Former Hells Angels President Sentenced to Jail for Pot-Growing Mortgage Scheme
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U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup also ordered Foakes, 48, to pay $1,085,000 in restitution. On Oct. 25, 2011, Foakes, the former president of the Sonoma Chapter of the Hells Angels, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
In a plea agreement, he confessed that from 2006 until early 2007, he was involved in a scheme to fraudulently get mortgage loans for property located all over Northern California. Foakes submitted false statements on mortgage loan applications, as well as altered bank statements. In some instances, the applications falsely stated that he had been self-employed as owner of "Foakes Concrete" for about 10 years, where he made some $24,000 monthly -- and he had bank statements to show.
But rather than occupy the property as a residence, which he had stated on his applications he intended to do, Foakes used it it to grow pot. He then laundered that money, federal prosecutors concluded.
Foakes was just one of several defendants indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 1, 2011, for the conspiracy. Judge Alsup also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release, during which time he will only be allowed to have limited contact with other members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.
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