Attorney: Financial adviser will try to make restitution [Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.]

Feb. 27--WINDBER -- The attorney representing a local financial adviser accused of stealing more than $449,000 from a Windber couple said his client will try to repay the money.

"Restitution is an important factor in the criminal justice system," said Johnstown attorney Robert Davis Gleason, who is representing Jeffrey A. Wicks of Salix. "We certainly hope to set up a procedure to pay restitution."

Windber police said Wicks, 38, stole the money he was supposed to invest for Robert and Helen Baker.

Wicks was arraigned Friday before District Judge Joseph Cannoni of Windber on 16 counts each of theft by deception, theft by failure to deposit funds and receiving stolen property.

He was released on $15,000 bond.

Wicks was ordered to surrender his passport and told not to leave Cambria or Somerset counties for more than 24 hours without court permission.

He slid his passport across the table to Gleason, who gave it to Cannoni.

Wicks responded only by saying "Yes, sir" when asked whether he had been read his rights and whether he understood the charges against him.

Wicks worked 13 years for MetLife in Richland Township, where he held several titles including financial service representative, Gleason said.

Police said Wicks was to deposit 14 checks totaling $399,375 with the JSTC Credit Union between June 2001 and December 2009.

Instead, Wicks kept the money and gave the Bakers false documents, police said.

The couple confronted Wicks when they discovered the credit union had no accounts in their names, police said.

Police said Wicks also took $49,743 that was to be invested by the Bakers with MetLife, which caused the couple to have outstanding loans with the company.

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