Post by Banana Cat on Jan 13, 2011 6:21:29 GMT -5
The first time I saw DeGrande was with his daughter on the Sioux Falls Storm home field at halftime of United Bowl in 2006, when UIF Commish Dakota Crow introduced him as the new owner of the expansion Colorado Ice. From a distance he looked like a decent guy, but like everything in indoor football, looks are deceiving.
www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_d143fa9a-1bfd-11e0-8d47-001cc4c002e0.html
www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_d143fa9a-1bfd-11e0-8d47-001cc4c002e0.html
Figure in Pueblo mortgage fraud to testify
Scherling pleaded guilty, while Pueblo native remains a fugitive.
January 9, 2011
By ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZ | THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
DENVER — One of two men indicted for defrauding mortgage lenders of $1 million on 22 Pueblo residential properties intends to testify against his co-defendant, Pueblo native Danny DeGrande.
John Scherling's intention was disclosed by a federal prosecutor outlining how Scherling has helped authorities investigating DeGrande and others suspected of crimes.
DeGrande is a fugitive, last reported to be living in Mexico.
A federal grand jury indicted DeGrande and Scherling in 2009, accusing them of fraud and money-laundering.
DeGrande was identified as a Pueblo South High School graduate, who became a prison guard and operated a real estate agency in the Denver area at the time of the alleged mortgage crimes in 2004. In 2006, he was an owner of the Colorado Ice, a United Indoor Football League team. The Rocky Mountain News reported in 2009 that DeGrande once had two Porsches and a $1 million home in Centennial.
In a U.S. District Court filing, Matthew Kirsch, chief of the economic crimes section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado, outlined how Scherling provided "substantial assistance" to authorities. Scherling is described as a Denver-area consultant.
The prosecutor asserted that DeGrande was "more culpable" than Scherling, who pleaded guilty in May to fraud.
Scherling admitted that he and DeGrande submitted false loan applications that misstated Scherling's assets and other information about his ability to repay the mortgages. He acted as the purchaser and DeGrande acted as the real estate agent.
None of the defrauded mortgage companies are believed to be from Pueblo.
In exchange for Scherling's help, Kirsch is recommending he receive a big break at sentencing Jan. 21. Kirsch recommends a sentence 40 percent below the minimum — 27 months in prison — called for in federal court guidelines.
Scherling's Denver attorney said in a recent court filing to Judge Robert Blackburn that Scherling "has lead an honorable and lawful life until his happenstance meeting with Mr. DeGrande."
"It is also important to note here that Mr. DeGrande 'found' Mr. Scherling and exploited him," attorney Gary Lozow wrote. Lozow made those comments in asking for a lesser sentence than the one the prosecutor proposes.
Scherling pleaded guilty, while Pueblo native remains a fugitive.
January 9, 2011
By ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZ | THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
DENVER — One of two men indicted for defrauding mortgage lenders of $1 million on 22 Pueblo residential properties intends to testify against his co-defendant, Pueblo native Danny DeGrande.
John Scherling's intention was disclosed by a federal prosecutor outlining how Scherling has helped authorities investigating DeGrande and others suspected of crimes.
DeGrande is a fugitive, last reported to be living in Mexico.
A federal grand jury indicted DeGrande and Scherling in 2009, accusing them of fraud and money-laundering.
DeGrande was identified as a Pueblo South High School graduate, who became a prison guard and operated a real estate agency in the Denver area at the time of the alleged mortgage crimes in 2004. In 2006, he was an owner of the Colorado Ice, a United Indoor Football League team. The Rocky Mountain News reported in 2009 that DeGrande once had two Porsches and a $1 million home in Centennial.
In a U.S. District Court filing, Matthew Kirsch, chief of the economic crimes section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado, outlined how Scherling provided "substantial assistance" to authorities. Scherling is described as a Denver-area consultant.
The prosecutor asserted that DeGrande was "more culpable" than Scherling, who pleaded guilty in May to fraud.
Scherling admitted that he and DeGrande submitted false loan applications that misstated Scherling's assets and other information about his ability to repay the mortgages. He acted as the purchaser and DeGrande acted as the real estate agent.
None of the defrauded mortgage companies are believed to be from Pueblo.
In exchange for Scherling's help, Kirsch is recommending he receive a big break at sentencing Jan. 21. Kirsch recommends a sentence 40 percent below the minimum — 27 months in prison — called for in federal court guidelines.
Scherling's Denver attorney said in a recent court filing to Judge Robert Blackburn that Scherling "has lead an honorable and lawful life until his happenstance meeting with Mr. DeGrande."
"It is also important to note here that Mr. DeGrande 'found' Mr. Scherling and exploited him," attorney Gary Lozow wrote. Lozow made those comments in asking for a lesser sentence than the one the prosecutor proposes.