Getting a Fair Shake

April 14, 2009


A Cape Coral man is seeking to change his plea in a $30 million mortgage fraud case, one day before sentencing. His new attorney said his previous attorney was incompetent in regards to his type of case, but was not allowed to withdraw.

Ronald Luczak pleaded guilty to running a mortgage fraud scheme with his wife, Lisa Luczak, out of Cape Coral Equity and Development Group, Inc. His prior attorney reportedly convinced him to plead guilty and he would only serve 6 to 10 years for the crime, although his new attorney believes he should go to trial. Luczak's wife, Lisa, also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. She claims her husband was abusive and she committed the crime under duress, fearing she would be physically hurt by her husband if she did not do what he told her to do.

Other co-defendants also pleaded guilty; Cape Coral police officer Nelson Alex Gonzalo and Sandra Mainardi, the fifth co-defendant, Patricia Martin, was found dead in her Bonita Springs home in March 2007.

Read story at News-Press.com