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Could Vorce's sentence be reduced?
US Attorney's Office files motion Thursday asking
Updated: Thursday, 22 Oct 2009, 9:50 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 22 Oct 2009, 9:50 PM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The U.S. Attorneys Office in Grand Rapids filed a motion Thursday afternoon to have Michael Vorce's sentence reduced when he appears in court next week.
Vorce, of Grand Rapids, is a West Michigan yacht broker accused in a $27 million fraud case.
The U.S. Attorney cites Vorce's sworn testimony against two former business associates who may have falsified documents to entice investors into putting their money into business ventures. That appears to violate wire fraud statutes, according to the motion.
Vorce also testified in a Wisconsin homicide case, helping the prosecutor to convict a defendant, according to documents. In a sentencing memo filed by Vorce's attorney, Larry Willey, his involvement in the homicide case is outlined: "Mr. Vorce cooperated in a first-degree murder case in Milwaukee County, involving a very ugly homicide of a 21-year-old woman.
"The defendant was Calvin Pirtle, who appears to be a sociopath. While he was in Milwaukee County Jail, Mr. Vorce shared a cell with Mr. Pirtle, and Mr. Pirtle, on almost a daily basis, bragged to Mr. Vorce about this homicide and other similar crimes he had committed. Mr. Vorce volunteered this information on his own to the police while he still was incarcerated in Milwaukee. The police had no way of knowing of these confessions except by Mr. Vorce telling them. The other inmates hearing Mr. Pirtle's statements remained silent, understanding the stigma and danger of cooperation."
Vorce also cooperated with other government agencies and the banks that were victims of his fraud, according to the sentencing memo.
Vorce has agreed to forfeit his assets to the government and has transferred all that he owns to the banks, the memo states.
Financially, Vorce has nothing. His wife is working, going to school and taking care of their son. She is helped by some public assistance.
His next court date is Oct. 29.