Jan
17
Almost Unforgivable
Filed Under GUEA, Willie Harris | Leave a Comment
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.”
