[10] In April 2013, while conducting a CBS Undercover Boss press interview, Wiederhorn attributed his jail sentence to bad legal advice he had received on a business deal, which led to the violation of the pension fund law, ERISA.
One example he cited was his former business associate Lawrence Mendelsohn, who pleaded guilty in the same case involving Capital Consultants, but served no jail time.
Fog Cutter Capital Group owned a major position in Fatburger, a restaurant chain based in southern California, and because he needed to devote more attention to the restaurant chain, moved to Beverly Hills in 2009, saying that will make his commute to Fatburger's then Santa Monica headquarters considerably easier and cheaper.
Wiederhorn had acquired the mansion and its properties in a trade from Casey Powell, former CEO of Sequent Computer Systems in 1995, then spent $8.7 million constructing a new wing to the house and other improvements.
[18] Through FAT Brands, he also acquired Johnny Rockets in 2020 and then in 2021, Global Franchise Group, Twin Peaks, Fazoli’s and Native Grill & Wings.
[20] Wiederhorn served a penitentiary sentence after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts between 2004 and 2005, which included filing a false tax return and an ERISA violation.