Embezzlement, extortion, a non-existent graphic novel and Michael Bay: this one has it all.
David Ozer, a producer who was formerly president of IDW Entertainment, has been sentenced to 18 month in prison after being convicted of fraud and embezzlement. Ozer pled guilty to two counts of embezzling funds meant for production of two separate television productions, THR reports.
Over a one year period starting in February 2023, federal prosecutors alleged that Ozer embezzled over $210,000 meant for Safehaven, an upcoming supernatural thriller backed by Ravenwood Productions. To create the impression that the funds were spent on legitimate production costs, he created fraudulent accounting records, including falsified invoices, and forged a letter from his accountant.
After pleading guilty in that case, additional victims came forward over a TV series Ozer said he was developing called Endangered. In a separate scheme, he stole over $200,000 from investors, some of whom were told they’d get an executive producer credit on the series.
Ozer led IDW Entertainment from its launch in 2013 until 2018, when he departed to pursue being an independent producer – and apparently to start a life of crime, as they say in the comics. (h/t to Graphic Policy for spotting the connection.) He later ran Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s Landmark Studio Group, before heading up his own Strong Studios.
In court, Ozer claimed he had been victim of a extortion scheme and had to make payments to avoid exposure of messages on a hook up app. He claims his desperation to save his family led to him making up fake invoices on the Safehaven production to raise money, and later to defraud investors.
That’s a sad (maybe?) story in itself, but the TV show Safehaven has a weird history of its own. It’s “based on a graphic novel” of the same name by producer David Seale that was developed by Michael Bay’s 451 Media Group and announced at the 2017 LA Comic Con. The logline seems typical of these comics-to-TV projects:
Safehaven tells the story of high school comic artist Jenna Frost, who must uncover the truth after horrifying visions come to life from her creations, threatening to destroy everything around her. Safehaven takes the high school drama into new territory wrapping it in a 70’s style conspiracy thriller of suspense, paranoia, dark humor, and otherworldly horror
But….did this comic ever actually exist? A tweet from a Safehaven account in late 2016 announced
We are teaming up with a terrific publisher and hope to exciting news shortly about @safehavencomic Stay tuned!!
But the account never tweeted again.
A promo image for the comic was posted earlier, showing the cover for a book with art by J.M. Ringuet, who has worked on projects for Scout, Image and more. The TV project was announced a year later at the 2017 LACC, among a full slate of 451 Media projects: with the promise
Hot off its successful return to this year’s New York Comic Con (NYCC), 451 Media Group will be offering its west coast fans the opportunity to enjoy their nine titles, previously only available in single issues created by marquee Hollywood talent, now available as complete trade paperback editions loaded with bonus never seen before seen art and behind the scenes content. Visitors to its LACC booth will also be treated to teasers of its upcoming series as well.
Although several 451 projects saw print, there is not a single mention of a Safehaven comic ever being published.
The TV production has also had a strange history, even without the embezzlement: the show was apparently shot in in 2022 under COVID protocols, and starred Georgie Murphy, Bob Frazer and Josh Strait – although a somewhat better known cast was announced at one point. The IMDB page shows some attractive stills but the 10-episode series has languished in limbo ever since, although a 2025 release date is mentioned…but no evidence of that exists.
To recap: non-existent comic book is turned into shelved TV show that was made with fake production costs, and now someone is going to jail.
So much Hollywood in one story. The Big Lie in action from start to finish.
