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economic crime

Former Aurora officer who stole from police charities sentenced

A former Aurora police officer was given a suspended prison sentence with 18 months in jail on work release for stealing from two charities for which he served as treasurer.

Roland Albert

Arapahoe County District Court Judge Ben Leutwyler today sentenced Roland Albert for stealing a combined $65,000 over a period of 15 months from the two charities that offer assistance families of law enforcement families.

“It is difficult to find words of condemnation commensurate with a person — a sworn police officer —who steals from charities to enrich himself,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “He has forfeited the honorable title ‘police officer’ and he has earned the title ‘convicted felon.’ No person, law enforcement or otherwise, is above our laws.”

Brauchler added: “I commend the Aurora Police Department for investigating their own and appropriately seeking prosecution for these despicable acts.”

Aurora Police internal affairs officers were investigating Albert for another reason when they discovered an issue with one charity. They contacted the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office in August 2018 to take over the criminal investigation.

Sheriff’s investigators found money missing from that charity beginning in December 2017. Knowing Albert was also treasurer of another charity, they looked there, as well. More money was found to be missing since May 2017 and a warrant was obtained for Albert’s arrest on Feb. 28, 2019.

The investigation determined Albert stole $57,613 from the first charity and $7,753 from the second charity.

On Oct. 7, 2019, Albert pleaded guilty to one count of theft of $20,000 to $100,000, which is a Class 4 felony. Other counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Representatives from each organization spoke at the sentencing, outlining the damage the defendant had done to their work, their members, their reputations and to law enforcement officers in general.

On Dec. 16, Judge Leutwyler imposed a 4-year suspended sentence to the Department of Corrections, dependent on successful completion of 5 years of economic crimes probation. Probation will include 18 months in jail on work release and payment of restitution.

“This officer deliberately took action 47 times to steal from charities that had entrusted him with their finances. These were organizations created to assist his fellow officers, and to which many of his colleagues donated,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve Fauver,who prosecuted the case. “This man was stealing from his friends and coworkers and literally stealing from orphans – all while he was an officer sworn to uphold the law.”

Con man gets more than 30 years in prison in Arapahoe case

A man convicted by an Arapahoe County jury of defrauding a business owner and building contractors of more than $500,000 was sentenced this week to more than 30 years in prison.

Larry McGee

Larry McGee, 61, absconded during his September trial in Arapahoe County District Court. He was on supervised pretrial release as a condition of bond and cut off his GPS ankle monitor.

He was convicted of all 21 counts in absentia Sept. 14, 2018.

District Court Judge Patricia Herron issued a no-bond arrest warrant, and he was taken into custody in Boulder on Oct. 11, 2018.

Herron on Monday sentenced Larry McGee to a term of 34.5 years in the Department of Corrections in accordance with the request of Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve Fauver. The judge acknowledged the extreme financial and emotional harm McGee caused the victims in this case and his criminal history.

“Financial and property crimes can be devastating to victims. Our office will continue to vigorously pursue thieves like McGee. The public should feel emboldened to report to law enforcement property and financial crimes in our community,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Here, stealing this much money warranted incarceration. But there’s more. McGee cowardly ran from the jury trial he picked. To paraphrase Chris Rock: If you make the justice system chase after you, it’s bringing a whole bunch of incarceration with it.”

In January 2014 an Arapahoe County property owner contacted the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office about a tenant, Larry McGee, who had not paid rent for two years and had not paid any of the contractors who had performed upgrades and enhancements to the property at McGee’s request.

McGee, who had a previous felony theft conviction, had signed contracts with the landlord and service providers, but his checks bounced, he made excuses and payments were never made. The jury found that he impersonated a local attorney, drafted forged letters to the victim under the attorney’s letterhead, and gave the victim the forged deposit slips and wire transfer records in order to remain a tenant and keep the scheme going.

Ultimately, on Oct. 20. 2014, McGee was charged with 15 felony counts and 6 misdemeanor counts – including two counts of felony theft, four counts of identity theft and numerous additional counts of forgery and fraud by check. McGee delayed the trial for almost four years.

“After fifty-one months, Larry McGee has finally received the sentence he justly deserves,” prosecutor Fauver said. “The citizens of our state are safer with this financial predator off the streets.”

Con man skips out during trial, convicted while on lam

An Arapahoe County jury convicted a 60-year-old man of defrauding a business owner and building contractors of more than $500,000.

Larry McGee

But Larry McGee was not in the courtroom to hear the jury’s verdict: He was on supervised pretrial release as a condition of bond and cut off his GPS ankle monitor and absconded in the middle of the trial.

The trial court found that McGee’s failure to appear was willful and conducted the remainder of the trial in absentia. Arapahoe District Court Judge Patricia Herron issued a no-bond arrest warrant.

“It appears that cowardly McGee agreed with the jury about the strength of the case against him. There is no better way to signal to the court, the jury, the community, and the victims your complete disrespect for them and our laws than to run away before the jury renders its verdict,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “I am disappointed that the victims cannot be made whole after McGee’s self-absorbed felonious conduct.”

Ultimately, on Oct. 20, 2014, McGee was charged with 15 felony counts and 6 misdemeanor counts – including two counts of felony theft, four counts of identity theft and numerous additional counts of forgery and fraud by check. McGee delayed the trail for almost four years.

The jury found him guilty on all counts on Sept. 14, 2018. The presumptive sentencing range is four to more than 48 years in prison.

“McGee did not perpetrate this scheme to get money — McGee financially ruined a 65-year-old man and tricked numerous people into providing services and supplies for the sole purpose of making people think he was a wealthy businessman so they would treat him as someone special,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve Fauver, who prosecuted the case. “None of the victims is likely to make a deal with only a handshake ever again, and that is truly a shame.”

Securities fraud leads to 10 years in prison

An Aurora man who bilked investors out of more than $900,000 has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Chisan Chong, 41, pleaded guilty March 3 to five counts of felony securities crimes in a case dating to September 2011. The case was investigated by Greenwood Village police assisted by the Colorado Division of Securities, part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies.

Chisan Chong

On May 12, Arapahoe District Judge Kurt Horton sentenced Chong to 10 years in the Department of Corrections for three counts, and 25 years of economic crimes probation for the remaining two counts. Chong also was ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution (including interest) to his victims.

“This defendant has engaged in long-term patent fraud and has taken no outward steps that he will respect the law going forward,” Judge Horton said. “Securities fraud is a serious crime and can cause great personal and societal harm. … A correction sentence is appropriate.”

Chong’s attorney had requested probation.

Prosecuting attorney Erika Reuer requested prison time.

The defendant “is not credible. … There is no reason to believe any explanation offered by Mr. Chong,” Reuer told the court. “He is a detriment to everyone else and this is certainly a case that warrants prison.”

District Attorney George Brauchler praised the work of the investigating team and the decision of the court.

“To those who believe they can financially exploit people in this community without fear of prison, let this case and its result serve as a warning. Economic crimes harm victims in ways that can last longer than physical crimes,” he said. “My office has an aggressive economic crimes unit, and I’m glad to see the court supporting our efforts in this area with a stiff sentence for this perpetrator.”

Colorado Securities Commissioner Gerald Rome agreed.

“Judge Horton made a strong statement to would be con artists: Colorado is a bad place to cheat investors. Investment crooks are caught, prosecuted and sent to prison here,” Rome said. “I am pleased that the collaborative work between the Division of Securities, Greenwood Village police, and the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has brought this criminal matter to a successful and just conclusion.”

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