Convicted swindler gets state prison term
He'd named them as godparents to one of his children. And when
Now,
On Tuesday, that man was sentenced to 3 1/2 to four years in state prison, to be followed by five years of probation, for a scheme that, at a minimum, cost the Larmers
That is the amount that could be proved to the degree required under the law, prosecutor
And that's the amount of restitution Judge
"This was, in my view, a protracted and extended course of larcenous conduct," said Lang, who had presided over Dawson's trial. Dawson, believed to be 50, was convicted of nine counts on
He was sentenced on five of those counts Tuesday; four other charges were set aside by the judge as duplicative counts.
Lang acknowledged that actual amount taken was likely far more than what could be proved. And, the judge said, it was not only a financial blow to the Larmers but an abuse of the couple's trust.
"This defendant exploited the close, personal, almost familial relationship he had with the Larmers," said Lang, who said Dawson also exploited the distance and
Larmer "entrusted" the management of his investment to Dawson, said the judge. "It turns out that was a terrible mistake."
'In over his head'
Dawson's attorney, meanwhile, said his client simply got in over his head in a business he couldn't handle.
"This isn't something where
Kelley pointed to the time that his client had spent in custody, held on bail while awaiting trial, and urged Lang to impose probation.
Dawley, the prosecutor, asked for a six- to eight-year state prison term.
"Fraud, deceit, lying, misrepresentation," said Dawley. "This is his MO. This is the defendant's agenda, and he took advantage. ... it's how the defendant has lived his life."
And for the first time, Dawley delved into details of Dawson's past, including two other aliases,
In 2012, Dawson was charged with contributing to the delinquency of minors after an underage drinking party at the equestrian center, said the prosecutor.
Dawley also cited an alleged murder-for-hire plot, first detailed last year in a hearing to increase Dawson's bail. Dawley told the judge that the investigation into the plot, in which Dawson allegedly attempted to recruit a fellow inmate to arrange for the murder of the Larmers, is continuing, though no charges have been filed.
The prosecutor said the other inmate was found with a diagram of the Larmers'
Victims 'devastated,' afraid
But the worst, she told the judge, was when they were told of the alleged plot to have them killed so they could not testify.
"Both of us were petrified," she said, describing a visit from the police in
The retired nurse and Larmer, who'd run successful businesses, had never worried for their safety. But now, she said, they both own guns, have taken lessons, and keep their curtains closed. They worry about their children and grandchildren as well.
But the judge said he couldn't, under the law, consider the plot or other misconduct for which he has not been charged, or the cases that are still open in other states.
Dawson had written a letter to the judge prior to his sentencing. Lang ordered it sealed, citing "personal details" about the defendant's childhood.
He gave Dawson a chance to speak in court. Dawson said he'd simply been trying to repay the Larmers, "make them whole."
"I never intended to hurt the Larmers, ever. That's been misconstrued from day one. I would never do that. As far as any other allegations, they're totally false. I'll take a lie detector," he said, before chuckling slightly. "It's completely not true."
After disputing some of
Courts reporter
DAWNSON: Convicted swindler is sentenced to state prison
___
(c)2017 The Salem News (Beverly, Mass.)
Visit The Salem News (Beverly, Mass.) at www.salemnews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Bloomfield Fire Department reduces employee hours
State regulators oppose new rehab center in Beverly
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News