SHREVEPORT, La. – For the first time in the eight years since local victims were defrauded in a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, the man behind the plan said, “I am truly sorry.”
But that did little to comfort those victims, many of whom filled the federal courthouse Tuesday morning to see David deBerardinis, 60, of Shreveport, sentenced to prison for his crime. Six of his victims gave impact statements, explaining to the court how deBerardinis’ scheme has affected their lives. Two even turned to directly face DeBerardinis. He made eye contact with them but showed no response to their comments.
“You took our dreams away,” said Leah Muslow as she cried with her husband, Todd Muslow, at her side.
The one request of many of the victims was for U.S. Judge Maurice Hicks Jr. to immediately remand deBerardinis into custody, saying he had been free long enough. Hicks, however, while recognizing deBerardinis’ “extremely sophisticated” scheme, told deBerardinis to report to the Bureau of Prisons on Feb. 16 and called it a “gift of time.”
Hicks sentenced deBerardinis’ to 15 years. The sentence was no secret, having been decided in August in a plea agreement with the government.
Restitution to deBerardinis’ victims is mandated. But exactly how much that will be is still being determined.
The loss calculation range included in the…
