Hecker's girlfriend to be sentenced Feb. 25

Denny Hecker's girlfriend, Christi Rowan, will be sentenced to federal prison on Feb. 25 for her role in fraud schemes that helped Hecker hide assets from the bankruptcy court.

She faces up to six months in prison.

Rowan, who has been Hecker's love interest for more than two years, pleaded guilty in April to one count of bank fraud and one count of bankruptcy fraud for helping in a "wide-ranging bankruptcy fraud scheme" that was orchestrated by Hecker, court papers said.

This is the second time Rowan has been in trouble with the law. She was convicted of embezzling money from the Arizona auto dealer who employed her in 2000.

This time, Rowan falsified income on the W-2 form she submitted to a car loan officer in April 2009. Rowan reported making $189,000 in 2008 when she really made $72,000. She also claimed to be an attorney when she really worked for Gannett Co. The lies helped Rowan obtain a Range Rover for the bankrupt Hecker.

Rowan also lied under oath about her income and education during a 2009 deposition taken by the bankruptcy court.

While Rowan has requested probation, prosecutors insist that she should get the maximum sentence allowed under the plea bargain because of her history of deception.

They allege that Rowan lied to her probation officer in 2000, cheated on her 2006 taxes and created a fake sex- soliciting Facebook page in the name of one of Hecker's ex-girlfriends in 2009 or 2010. Rowan included the woman's real name, photo and address.

Rowan will be the fourth co-defendant in the Hecker case to be sentenced this month. Last week, Hecker was sentenced to 10 years in prison and $31 million of restitution for two counts of fraud. Former Hecker auto executive Steven Leach received 27 months and $14 million in restitution. Former Hecker employee James Gustafson received probation and 120 hours of community service.

Dee DePass • 612-673-7725