Updated 4:15 p.m. Oct. 7, 2014
A former U.S. Navy SEAL told a judge Tuesday that he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea to stealing more than $1 million from 11 active and retired SEALs and a family friend in an investment scam.
Jason Matthew Mullaney, 42, pleaded guilty last month to grand theft and other charges. He faces anywhere between six years and eight months to 12 years and eight months in state prison.
Judge Frederick Maguire told the defendant today that an attorney would be appointed to look into the viability of the withdrawal motion. The judge set a further hearing for Nov. 3.
At an earlier hearing, Deputy District Attorney Hector Jimenez said Mullaney got SEALs and the family friend to invest in his money-lending business.
The prosecutor said the defendant used his SEAL status to get others to invest in Trident Financial Holdings and Acquisitions, then transferred the money into his personal bank accounts for his own use.
“The SEALs thought they were investing money, but in reality, Mr. Mullaney was simply spending their money for his own purposes,” Jimenez said at a previous hearing. “They lost all their money.”
—City News Service