Stock photo by John HoffJon Helgason and Thomas Balko, the duo behind the infamous T.J. Waconia mortgage fraud scheme that hit North Minneapolis hard in the wake of the foreclosure crisis, were sentenced to prison today by Judge Joan Erickson at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis.
Thomas Balko received...
...a sentence of 84 months. Helgason received a stiffer sentence of 96 months, reflective of the fact Helgason had "abused a position of trust." Both men received 3 years supervised probation after prison, and numerous conditions including restitution. A restitution hearing will be held later, separately.
The men remain free prior to a "surrender date" 6 weeks from now, but must go to prison on Thursday, May 28. The judge recommended Balko serve his sentence in Duluth, to be near his family, but the recommendation is not binding on the prison authorities. Any report of problems will cause the duo to immediately go into custody.
Balko and Helgason have 10 days to file a notice of appeal. In a conversation held afterward outside the courtroom, amid a large throng of tearful supporters for the defendant, Balko's attorney urged filing a notice of appeal, saying, "If we don't file a notice of appeal...they win."
In what seemed a deliberate effort to avoid media--consisting only of Steve Brandt from the Star Tribune, a female photographer, and this blogger with his el cheapo digital "gangster cam"--Balko and Helgason managed to successfully exit the courthouse without having their pictures taken, though it is believed pictures exist taken by an individual with a cell phone camera. I'm making an effort to obtain those pictures, but more details will follow in any case.
And, in a side note, once again the blogosphere EATS THE LUNCH of the mainstream media. Uh huh! That's right!!!!
Now off to the Larry Maxwell hearing...
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