Plea agreement in the works for Lou Pearlman

One-time boy band producer Lou Pearlman is telling friends that he has been working on a plea agreement that would bypass a trial but could result in a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

"He's between a rock and a hard place," said Dave Hedrick, the owner of an Orlando-area audio video business who has been one of Pearlman's most frequent visitors. "I don't know what he's going to do. If the judge says ‘I’ll give you 10,’ he has something left of his life. A 25-year-sentence, that’s almost a life sentence for him.”

Pearlman was indicted on bank fraud charges last year based on this complaint, made public after his arrest in Bali, Indonesia last June. He is scheduled to go to trial in April. However, prosecutors have said they planned to file additional charges against him, which most likely would delay the trial. Last year the state of Florida accused Pearlman of running a massive investment fraud, but so far no criminal charges related to the scheme have been filed.

Hedrick declined to provide additional details of the plea agreement Pearlman is considering. He said he still believes Pearlman is "innocent until proven guilty," but "I'm a true believer if you're innocent you don't take a deal. If the evidence isn't there, you shouldn't be convicted."

Pearlman owes banks and investors more than $500-million, but attempts to recover assets to pay them have so far garnered only about $2.4-million.

Hedrick spent thousands buying Pearlman's possessions at two auctions conducted by the bankruptcy trustee. He currently has many of those auction items for sale on eBay, including Pearlman's "World Connection Award" presented by Mikhail Gorbachev.

"It would not be appropriate for us to make any comment on discussions we may or may not be having with Mr. Pearlman," said Steve Cole, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in the middle district of Florida.

Comments

Scumbag extradordinaire Pearlman will try to exploit every legal "mistake" made against him. He is salivating for an eventual mistrial, or procedureal mistake, that lets him walk. Believe it. His cronies are already doing it.

"THOUGHT OF THE DAY: WHY DON'T WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTION TO LP? 1) R. FISCHETTI, 2) MANDY NEWLAND, 3)THEODORE WULLENKEMPER, 4)KRISTIN FINGER, 5)THE CRIST CONNECTION, 6)PEARLMAN'S HALF SISTER

So is Tammy going to break up with her boyfriend if he pleads guilty and say she was duped as well???

A plea deal wouldn't allow Fletcher to start his new law firm with the State paying him for Lou to be his first client.

There is another option:

Pearlman doesn't get a plea deal before the case goes to trial. He waits to see if the prosecutor gets a conviction. If he does, Pearlman says to him.

"Okay, let's talk. I know where the money is. How much of a reduced sentence do I get for telling you where the money is?"

That puts a lot of pressure on the feds to work out a deal.

The advantage of waiting till after the trial instead of a plea deal beforehand is you give the feds a chance to screw up and if they do, you stay out of jail AND keep the money!

I think the whole story is bogus. Helen, do you really believe Pearlman would plea deal for 25 years when he's 53?

I mean, let's get real. He's got a better chance of taking a chance the govt will screw up the case in court than surviving 25 years in jail. If I were in his shoes, I'd roll the dice.

When you got a public defender for your attorney in a major criminal indictment, it's a long shot, but would you even consider a plea deal if you were him at his age if it was longer than 15 years?

If he wants to risk a conviction and throw his mercy on the judge, to get a lenient sentence, i.e., less than 25 years, that's another option. But there are no mitigating factors in his fraud. He took huge amounts of money, was a career criminal, stole from the elderly, and never expressed remorse. That gives the judge the right to give him the maximum sentence with no chance of parole.

[Grandma Caprio]

So is Dave Hedrick an obsessed fan or what is his legitimate interest in Big Popper??

Not being saracastic here...but does he actually have "friends"? Or are these visitors just involved for financial gain? Is anything he or a "friend" say, even casually, especially second-hand supposed to be believed? there is always a motive for these characters words and actions.

[dianne]

excuse my stupidity, you are right.We want revenge,no actually we want justice!!! But all I am saying is I would prefer my money back rather than getting no money back and having big LOu do time..I guess I had one to many the night I wrote that!

So no Governmental agecy came up with any criminal charges on Tolner??

"THOUGHT OF THE DAY: WHY DON'T WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTION TO LP? 1) R. FISCHETTI, 2) MANDY NEWLAND, 3)THEODORE WULLENKEMPER, 4)KRISTIN FINGER, 5)THE CRIST CONNECTION, 6)PEARLMAN'S HALF SISTER

Helen,

I liked your article on the possible plea agreement. But what about precedent cases? Did you find any previous Ponzi Scheme cases that ended with a plea agreement. Including, perhaps, restitution, i.e., return of the stolen money??

Also, did your discussions with various ppl provide a clue to what "substantial" bargaining chip LP could have that would get the feds to even consider a plea bargain?

> wrong. believe it or not, pearlman has business associates that make him look like an angel. The details of fraudulent behavior (and other felonies) of these people are what the U.S. Attorneys Office will be after.

No, you're wrong. You obviously haven't read the criminal indictment and don't know the history of Pearlman's scam.

Lou Pearlman was involved from the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. And at all times in between. He was personally involved, personally making the key decisions, and personally directing the scam. There has never been any question about rogue employees running the scam behind his back without his knowledge. Even he hasn't made such an allegation or claimed ignorance.

Pearlman, for example, led the Germany tour of fake offices to trick the bankers.

The only people who came up as being directly involved besides Pearlman were that Siegel character, but he had very little involvement, and it was a long time ago. He left Pearlman and never returned.

So why on earth do you think anyone else was more involved than Pearlman or anywhere near as responsible?

Do you have a new theory that says Pearlman was duped? That somebody tricked him into these huge scams? That is he an innocent victim? That somebody took advantage of him?

You think Mandy the secretary is behind it all?

hey Kim, where you been?

Helen why don't you tell them the truth behind what David really said to you? Why don't you mention your other sources from the west coast? Why don't you tell them what you really know about the plea agreement? Or better yet, why don't you wait and post the actual legal documents regarding the plea agreement when they come out. That way you will be posting something truthful.

"THOUGHT OF THE DAY: WHY DON'T WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTION TO LP? 1) R. FISCHETTI, 2) MANDY NEWLAND, 3)THEODORE WULLENKEMPER, 4)KRISTIN FINGER, 5)THE CRIST CONNECTION, 6)PEARLMAN'S HALF SISTER

[Kim]

Helen, is there any official word that there is a plea agreement in the works? I agree that everyone should write to local law enforcement and file a report but, they should also write to higher up officials to complain how our local government is hiding and covering up this scam and their part in it. As for Dave Hedrick, he barely knew Lou before he bought those items at the auction, now he is a regular visitor at the jail. I spoke to Dave about some of the items and also about some other items he found that he couldn't sell on ebay that's for certain, however, it makes me wonder if he did the right thing with those certain items I won't mention on this blog and it makes me wonder exactly what his intentions are. How he has suddenly befriended a man he hardly knew after finding said items. I don't believe a word out of his mouth at this time. Just another mouthpiece for Pearlman. I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his miserable life. Innocent until proven guilty doesn't apply. Everyone knows he is guilty and for those they say he's not are living in a dream filled bubble that is about to burst.

Helen, yes, the $317 figure is the correct number and includes all amounts currently owed to the people that were defrauded...

It does not include the total amount that Pearlman raised in his ponzi scheme, since some people were repaid with parts of the $317 million that is owed.

"I have never seen a calculation of how much is owed to investors if you subtract all interest payments either actually received or posted to people's accounts. The $317-million figure that Jerry McHale compiled was based on the numbers shown in the records and included interest that had not been withdrawn."

wrong

believe it or not, pearlman has business associates that make him look like an angel. The details of fraudulent behavior (and other felonies) of these people are what the U.S. Attorneys Office will be after.

"They're not interested in getting anyone besides Pearlman, and they've already got him."

> There will be a plea bargain, and it will most likely involve pulling in others involved with the conspiracy. The governement likes to avoid trials, and so do defense attorneys. As guilty as many think he is, there is always a chance he could go free - look at OJ.

I disagree. The feds only plea bargain small, lower-level crooks to get the bigger crooks convicted. Pearlman was the biggest crook of this Ponzi scheme. But they already have more than enough evidence to convict him. They don't need any testimony from anyone. No star witnesses, no extra documents, etc. It's already a slam dunk.

They're not interested in getting anyone besides Pearlman, and they've already got him.

Any comment from Soneet on salaries and bonuses to employees that would be classified as unjust enrichment?

If the employees had no qualifications but made millions they should repay the estate.

Also, any word on Lou's new book?? Brands, band, bankruptcies, and bunk beds.

Helen

Wasn't Clive Davis Lou's nemesis? It would be great for you to interview him and do a story. It would make Lou realize not only did he lose his freedom, money, but his boy band legacy to Clive.

[Helen Huntley]

I have never seen a calculation of how much is owed to investors if you subtract all interest payments either actually received or posted to people's accounts. The $317-million figure that Jerry McHale compiled was based on the numbers shown in the records and included interest that had not been withdrawn.

you seem to misunderstand the significance of the $350 million fraud....

the $350 million figure is what is still missing AFTER all the original investors were paid off from later investors.

In other words, if you were to look at the gross amount that Pearlman took in during his 22 year ponazi scheme, it would much much greater than the $350 million figure.

As an example, an early investor that invested $1.0 million and eventually was made whole by receiving the interest on the $1.0 million plus the initial investment would not be counted in the $350 million figure

"1. There is very little money to be found. Lou spent a lot of it, and used most of it to run the Ponzi scheme - borrowing to pay back money he borrowed etc. I seriously doubt he has a half billion dollar stash of cash lying around somewhere."

[Skippy Johnson]

Here are my not so psychic predictions:

1. There is very little money to be found. Lou spent a lot of it, and used most of it to run the Ponzi scheme - borrowing to pay back money he borrowed etc. I seriously doubt he has a half billion dollar stash of cash lying around somewhere.

2. There will be a plea bargain, and it will most likely involve pulling in others involved with the conspiracy. The governement likes to avoid trials, and so do defense attorneys. As guilty as many think he is, there is always a chance he could go free - look at OJ.

3. The plea bargain will be for less than 25 years. Why would Lou go for something that long?

4. Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush will have any suits that name them dropped and will never be investigated for their involvement or fundraising activities. Both are way too powerful for that. The American injustice system protects the rich and powerful - always. If you or I helped a friend steal a car we would do more jail time than any of these politicians will ever do.

5. Innocent victims (contrast that with banks who have a responsability for due diligence) will never see a penny from the bankruptcy.

"THOUGHT OF THE DAY: WHY DON'T WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTION TO LP? 1) R. FISCHETTI, 2) MANDY NEWLAND, 3)THEODORE WULLENKEMPER, 4)KRISTIN FINGER, 5)THE CRIST CONNECTION, 6)PEARLMAN'S HALF SISTER

25 years if the investors are reimbursed; 40 years with no parole if not.

dianne - you ask about revenge?

knowing that pearlman is currently locked up in a cell by himself and most likely will be there for the rest of his life is called SATISFACTION.....

Ricardo 10:15 I agree 100% we
need to put pressure on Crist to
begin a victums relief fund.If
not, we do everything in our power
even go to Democratic party to
make sure his campaign fails.
Diane you are also right, being
revengeful and vendictive has
never solved anything. Remember
L.P. lied to everyone around him
I knew people that worked there
and many of them lost thier life
savings and their jobs.

[dianne]

This is for person that said I was crazy because I did not want revenge...My question is where does revenge get you????? DO you have peace or Love in your soul??? This man has made a mess of our lives,But where will revenge take you?? It will not bring back what was taken from us....If you take revenge into your heart,that makes us as bad as him..The only thing we can hope for is that he has a heart and a soul and just maybe he will give us back what is ours..And if not we need to turn the other cheek and maybe hope that our goodness will get us through this crap....I have spent my life worrying about others and I have never had regrets I know one way or another I will get by Goodness always prevails, no if ands or butts...And I am sure I lost alot more money than you did......So please do not critcize me for my peacefulness.It is the only way to live.....

As for the pop-ups, get Proxomitron. I never have to see them since installing it.

I am actually quite shocked when I use a computer without it. What a boatload of crap most people have to endure.

The angle to a plea deal is that Lou would qualify to apply for a pardon from President Bush before he leaves office.

Remember Clinton pardoned convicted money thieves om his last day when he left office. A pardon would close the door on Crist's exposure and cement his future with the Republicans.

Ricardo

Crist will never be considered for VP.

Too close to the Pearlman fraud cover-up.

So Lou needs to be sent to jail right away?

Please tell us where he is now?

"Lou needs to be tried,convicted of all his crimes and sent to jail,the sooner, the better!"

Because fatso is giving up about a dozen of his co-conspirators

There is no way he committed his $500 million frauds all by himself

"WHEN YOU PLEA, YOU MUST GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE PLEA. IS FATSO GIVING UP THE MONEY HE STOLE? IF NOT WHY WOULD THEY AGREE TO ACCEPT THE PLEA?"

you will hear about these people

just wait to read the superceding indictments coming up in the near future

"THOUGHT OF THE DAY: WHY DON'T WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTION TO LP? 1) R. FISCHETTI, 2) MANDY NEWLAND, 3)THEODORE WULLENKEMPER, 4)KRISTIN FINGER, 5)THE CRIST CONNECTION, 6)ALAN GROSS"

[Helen Huntley]

11:26--I apologize for the annoyance of the pop-up ad on the bottom. I don't like it either, but I have no control over ads on the Web site.

Helen, please do not allow this blog to be cheapened by people having to endure advertisement pop ups at the bottom of the page. This is a perfect example of how fraud victims in Florida are exploited. We deserve a dignified forum that until now, we have had.

HELLO RICARDO....Did you read 10:08's blog. Its hard to believe anyone thinks they are going to get help from our Florida government. I suggest everyone contact John McCain as to what's going on with our former AG and now potential running mate. If Charlie were chosen I would personally go on a campaign to inform the voting public.

Victims should send impact statements to any prosecutor considering a plea.

[GiGi]

It's so frustrating when you have lost a whole lot of money in LP's investment scheme and find out charges still have not been filed against him for this.Why does it take so long for this to happen??? It's hard to be patient when you are desperate to see justice done and get closure. At times the stress of it all is unbearable. The court system needs to get moving on this- the wait is torture.Lou needs to be tried,convicted of all his crimes and sent to jail,the sooner, the better!

WHEN YOU PLEA, YOU MUST GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE PLEA. IS FATSO GIVING UP THE MONEY HE STOLE? IF NOT WHY WOULD THEY AGREE TO ACCEPT THE PLEA?

[Ricardo]

Governor Charlie Crist is now being touted as a "possible Vice President candidate" for John McCain. NOW is the time for everyone defrauded by Pearlman to talk and write to Crist, the media, senators, congressmen, etc., concerning Florida filing charges against Pearlman for his misdeeds concerning Trans Continental. Crist knows that his inaction, and actual interference of the early investigations of Pearlman were a mistake, and he also knows that he accepted campaign donations from Pearlman, all activities not becoming of someone who aspires to be Vice President of the United States! He can build a fire under those responsible for filing charges against Pearlman, and we need to hold him accountable for filing those charges. If we sit back, and allow the status quo to continue, we only have ourselves to blame.

Florida is currently a Republican state and as such the powers in play go from our Gov Charlie,former Gov Jeb "who certainly wants no part of this to come back to haunt him" and last of all Jebs Bro who certainly has heard the allegations by now. I suggest if you want any resolution, even if it is only a "FEEL GOOD", contact your local law enforcement White collar crimes division. They will have to respond and file a report and explain why your claim of larceny is not Filed or enforced. I did this and if I get nothing else it is on record and if a blind eye is turned then you have gotten your answer. Those of you who have been victimized contact the authorities as I did so that they will have to act. Oh by the way my contact said he was not even aware of the scam by Pearlman and this is in Hillsbourgh County.

AND # 7 LP'S HALF SISTER

"Lou Pearlman is telling friends that he has been working on a plea agreement that would bypass a trial but could result in a sentence of up to 25 years in prison."

He has no friends.

your number 6 is wrong

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: WHY DON'T WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTION TO LP? 1) R. FISCHETTI, 2) MANDY NEWLAND, 3)THEODORE WULLENKEMPER, 4)KRISTIN FINGER, 5)THE CRIST CONNECTION, 6)ALAN GROSS

Seniors, or anyone victimized by fraud as all lawyers know, are met with an indifferent or un motivated legal system most cannot afford anymore. Criminals know this. How can you fight back when you have been swindled? Especially here in Florida, this state badly needs oversight and support for victims of these crimes. It is no less traumitizing than a Cat 5 hurricane, please believe it. The only difference is, it is not seen or felt by anyone else. A look into Lou Pearlmans 14 year half a billion dollar ponzi out of Orlando will shock many readers. His victims lives lay in ruins while he will be a ward of the state until he dies, if he does not get off.

So in a plea deal who would Lou finger?

4:43 yes it will make a man think twice.

This blog has taught us how to rip off banks and investors but the most important part we've learned is it sure isn't worth it!!

4:33am....wake up

the plea deal is dependant on Pearlman turning over criminal evidence against the dozen or so co-conspirators

Sorry but

It is about an eye for an eye
It is about revenge

are you crazy?

You actually want the guy to go free if all investors get their money back?

It is about giving Pearlman such a long jail sentence that the next Pearlman wantabe thinks twice before defrauding investors

"This is not about an eye for an eye.This not about revenge. It doesn't really matter how many years Lou goes to prison for.The bottom line is we were all screwed out of alot of money....."

Pearlman has been indicted in Federal Court not State court

"Until Steve Cole comes out with a specific plea bargin, we all need
to join forces and petition the state
not to agree to any deal until the
Eisa people are made whole."

Why should we believe anything Pearlman says? Plea deal? Yeah, right. Everything he says is a lie.

Okay, but I don't get what the eBay guy is up to. Supposedly he bought a lot of his friend's stuff, so he could sell or give it to him when he was cleared of all charges. But now he's selling it on ebay. So does he now think he's not getting out of prison, so he might as well sell it on ebay?

As far as a fair sentence, plea deal or not, how do you think he should be in prison longer than 25 years? Murderers get 25 years. How is robbing people the same as killing them? You can't put them on the same level.

The Enron scammers got about 25 years, right? Ken Lay, of course, died before he got to prison. Pearlman's health and eating habits don't suggest he'd live longer than 25 years in prison. He's now about 54. Add 25. That's 79? How many fat people, grossly overweight, have hearts strong enough to live past 79?

Anyway, as much as I hope Pearlman will cough up the money he stole, it's difficult to believe it's available. Because he would have used it to keep the first suspicious investors happy, wouldn't he?

So if he doesn't have the money, he doesn't have any plea bargaining chips. The evidence against him is so great, there's no issue of the feds wanting a deal just because otherwise they may not get a conviction.

Finally, even if Pearlman isn't lieing, and he does trick the feds into a plea deal, he could still be indicted for the Ponzi Scheme. He's not off the hook for that, because he hasn't yet been formally charged for that massive fraud. Add another 25 years...

[dianne]

This is not about an eye for an eye.This not about revenge. It doesn't really matter how many years Lou goes to prison for.The bottom line is we were all screwed out of alot of money.....If Lou were to just give us our money back I wouldn't care if he served no time at all... My financial situation is a mess now, like so many of us.I live a terrible life now.I spent my life working hard and sacrificing and saving,just for someone to steal it from me.I think we deserve a little more respect and recognition,and the state cannot let this man get away with this....He has the money hidden we all know that!!!!There has got to be a way to get him to talk and turn over our money. He should have never been appointed a public defender.Right there we were screwed by the state.The man has our money in offshore accts.and god nows where else,but he has it.We need our money back and that is all.we do not need revenge or anything else,just what is rightfully ours..

Until Steve Cole comes out with a specific plea bargin, we all need
to join forces and petition the state
not to agree to any deal until the
Eisa people are made whole. We are more important than banks because
we are ordinary people that are not
able to check these things out like
a bank can. 10 years ago there was
no way of checking things out like
today. Our state gov"t gave Trans
Cont'l a clean bill of heath and
based on that info. we invested.
Pearlman is ultimately resp. but
the state is the one that stood by
while he keep ranking in millions.

[toothy]

The question you gotta ask yourself is

Was it all worth it?

[what a deal]

so you send a gay guy to jail. is that punishment? hey lou was it worth it. well maybe your buddy the gov, you remember him Charley boy will give you a pardon, after all he used your plane enough times

a deal makes sense, as long as at least 25 years of jail time are involved...

It has widely been known that Pearlman would rat on his co-conspirators eventually...

and what would you rather have:

a) Pearlman with 70 years in jail

or

b) Pearlman and a half dozen other people in jail for 25 years each

"are we sure that there will be a deal? Are we basing this on a guy who bought lou's stuff to keep for him when he gets out and is now selling it on ebay. When is this deal, if there is a deal, suppose to break. Or is there better sourcs for this deal story. "

are we sure that there will be a deal? Are we basing this on a guy who bought lou's stuff to keep for him when he gets out and is now selling it on ebay. When is this deal, if there is a deal, suppose to break. Or is there better sourcs for this deal story.

[wait a minute]

is this a plea deal just for the bank fraud. what about the other issues on the ponzi.

How many years of jail time should we expect scamster Louis J. Pearlman to receive for his $500 million frauds?

here is what someone received for a similar $450 million fraud:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalom_Weiss

Give u everythig I've got..for a little peace of mind....I'm soooo tired...take these broken wings and learn to fly.. black bird..all of us blackbirds...not the little piggys crawling in the dirt.

Everyone will be watching how the state of Florida treats Pearlman when no money is recovered. If he gets off easy they may as well welcome the next crime wave because this state works for the criminals, not the decent folk. If these scum bag agents and Pearlman cronies skip, lights out in la la land.
Last word was many of these agents are still out there selling financial products, and Pearlman cronies still wheeling and dealing. Disgusting and pathetic.

For those of you that were victims of Pearlman, just think...every minute that goes by, every hour that goes by, every day that goes by, every week that goes by, every month that goes by...

is another period of time where Pearlman is locked up in jail...alone and without the freedom that he so much took advantage of.

I would imagine his life is in danger even in jail as we speak.

That is about 2,000 people that he stole from (many lost their life savings)....when you include family members and other affected parties, you are up to about 12,000 people all over the world

"And when he gets out 10, 25 or however many years later, he had better be completely unrecognizable - there may be people waiting for him."

And when he gets out 10, 25 or however many years later, he had better be completely unrecognizable - there may be people waiting for him.

Many people have died for less.

Maybe if he pays off the banks they will whisk him away to one of their offshore corporate retreats to retire in luxury.

Then he and his banker buddies can chortle over how they each screwed the investing public over while they slosh down scotch over a poker game.

If Lou really wants to visit an island they should reopen Alcatraz.

Lou will not serve anywhere near 40 years, but I do see at least 25 with no parole . That is unless he remembers where 500 mil is.

When William McCorkle got convicted it was 25 years/no parole, and it was not for anything near what Lou has done

Yes, it is assumed that Pearlman is "talking" big time

"What would he have to deal with. The hidden money? Give up other people roles?"

18 years jail time for a $20 million fraud.....

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2008/lr20468.htm

by the looks of this, Pearlman should serve at least 40 years

[dianne]

The worst part about all of this is that this man stold alot of money from myself and many others.I can no longer afford health insurance because of this,but I am sure Lou will recieve health care in prison.My life will be shortened,because of my inability to afford health care.I am barely able to pay the rest of my bills.Lou may get 25 yrs.But what about the sentence he has imposed upon us???????????????

Butthead? Living in a Dream World? Seems Hedrick is making money off the investors loses! Well Kapila will make money also...

This is the USA, and yes if you don't like the statement " Innosent until proven Guilty" you can always leave!

Because Hedrick bought items cheap and is making money off the items, it shows he knows how to invest his money! Maybe Lou Pearlman was a good investment after all. :)

[Helen Huntley]

We don't know the details of the plea agreement yet, so I wouldn't draw any conclusions about what is or isn't included.

LJP is a liar, has been and will be always. If the USA has to plea this out than they must not have much of a case.

So, No charges for the ponzi rip off? The fat man must have something on some powerful people or person. Maybe video of the fundraiser party in his bedroom...This is a joke and people like Hedrick, obliviously a buttbud and the BS statement of Steve Cole just confirm that YES, "Crime does PAY"...

[dianne]

I hope included in this plea deal,is an agreement to pay us back our money,but I doubt thats the case since no criminal charges for the EISA fraud have been filed against him.He should not get a plea deal unless he gives some money back to us.......I have noticed that this state is geared for the criminals and not the honest jerks like us.......Dianne

[frank]

"I'm a true believer if you're innocent you don't take a deal. If the evidence isn't there, you shouldn't be convicted." - i'm sure pearlman is guilty, but the guy who said this is living in a dream world.

[Bivi]

25 years does not seem too much. Its just right. He took money that wasn't his.

[why]

25 years seems so little for this matter--is it to get it over with and hope for a pardon from the Lord?

[Helen Huntley]

If any of you are interested in commenting on the record for my story, please send me an email.

25 years is ok if there is absolutely no parole possible, atlthough he should pay pay the money he owes and deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life. Even getting out of jail at 80 years old is too good for him.

What would he have to deal with. The hidden money? Give up other people roles?