01162008 - News Article - Lawyer gets prison time - Judge: Willie Harris' conduct in fraudulent land deal 'almost unforgivable'

Lawyer gets prison time
Judge: Willie Harris' conduct in fraudulent land deal 'almost unforgivable'

Post-Tribune (IN)
January 16, 2008

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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." 

The betrayals netted Harris a prison term -- 55 months on counts of fraud, filing a false tax return and theft of funds from Lake County -- substantially stiffer than the 37 months awarded co-defendant Roosevelt Powell last week. Harris remained impassive during Tuesday's proceedings, leaning forward against his folded hands as Simon announced the sentence. 

The final co-defendant in the case, former Lake County Councilman Will Smith , will be sentenced Friday for a single count of filing a false tax return. 

Harris, Powell and Smith arranged for the Gary Historical and Cultural & Society to take ownership of a defunct Gary grocery store in 2001, then pocketed all but $50,000 of the $200,000 the scandal-plagued Gary Urban Enterprise Association paid to buy the building a year later. 

Harris took $25,000 and gave $50,000 to Powell and $75,000 to Smith . He gave the Historical Society $50,000, and arranged a bogus tax settlement with Powell to write off all but $15,000 of a $78,000 tax bill for the property. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Bell lobbied for a maximum sentence for Harris, arguing that Harris obstructed justice when he concealed evidence under subpoena by a federal grand jury and that he was the prime mover in the scam. 

Harris' attorney, Thomas Mullins, said he was shocked by the lengthy sentence, which also included restitution to the Historical Society of $150,000. Mullins argued Harris should have received a sentence identical to the one Simon handed down for Powell. 

"I'm disappointed," Mullins said, noting Harris will file an appeal, possibly based on prosecutors' handling of documents Harris was said to have forged or had forged to complete real estate deals. 

The trial has torn apart the Harris clan, Mullins said. Testifying against the trio was Dharthula "Dolly" Millender, founder and director of the Historical Society and namesake aunt of Harris' wife, Dolly. 

Millender said Harris never told her the group had taken ownership of the former Ralph's Grocery building in Gary's Miller neighborhood. 

Caption: Willie Harris, arriving Tuesday with friends at Federal Court in Hammond, was sentenced to four years in prison.(PHOTO) (LESLIE ADKINS/POST-TRIBUNE)