U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz handed out some advice to convicted swindler Gary Growden on Tuesday, along with some additional punishment.
When you're facing prospects of returning to prison for violating the terms of your probation, Schiltz said sharply, don't go telling a reporter that your previous guilty plea doesn't necessarily mean you committed any crimes.
Schiltz held up a printout of a recent Star Tribune article in which Growden said he pleaded guilty in May 2007 to two counts of wire fraud because his lawyer told him he'd be facing 18 to 20 years in prison if he were convicted at trial of running an investment scheme.
"If that is the reason you pled guilty, then you committed perjury when you were in front of me" three years earlier, Schiltz said.
He read at length from a transcript of Growden's plea hearing, emphasizing passages in which Growden explicitly admitted to his crimes.
Schiltz restarted Growden's three years of supervised release -- essentially adding a year from his previous term. He said Growden should have no computer or Internet access without the approval of his probation officer. He's to have no involvement in the financial services industry, broker no loans, and offer no investment or financial advice, Schiltz said.
"It is obvious he needs to be supervised for as long as possible," the judge added.
Growden, sentenced to 27 months in prison, was released a year ago and placed under supervision. One of the conditions of his release was that he have no fiduciary responsibilities.