Victims of sour business deals orchestrated by Orcutt businessman Michael Lee Wilson will have to wait another week to have their day in court.
Wilson, who pleaded guilty to nearly 60 felony counts of grand theft, was set to receive his sentence on Dec. 3. The hearing, however, was delayed because of a family emergency experienced by someone close to the case.
A court employee told the Sun more than 40 people planned to speak at the trial about the financial and emotional wrongs they suffered at Wilson’s hands.
He’s expected to spend more than 20 years in prison for using his business, Pacific Coast Mortgage, as a front for
real estate fraud. The court has stated he stole up to $15 million from his clients. Senior Deputy District Attorney Jerry Lulejian, the prosecutor for the case, said the true amount Wilson owes is “still debatable” because some of the money has since been repaid.
Authorities originally charged Wilson with nearly 150 criminal counts, including grand theft and forgery, but those counts were later dropped in exchange for his guilty plea.
Wilson could have his sentenced lessened if he agrees to make more than $2 million in retribution payments.
Lulejian confirmed that Wilson has filed bankruptcy in an attempt to make the payments. But the attorney said he’s uncertain whether or not the filing has been completed.
The attorneys are expected to meet with the presiding judge on Dec. 14 to determine another date for the sentencing.
This article appears in Dec 9-16, 2010.