Saucy Bathtub Photo Sparks Drama in High-Stakes Fraud Trial of Glamorous Ex-News Anchor
SCANDAL ROCKS THE NATION: EX-ABC ANCHOR STEPHANIE HOCKRIDGE-REIS ON TRIAL FOR WIRE FRAUD
The wheels of justice are turning for former ABC anchor Stephanie Hockridge-Reis, who is currently facing trial at District Court in Fort Worth, Texas. The glamorous TV personality has been accused of working with her husband, Nathan Reis, to fraudulently claim government funds during the Covid pandemic by submitting false applications for Payment Protection Program loans.
The stunning evidence expected at the trial includes a photo of Hockridge-Reis holding stacks of cash to her ears in a bathtub - a tantalizing glimpse into the lavish lifestyle she allegedly enjoyed with her husband. But that's not all; prosecutors have also filed pictures of stacks of $100 bills, a Rolex watch, and text messages labeling Hockridge-Reis as "the MVP" - a jaw-dropping peek into their opulent world.
The trial got underway on Monday, with a superseding indictment alleging the couple fabricated documents, including payroll records, tax documents, and bank statements. The prosecution claims that Hockridge-Reis and Reis founded Blueacorn in April 2020 after she left her post at ABC affiliate Channel 15 KNXV-TV, where she spent seven years as an anchor.
The couple's company was supposed to help small businesses and individuals obtain PPP loans during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, prosecutors claim that instead of assisting these struggling entrepreneurs, Hockridge-Reis and Reis recruited people to work as referral agents who coached borrowers on how to submit false loan applications.
According to the indictment, the couple charged their clients with illegal fees based on a percentage of the funds received - a shocking example of their greed. The new indictment also accuses them of charging banks a "kickback" based on the percentage of loans that were funded.
The evidence against Hockridge-Reis and Reis is mounting, with prosecutors claiming that they received loans totaling over $145,000 by falsely stating that they had employees. In another application, they allegedly claimed to have an Amazon business earning over $100,000, with prosecutors saying they received more than $20,000 in that loan.
The indictment alleges that the couple and their coconspirators "knowingly devised and intended to devise" a scheme to defraud by obtaining money and property through materially false and fraudulent pretenses. The prosecution claims that Hockridge-Reis described the PPP as "$100 billion dollars of free money," further highlighting her alleged lack of ethics.
The trial has taken an interesting turn with the revelation that Eric Karnezis, one of the brothers who pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiring to commit wire fraud, agreed to pay between $25 million and $65 million in restitution to victims. Anthony Karnezis, his brother, agreed to pay between $3.5 million and $9.5 million.
Hockridge-Reis and Reis have both pleaded not guilty to all five charges, with the potential for up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted. Reis's trial is scheduled for August, leaving many wondering what other shocking secrets will be revealed during these trials.
Stay tuned to The Scholarly Note (thescholarlynote.com) for further updates on this developing story!