It’s bad when the judge calls crimes “almost unforgivable” when sending away a politically-connected defendant to more than four years.

Writes the Post-Tribune’s Andy Grimm:

Gary attorney Willie Harris received a prison sentence of more than four years, nearly the maximum under federal guidelines, for his role in a scheme to defraud two not-for-profit groups in a 2001 land deal.

During a sentencing hearing Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Philip Simon called Harris’ conduct in a series of deals “almost unforgivable,” noting that to complete a series of fraudulent land sales, Harris bilked a charitable group founded by his aunt and forged the signature of a woman who considered him a brother.

“This is a case where the evidence is that Mr. Harris and the other defendants, but especially (Harris), is essentially preying on an old woman,” Simon said. “And an old woman who was a relative … and a client.

“What I have here is a profound abdication (of his duty) as a family member, as a taxpayer and as an attorney.”

Technorati Tags: GUEA, Willie Harris

Comments

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Email Address(required)

Website

• Don’t Miss These Posts

  • Social media and radio combined
  • Tempting death to save a second or two
  • Collaboration — The key to success
  • James Hynes’ “Next”
  • Will open source textbooks change education?
  • CourtView alerted chop shop sting suspects
  • What is the best way to stop comment spam?
  • Something new for NWI bloggers is coming
  • GMail SMS Text Alerts
  • Gary Air Show 2010

• Required Reading / Links

  Find a list of great sites and blogs at BlogNWI.com.
• 

• Legal Guides