my GREAT neighbor for the link and update. He worked behind the scenes for peace and quiet for ages and I have to thank him again…plus say that I am sure glad he is on my side!

Now if we could just get the construction workers to lower the volume on those loud radios…heh, heh, heh.



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11 Responses to “North Shore Brewing Company: Bad, Bad Ben!

  • 1
    Bryan
    October 20th, 2008 05:46

    I guess that Ben didn’t learn after leaving Highgate in an up roar. I live in Highgate and he pulled the same stuff here!

    SEE YA BEN!!

  • 2
    GG (Gossip Girl)
    October 21st, 2008 09:45

    No he didn’t…there is an investigation into his shenanigans in our neck of the woods and it should be interesting.

  • 3
    Vermont Girl
    October 21st, 2008 16:37

    I live in Highgate, Ben opened up a bar here, everything was going great until he started passing bad checks. This is a very small town and it lite a fire, a few of the locals started looking in to his past and found some very intresting things. Didn’t think it would take this long for him to be caught.. I can’t believe that he was able to move down south and started another business and caused more problems. Bad, bad, Ben!! By the way, they just walked away from the Manor, it looks like a very sad place. Wish they could have atleast taken care of the historic building instead of running it to the ground! I hope he gets what he deserves but I don’t think that Jillian had much to do with the scam. I don’t really know her, but the little that I did talk to her, she was very nice. Too bad she just had his baby and now the baby will lose her mom! Just makes me very sad. It’s just all very sad..

  • 4
    GG (Gossip Girl)
    October 24th, 2008 12:03

    It is very sad. Ben got calls from the locals about the disturbance he was causing and promised to make changes while telling employees and contractors that he was going to do what he wanted. We are a small town too. I believe there is an investigation in the works to pop him for the things he did here as well.

  • 5
    Mad Bride
    October 28th, 2008 10:13

    He really ripped me off on my wedding. Booked a dance over it and kicked us out in the middle of my reception. The party goers that came in on top of my party ate my wedding cake, drank my wine and smashed my friends very nice sports car which was in the parking lot. I also feel bad for Jillian and her baby. But she made her own choices. He’s such a loser.

  • 6
    GG (Gossip Girl)
    October 28th, 2008 10:50

    Sorry to hear about the wedding. If you believe in karma–he is getting it back big time.

  • 7
    Mad Bride
    October 28th, 2008 16:59

    hee hee……yes I do believe in karma.

  • 8
    Mad Bride
    October 28th, 2008 17:02

    Hey GG….if you live in Highgate there is a good chance that I probably know you.

  • 9
    GG (Gossip Girl)
    October 30th, 2008 08:55

    Nope I live in Fawnskin, California.

  • 10
    Fawnskin Flyer | In the Dog House & NSIA Potluck
    November 19th, 2009 08:50

    […] Now if they piss off the right neighbor maybe drastic change will occur like it did with the North Shore Brewing Company. […]

  • 11
    West Nile Virus & Other Irritants | Fawnskin Flyer Mountain Lake Resort News
    July 19th, 2010 06:53

    […] last time the idiot managing the place engaged in this type of bad behavior the Feds came in and locked him up. Simply because they pissed off the wrong neighbor. (BTW, I know you are reading this–did I […]