World Conference of Mayors convention organiser Bonnie Marshall is set be hauled before an US Federal Court after being described as "a classic scam artist'' by an American attorney.

The Royal Gazette has learned that the director of the African American Global Trade and Tourism Council could face charges of several counts of perjury, as well as producing false tax returns for commercial gain.

The news came to light after Ms Marshall, who had threatened to sue the Department of Tourism over a sponsorship deal for the conference, had earlier filed a separate lawsuit against a former landlord in the US for racial discrimination.

But that case has now been thrown out by a Western District of Missouri judge who ruled "Ms Marshall has lied to this court and her adversaries, she has used her race as a tool to further her goals and she has taken advantage of the judicial system by acting as a professional litigant''.

US District Judge Joseph Stevens went on: "Ms Marshall has attempted to make a mockery of this court by being untruthful with it and her adversaries. The court agrees that the claims advanced by Ms Marshall were frivolous, unreasonable, groundless and asserted in bad faith.'' The case centred around a claim by Ms Marshall that she was the victim of racial harassment by her landlord after moving into an upmarket apartment in Kansas City.

But Ms Marshall was never able to provide any evidence of discrimination and also lied under oath by claiming that she had never filed any lawsuits before, apart from her divorce.

"Public records indicate that Ms Marshall's responses were untruthful,'' the court order said.

"Contrary to her assertions, Ms Marshall has been a party to a number of lawsuits and has accused many persons and corporations of racial discrimination.'' Lawyers representing Ms Marshall's landlord in the case are now pushing to get the controversial promoter prosecuted for perjury.

And they claim that their investigation into Ms Marshall's business dealings also show that she filled out false tax returns for commercial gain.

As well as the prospect of prosecution, Ms Marshall has also been ordered by Judge Stevens to pay all legal costs of the action, said to be about $35,000.

Marshall faces more legal rows in US Mike Blumenthal of law firm Shook, Hardy and Bacon said: "When she applied to live at the apartment she was asked about her income and she tendered some federal tax returns which showed that she had a six figure income.

"It turned out that these were not in fact tax returns but drafts prepared by an accountant. When asked for the original returns she then refused to cooperate. When the court ordered her to produce them she refused.

Mr. Blumenthal added that a number of other real estate agents had had similar run-ins with Ms Marshall.

He also claimed that she threatened to sue a restaurant owner who was reluctant to hold one of her functions at his premises. The threat worked but, after the function had been held, Ms Marshall left leaving a bill for several thousand dollars unpaid.

"She's a classic scam artist,'' Mr. Blumenthall said.

"It's sad because racial discrimination is a real thing but when people falsely claim it, it then causes people to question legitimate claims.

"We are now going to ask to meet with the US Attorney General. We feel that, as officers of the court, we have an obligation to bring this type of case to him.'' Last night Ms Marshall, who is currently staying at the Elbow Beach Hotel as a guest of the conference, could not be contacted to comment on the legal developments. World Conference of Mayors director general Johnny Ford was also unavailable.

But the latest revelations about Ms Marshall's past, apart from embarrassing organisation leaders, are also set to anger delegates, some of who claim that The Royal Gazette has launched a witch hunt against her.

One of the delegates, on seeing a Royal Gazette reporter at the conference yesterday afternoon, said: "I've been reading what you've been saying about this conference and Bonnie Marshall. I think you're a p**s poor reporter -- why don't you f**k off back to England.'' The delegate repeatedly refused to give his name and, when later questioned in front of WCM director general Johnny Ford, denied that he had ever spoken to the reporter.

"I've never spoken to you before,'' he said. "There are a lot of black people here -- you must be mistaken.'' Ms Marshall now appears to have dropped her threatened lawsuit against the Department of Tourism, filed after she claimed that the department failed in its promise to sponsor the conference to the tune of $100,000.

Tourism chiefs claim they were forced to pull out of the deal after Ms Marshall repeatedly failed to come up with detailed plans on how she would promote the event -- and Bermuda -- overseas.

Last night Director of Tourism Gary Phillips said: "It's not something I have spent any time thinking about.

"We were committed to do certain things on behalf of the World Conference of Mayors and we have complied with those.'' Ms Marshall's lawyer, Phil Perinchief, also confirmed that he had not received any instruction from his client recently.

More on the conference see Page 7 TRAILING TROUBLE -- Controversial Mayors conference organiser, Bonnie Marshall, is set to face a US Federal Court on charges of perjury, The Royal Gazette has learned.

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