Hecker Associate Sentenced To 27 Months
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- A long-time employee of former auto mogul Denny Hecker will be headed to prison for more than two years.
Steven Leach was sentenced to 27 months for his role in doctoring a document to secure $80 million dollars in financing from Chrysler Financial.
Leach admitted that following Hecker's directive he had a secretary cut and pastes a document to make it appear that Hyundai was ready to buy back a fleet of cars if Hecker was unable to sell them. Leach then faxed the phony document to Hecker who presented it to Chrysler Financial.
Leach was also ordered to pay Chrysler Financial $14 million in restitution. Leach will begin paying back Chrysler with $2,500 monthly payments after he is released.
Leach's attorney, Robert Sicoli, said it is highly unlikely that Leach will be able to repay the full $14 million.
With time for good behavior Leach could end up serving just 17 months. Leach's attorney requested that Leach serve his prison time at the federal prison camp in Duluth Minnesota. The Bureau of Prisons makes the final decision on where inmates do their time.
The sentencing for Hecker is scheduled for this Friday. He could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison.
