BEND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon couple facing trial in federal court on charges of bilking real estate investors out of more than $4 million have asked a judge to consider returning their passports.
The Bulletin reports that former Bend Police Capt. Kevin Sawyer and his wife, former real estate broker Tami Sawyer, appeared in U.S. District Court in Eugene on Wednesday to make the request.
Last fall, the Sawyers were indicted on charges of money laundering, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud and false statement to a financial institution. They both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The indictment alleges that between January 2004 and January 2009 the couple used investor money to pay for personal property, leaving investors with a loss of more than $4.4 million.
