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March 4, 2006Man gets prison for scam2 others must pay restitution before sentenceTRAVERSE CITY - A key player in an investment scam that bilked more than $1 million from area seniors is off to prison, while two others have 11 months to pay more than $900,000 in restitution before they learn how long they'll spent behind bars.Jonathon Brzezinski, 25, of Traverse City, was sentenced to 24 to 60 months in prison by 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip Rodgers Friday for his role in a scam cooked up by Estate Growth Management of Traverse City and its owners, Gary Singer and Margaret Zimmerman. "From day one, I have wanted to tell the truth and make things right," a tearful Brzezinski told Rodgers. Brzezinski pleaded guilty last year to attempting to embezzle more than $20,000 from a vulnerable adult - a local elderly woman - in a relationship of trust and agreed to pay $260,000 restitution after reaching a deal with the state attorney general's office. "I can't help to think of this lady and all that she lost," Rodgers told Brzezinski before he departed upward from a state sentencing recommendation. Brzezinski worked for Singer and Zimmerman, who each received delayed sentences of 11 months from Rodgers on Friday. The delay allows them an opportunity to pay restitution of approximately $930,000. Both Singer, 54, and Zimmerman, 48, who each face a maximum of 10 years in prison, pleaded guilty in January to charges of using false pretenses to lure investors into investment schemes. Singer pleaded guilty to two counts of false pretenses over $20,000, while Zimmerman admitted to two counts of embezzlement, both over $20,000, as part of the deal. Assistant state Attorney General Scott Teter told Rodgers his main goal was to recover as much money for the victimized families. Both Zimmerman and Singer told Rodgers they would work hard to make full restitution within the time frame, but Teter said if the figure is not met he would ask the court to sentence both of them "for as long as allowable in the statutory maximum." "I want you to know that I am taking this extraordinarily seriously," Rodgers warned Singer and Zimmerman. "If you want to make a serious effort of avoiding prison time, make a serious effort to raise $900,000." See Related Editorial: See Related Stories:
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