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U.S. NEWS Saturday 5 auguSt 2017

Convicted Shkreli has an image problem, lawyer concedes

By TOM HAYS discussing in the next few
LARRY NEUMEISTER days,” he said, adding that
Associated Press while Shkreli was a brilliant
NEW YORK (AP) — Mar- mind, sometimes his “peo-
tin Shkreli, the eccentric ple skills” need work. As he
former pharmaceutical spoke, Shkreli smiled and
CEO notorious for a price- cocked his head quizzically
gouging scandal and for in mock confusion.
his snide “Pharma Bro” per- Brafman predicted that
sona on social media, was Shkreli would someday go
convicted Friday on fed- on to develop cures to ter-
eral charges he deceived rible diseases that afflict
investors in a pair of failed children. Within an hour of
hedge funds. A Brooklyn leaving the court, Shkreli
jury deliberated five days was at home live-streaming
before finding Shkreli guilty on YouTube and calling the
on three of eight counts. split verdict a victory, de-
He had been charged with spite his conviction on two
securities fraud, conspiracy of the most serious counts.
to commit securities fraud Prosecutors had a different
and conspiracy to commit take. “There’s one state-
wire fraud. Shkreli, upbeat ment that’s most impor-
and defiant outside the tant and that’s the jury’s
Brooklyn courthouse after- statement: guilty on those
ward, called his prosecu- counts,” said Acting U.S. At-
tion “a witch hunt of epic torney Bridget Rohde. Martin Shkreli, right, and his attorney Benjamin Brafman, left, leave federal court in New York,
proportions” but conced- Prosecutors had accused Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. The former pharmaceutical CEO has been convicted on federal charges he
ed that maybe the govern- Shkreli of repeatedly mis- deceived investors in a pair of failed hedge funds. A Brooklyn jury deliberated five days before
ment had found “one or leading investors about finding Shkreli guilty on Friday on three of eight counts.
two broomsticks.” what he was doing with (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Asked about his client’s their money. Mostly, he was had $40 million in one of for who he really is — a con Shkreli’s scheme actu-
social-media antics, at- blowing it with horrible stock his funds at a time when it man who stole millions,” ally succeeded in making
torney Ben Brafman said it picks, forcing him to cook only had about $300 in the added another prosecutor, them richer, in some cases
was something they would up a scheme to recover bank, Assistant U.S. Attor- Jacquelyn Kasulis. doubling or even tripling
be working on. “There is millions in losses, they said. ney Alixandra Smith said in But the case was tricky for their money on his com-
an image issue that Mar- Shkreli, 34, told “lies upon closing arguments. The trial the government because pany’s stock when it went
tin and I are going to be lies,” including claiming he “has exposed Martin Shkreli investors who testified said public.q

Priest accused of embezzlement seeks $800K seized by police

MASON, Mich. (AP) — The more from St. Martha Parish by Michigan State Police as Martha Parish in 1988, was from Wehrle’s family could
attorney for a Michigan in Okemos, Michigan, but part of the ongoing inves- placed on administrative have paid for it.
priest accused of bilking a prosecutors say an ongo- tigation, the Lansing State leave by the Diocese of The lien application states
Catholic church that’s miss- ing audit shows an estimat- Journal reported. Lansing on May 9. that Wehrle had “sole ac-
ing millions of dollars asked ed $5 million is missing from A judge who heard that re- Prosecutors filed an ap- cess” to St. Martha Parish’s
a judge Friday to autho- the Lansing-area Roman quest must decide whether plication in June for a lien finances and offerings,
rize the release of $800,000 Catholic church. there’s enough evidence against an 11,000-square- “with no oversight within
seized by police to his cli- Wehrle’s attorney argued to send Wehrle to trial. The foot home the priest owns the parish” and lists 10 resi-
ent. during a Friday court hear- hearing resumes Sept. 1 that’s worth more than $1 dences Wehrle owns or has
The Rev. Jonathan Wehrle ing that the priest and his with testimony from Bishop million and sits on 10 acres. owned since 1988 in sev-
(WUR’-lee) is charged with mother should have access Earl Boyea. Wehrle’s lawyer, Lawrence eral Michigan communities
embezzling $100,000 or to nearly $800,000 seized Wehrle, who founded St. Nolan, has said money and in Florida.q