POSTED: 11:42 PM EST December 24, 2003
PORTLAND, Ore -- A former caregiver will serve two years in federal prison for swindling a dying priest out of a $350,000 life insurance annuity, then gambling it away at casinos.
Brian M. LaGrand pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy Tuesday at a federal sentencing hearing.
LaGrand said his gambling addiction caused him to fritter away more than $10 million during his life, "but that's no excuse for what happened."
U.S. District Judge Anna Brown sentenced LaGrand to the maximum for theft, although prosecutors argued for more time based on aggravating factors. LaGrand was ordered to surrender in February.
Immediately after leaving the courtroom, LaGrand approached several of the Catholic priest's caregivers who cooperated with investigators.
"Hey Herman, how's it going? Are you still a Nazi?" he said to Herman Baurer, who helped care for Father Paul Zeller as colon cancer killed him.
"That's classic Brian LaGrand," said Portland police detective Amber Lewis, who investigated LaGrand and his partner, Marquis Leo Lagergren for the June 2001 crime.
U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut said the 86-year-old Zeller was often unconscious and unable to do basic things for himself when LaGrand volunteered to be his sole caregiver at night.
While LaGrand was supposed to be taking care of Zeller, he was rifling through personal papers.
According to a grand jury indictment, LaGrand and Lagergren faxed a letter on June 28, 2001 to Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance, supposedly from Zeller. That released the annuity funds to Lagergren's bank account in Palm Springs, Calif.
Between July 5 and Aug. 27, Lagergren and LaGrand gambled the money away at casinos in Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.
Zeller died July 13.
Lagergren pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against LaGrand. He was sentenced Sept. 11 to a year in prison.
LaGrand's attorney, Garry Bertoni, said his delusional client intended to use the money to win big, then repay the principal. Immergut disagreed.
"He's a manipulative person, and even months before he was caught, he did nothing to change his gambling behavior," she said of LaGrand.
In another case, LaGrand was charged with conning Cooper Industries of Ohio out of $731,000 worth of tire chain, Immergut said.
According to court papers, LaGrand persuaded the company that he was affiliated with LaGrand Industrial Supply, a company founded by his uncle.
Under a plea deal, LaGrand owes Cooper $200,000 in restitution. He and Lagergren owe Lincoln Benefit and Zeller's estate the money they stole. @@
PORTLAND, Ore -- A former caregiver will serve two years in federal prison for swindling a dying priest out of a $350,000 life insurance annuity, then gambling it away at casinos.
Brian M. LaGrand pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy Tuesday at a federal sentencing hearing.
LaGrand said his gambling addiction caused him to fritter away more than $10 million during his life, "but that's no excuse for what happened."
U.S. District Judge Anna Brown sentenced LaGrand to the maximum for theft, although prosecutors argued for more time based on aggravating factors. LaGrand was ordered to surrender in February.
Immediately after leaving the courtroom, LaGrand approached several of the Catholic priest's caregivers who cooperated with investigators.
"Hey Herman, how's it going? Are you still a Nazi?" he said to Herman Baurer, who helped care for Father Paul Zeller as colon cancer killed him.
"That's classic Brian LaGrand," said Portland police detective Amber Lewis, who investigated LaGrand and his partner, Marquis Leo Lagergren for the June 2001 crime.
U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut said the 86-year-old Zeller was often unconscious and unable to do basic things for himself when LaGrand volunteered to be his sole caregiver at night.
While LaGrand was supposed to be taking care of Zeller, he was rifling through personal papers.
According to a grand jury indictment, LaGrand and Lagergren faxed a letter on June 28, 2001 to Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance, supposedly from Zeller. That released the annuity funds to Lagergren's bank account in Palm Springs, Calif.
Between July 5 and Aug. 27, Lagergren and LaGrand gambled the money away at casinos in Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.
Zeller died July 13.
Lagergren pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against LaGrand. He was sentenced Sept. 11 to a year in prison.
LaGrand's attorney, Garry Bertoni, said his delusional client intended to use the money to win big, then repay the principal. Immergut disagreed.
"He's a manipulative person, and even months before he was caught, he did nothing to change his gambling behavior," she said of LaGrand.
In another case, LaGrand was charged with conning Cooper Industries of Ohio out of $731,000 worth of tire chain, Immergut said.
According to court papers, LaGrand persuaded the company that he was affiliated with LaGrand Industrial Supply, a company founded by his uncle.
Under a plea deal, LaGrand owes Cooper $200,000 in restitution. He and Lagergren owe Lincoln Benefit and Zeller's estate the money they stole. @@
