One of Rich Rodriguez's business partners in a failed real estate venture that led to a $3.9 million lawsuit is facing five felony counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent, Ann Arbor.com is reporting.
Clegg Lamar Greene, 71, was arrested Dec. 29. He is facing up to 10 years in prison on each count. Authorities allege he stole money from investors, including Rodriguez, to pay debts, buy furniture and have cosmetic surgery.
Rodriguez declined Tuesday to discuss his relationship with Greene.
"My financial advisor and his representatives are taking care of that, and I would prefer just to talk about football and Western [Michigan] and our upcoming game," Rodriguez said.
Greene, who lives in Clemson, S.C., has a checkered past. He was accused in 2000 of providing a $1,300 loan and use of a boat to two Clemson recruits. The university investigated, found two minor infractions, and banned Greene from the program.
A Clemson official said Greene was later reinstated only to be banned again.
Rodriguez was a Clemson assistant from 1999-2000.
Wes Few, an attorney working for Nexity Bank, which filed the $3.9 million lawsuit against Rodriguez, Greene and three other investors for allegedly defaulting on a real estate loan, said the Michigan coach is the primary target of the lawsuit.
Few said Rodriguez was "the financial strength behind the loan" and the bank expects to be repaid in full. Few said Rodriguez is not the victim of a Ponzi scheme, which was an allegation made by Mike Wilcox, Rodriguez's financial advisor.
"To me, a victim is someone who is out the money and who isn't going to be paid back," Few said. "My client is the victim. Someone that hasn't put a dime of his own money into something doesn't fit into the victim status."
Rodriguez and Wilcox are both scumbags. They're getting what they deserve.
Posted by: spreadoption | September 02, 2009 at 04:49 AM