Nothing like dropping a million to help a crook.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Glen Sather, the president and general manager of the New York Rangers, posted US$1 million bail for Peter Pocklington in a California courtroom Friday.
Thom Mrozek, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said Pocklington would be released from custody sometime Friday evening.
"He's getting out on bond," said Mrozek. "This guy posted it for him, named Glen Sather."
Mrozek said there are conditions attached.
"He'll be subject to home detention, which is sometimes called house arrest, and he'll be subject to electronic monitoring. They put some sort of device on you, some bracelet or something to make sure you don't leave, essentially."
Mrozek said he wasn't sure if Pocklington was ordered to surrender his passport but thought it was very likely.
The former owner of the Edmonton Oilers is scheduled for trial May 5 on two charges of bankruptcy fraud.
Sather was the head coach of the Oilers while Pocklington owned the team.
Pocklington's California tax lawyer has said that his client is an innocent victim or a crusade against corporate crime.
"I can't believe what's been done to him -- it's just crazy," Michael Lusby said Thursday. "The political climate in this country is such that you can indict a ham sandwich."
Pocklington, 67, had been in custody since Wednesday, when FBI agents arrested him at his condo in nearby Palm Desert. He was hauled into court in shackles and pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Pocklington, who is originally from London, Ont., only has Canadian citizenship and is not a U.S. citizen.
If convicted, he would face a maximum 10-year sentence in federal prison.
Pocklington filed for bankruptcy in California last August, claiming debts of almost US$20 million against cash-in-hand assets of US$2,900, including trophies, pictures, clothing, a watch and golf clubs.
Investigators said the wide disparity between those two figures prompted the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney's office alleges Pocklington lied under oath in bankruptcy proceedings when he knowingly failed to report that he had recently handed over art work, a rug and a desk -- worth a combined US$80,000 -- from a storage locker to a creditor to help settle a debt.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/03/13/sather_pocklington/
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Glen Sather, the president and general manager of the New York Rangers, posted US$1 million bail for Peter Pocklington in a California courtroom Friday.
Thom Mrozek, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said Pocklington would be released from custody sometime Friday evening.
"He's getting out on bond," said Mrozek. "This guy posted it for him, named Glen Sather."
Mrozek said there are conditions attached.
"He'll be subject to home detention, which is sometimes called house arrest, and he'll be subject to electronic monitoring. They put some sort of device on you, some bracelet or something to make sure you don't leave, essentially."
Mrozek said he wasn't sure if Pocklington was ordered to surrender his passport but thought it was very likely.
The former owner of the Edmonton Oilers is scheduled for trial May 5 on two charges of bankruptcy fraud.
Sather was the head coach of the Oilers while Pocklington owned the team.
Pocklington's California tax lawyer has said that his client is an innocent victim or a crusade against corporate crime.
"I can't believe what's been done to him -- it's just crazy," Michael Lusby said Thursday. "The political climate in this country is such that you can indict a ham sandwich."
Pocklington, 67, had been in custody since Wednesday, when FBI agents arrested him at his condo in nearby Palm Desert. He was hauled into court in shackles and pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Pocklington, who is originally from London, Ont., only has Canadian citizenship and is not a U.S. citizen.
If convicted, he would face a maximum 10-year sentence in federal prison.
Pocklington filed for bankruptcy in California last August, claiming debts of almost US$20 million against cash-in-hand assets of US$2,900, including trophies, pictures, clothing, a watch and golf clubs.
Investigators said the wide disparity between those two figures prompted the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney's office alleges Pocklington lied under oath in bankruptcy proceedings when he knowingly failed to report that he had recently handed over art work, a rug and a desk -- worth a combined US$80,000 -- from a storage locker to a creditor to help settle a debt.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/03/13/sather_pocklington/
