Under InvestigationCriminal Proceedings

Andrew & Alexander Russel — Investigation Profile

Andrew Patrick Russel and Alexander Dwayne Russel are two brothers who served on the Board of Directors of Atlas Bank (Panamá), S.A. and collectively held a 16% equity stake. Both are subjects of an active criminal investigation in Panama related to the administration of the bank and events leading to its compulsory liquidation on February 29, 2024.

Active Criminal Investigation

The following information is based on publicly available regulatory records, corporate filings, and information gathered during the investigation process. This profile is presented for informational purposes only. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Andrew Patrick Russel

Vice President, Board of Directors — Atlas Bank (8% shareholder)

Nationality
U.S. Citizen
Date of Birth
April 8, 1965 — Jacksonville, Florida
Shareholding
8% — Atlas Bank (Panamá), S.A.
Primary Business
Sound Payment System (President, $5.9M revenue)

Education & Credentials

  • M.S. — Troy University
  • B.S. — Excelsior University
  • Graduate School of Retail Bank Management — University of Virginia
  • American Institute of Banking
  • FBI Citizens' Academy — Multiple banking certifications

Professional History

  • Vice President, Board of Directors — Atlas Bank (Panamá), S.A.
  • President — Sound Payments System
  • President & CEO — Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union
  • SVP Corporate Relationship Manager — BBVA Compass
  • Member, Board of Directors — Florida Development Finance Corporation
  • MAJOR, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired)

Financial Indicators

BankruptcyChapter 13 filing — December 2016 (dismissed May 2017)
Property$1.1M Jacksonville, FL residential property sold in 2024
Corporate LinkRolling Thunder Business Solutions LLC — Abhay Trivedi listed as registered agent

Atlas Pay Digital Wallet Initiative

Andrew Russel was the primary architect behind the "Atlas Pay" digital wallet initiative — an ambition to position Atlas Bank as Panama's first fully digital bank. This strategy, combined with the decision to concentrate assets in National Advisors Corporation (NAC), preceded the bank's collapse when NAC could not return the $19M demanded by Atlas Financial Technology Corp in July 2023.

Alexander Dwayne Russel

Board Member — Atlas Bank (2022–Present, 8% shareholder)

Nationality
U.S. Citizen
Date of Birth
July 22, 1955 — Tampa, Florida
Shareholding
8% — Atlas Bank (Panamá), S.A.
Known Address
1303 N 50th Street, Apt 6, Tampa, FL 33617

Education & Credentials

  • B.B.A. — Illinois State University (1981–1984)
  • M.B.A. International Finance — Illinois State University (1985–1986)

Professional History

  • International Business Specialist — Government Freelance (1992–2002)
  • International Consultant, Latin America (2004–Present)
  • CEO — GRUPO VIRCA C.A. (2013–2020)
  • CEO — IMPEX Trading LLC (2020–Present)
  • Executive Vice President — Rolling Thunder Business Solutions (2020–Present)
  • Board Member — Atlas Bank (Panamá), S.A. (2022–Present)

Associated Assets

Vehicle2014 Mercedes-Benz (associated)

Joint Assessment

Both Andrew and Alexander Russel held board-level governance positions at Atlas Bank, giving them fiduciary responsibility over the bank's asset allocation decisions that led to the $43.3M concentration at National Advisors Corporation (NAC).

Both brothers are linked to Rolling Thunder Business Solutions LLC, which also connects them to Abhdy Trivedi — the third individual who held an 8% stake in Atlas Bank alongside them.

Through Spearhead Capital Consultants LC (controlled by Alexander), the Russells acquired a participation stake in Salomon Whitney Financial (later SW-Financial NY) in 2018, gaining exposure to securities trading with subsidiaries in Jacksonville, FL and Miami, FL.

This securities business connection led the brothers into contact with Panamanian financial markets in 2018, ultimately leading to their board roles at Atlas Bank.

Atlas Financial Technology Corp contributed approximately $19 million through its U.S. bank account to NAC in 2022. In July 2023, Atlas Financial Technology demanded the immediate return of those funds — NAC was unable to produce them, leaving the bank critically undercapitalized.

During the investigation process, both Andrew and Alexander Russel reportedly evaded calls from investigators and did not respond to requests for information.

Do You Have Additional Information?

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