Word Of A Sentence For "The Imposter Foster" In The Larry Maxwell Mortgage Fraud Trial...

This stock photo has little to do with this post

Here is the word that I heard about Jerome Kingrussell, the multiple-time legal loser who helped steal the identity of John Foster and pull off fraudulent real estate deals with Larry Maxwell, recently convicted of 18 counts of mortgage fraud.

Today, Kingrussell faced the music, as well as the judge, and received his sentence...

Bottom line: 108 months. Suspended.

Though part of me would love to see Kingrussell go to prison for a long time, the reality is that Kingrussell was a little fish, a man who could not keep out of jail, could not keep his life in order, and was just a pawn used by Larry Maxwell. The big fish was Maxwell, and the big fish is looking at very hard time.

Besides, that suspended sentence is worse than it sounds. As it stands, Kingrussell has 108 months hanging over his head...and most people who know the circumstances well would probably wager sizable sums of money that Kingrussell will mess up again, go to jail, and serve his whole sentence of 180 months.

If Kingrussell had been sentenced to those 108 months TODAY, he would have been credited for (this is what I hear) more than 500 days of jail time. That would have been credited both as "good time" in consideration of reduced prison time, plus credited as time served.

From what appears to have been said in court today--these are things I hear, secondhand--there was no plea bargain, per se, but the sentence recommendation is deferred to the judge. The judge must surely consider that Kingrussell (who has every opportunity to change his name to Pawnrussell, if the notion strikes him, and will surely become Queenrussell if he screws up and serves that 108 month sentence) took the stand, told the truth, and made it possible for the state to get the guy it was really after: Larry "Maximum" Maxwell.

By the way, I'm told by an inveterate courtroom observer that my nickname "Maximum Maxwell" has caught on. And by "inveterate courtroom observer" I certainly do not mean Pete The Pedophile, though that description would fit Peter Richard Stephenson just as well.

Here's one thing to put the sentence of Kingrussell in perspective: 180 months is more time than either of the TJ Waconia fraudsters received. Furthermore, Kingrussell wasn't somebody with "keys." The prosecution has obviously reserved its thrust for Realtors-gone-bad, for those who had a position of trust and abused it.

Somebody like Kingrussell is just a blunt object, a means to an end. He will surely die in prison, or in the streets, unless he somehow figures out that telling the truth and conforming to the law is the best move he ever made, so maybe he should get up every day in the morning and do that over and over. Furthermore, individuals like Tynessia Snoddy should notice how there is slack to be had for those who just throw their hands up and surrender, and give up everything they know to the prosecutor.

Sure, some people are, themselves, "big fish." But they might know even BIGGER fish.

This blog wishes the prosecutors and investigators the best of luck, on top of drinking toasts to their continued success.

The more mortgage fraudsters they catch, the more our North Minneapolis neighborhood is freed of invisible shackles: bad actors and criminals who have money, power, and property.

Find them all. Put them all in prison. Leave no stone unturned.