The Bloomington man who once owned Eagle Pointe Golf Course – before filing for bankruptcy and losing it - has been sentenced to more than four years in prison, and nearly $700,000 in fines in restitution for a fraud scheme in Minnesota.
READ MORE: Company That Owns Eagle Pointe Golf Resort Files For Bankruptcy
According to a release by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, Douglas Ray Thomas entered into a stock purchase agreement with the former owners of Northwoods Trucking of Duluth, in October 2013.
In the agreement, he agreed to purchase all outstanding shares of the company for $730,000 and make an initial payment within five days of its finalization.
Thomas failed to make the initial payment, as well as follow-ups that were part the agreement.
Despite failing to make payments, he assumed control of the company December 2013.
The release says that shortly after gaining control of the company, he started transferring the company’s revenue into an independent account he controlled.
The release says during Thomas’ time operating the company, he failed to pay many of its expenses such as truck insurance, payroll to employees, fuel, and others.
He used company expenses to pay for personal expanses like housing, furniture, and family vacation.
According to the Minnesota District Attorney, the scheme amounted to a total loss of $730,000 and over $57,000 in taxes that he failed to pay to the IRS.
Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of failing to account for and pay over employment taxes on May 17, 2019.
Meanwhile, the homeowners association representing Eagle Pointe residents, Pointe Service Association, purchased the Eagle Pointe Golf Course at an auction in April 2018 after Thomas lost it.
