5 day forecast
Feds seek permission to seize $1.4 million from Podluckys
Share with others:
Federal prosecutors late Wednesday asked for court approval of the seizure of nearly $1.4 million held by Ligonier's Podlucky family, which once controlled the bankrupt Latrobe-based bottler Le-Nature's Inc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Y. Garrett also seeks a judgment against Gregory J. Podlucky, his wife and son in a similar amount.
Mr. Garrett wrote in a motion for an order of forfeiture that in 2009, while Mr. Podlucky was under indictment, he and family members caused the sale at Sotheby's auction house of precious gems, for $2.8 million. The gems were "proceeds of the Le-Nature's scheme to defraud," he wrote.
The Podluckys spent $1.44 million of that "on personal family expenses including luxury items and Gregory J. Podlucky's legal expenses," he wrote.
The government seized the balance of $1.37 million.
The government now wants to keep the seized money and saddle Mr. Podlucky, his son G. Jesse Podlucky and his wife Karla S. Podlucky with a judgment in the amount of the spent proceeds that would follow them after their sentences.
Gregory J. Podlucky is serving 20 years in prison for mail fraud, income tax evasion and money laundering for his role in fooling investors and siphoning funds from Le-Nature's.
He has appealed the sentence.
Ms. Podlucky and G. Jesse Podlucky are scheduled to be sentenced April 26 for money laundering in relation to the sale of the gems.
First Published April 19, 2012 8:50 am
