Man Accused of Stealing $7M from Elderly Homeowners Pleads Not Guilty

A Chicago businessman pleads not guilty in federal court to charges he stole $7 million from elderly homeowners in a reverse mortgage scheme.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Federal prosecutors say 60-year-old Mark Diamond worked with co-conspirators to pocket loan money that lenders gave homeowners who either didn't sign up for the loans or did sign up after Diamond misrepresented the terms.

Diamond was arraigned Thursday on seven counts of wire fraud. The indictment seeks a forfeiture of $7 million from him.

An alleged co-conspirator, 47-year-old Cynthia Wallace, faces additional charges.

In other news in Chicago tonight

The Illinois State Board of Education is implementing new guidelines for school districts to prepare students for life after secondary school.

The Postsecondary and Career Expectations framework outlines what students should know and actions they should take from middle school through 12th grade.

For example, by the end of eighth grade, students should have attended a career exploration day and be exposed to a financial literacy workshop or course. By the end of 11th grade, they should have participated in a mock job interview and know entrance requirements and deadlines for post-secondary study.

The State Board of Education says districts are not required to adopt the guidelines, they're intended to be used by communities to organize post-secondary planning and supports.

A federal appeal court rules one of the defendants in the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” should be released from prison.

The three-judge Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals panel in Chicago ruled Brendan Dassey's confession was coerced.

Dassey suffers from cognitive problems and was 16 years old in 2005 when he told detectives he helped his uncle Steven Avery rape and kill photographer Teresa Halbach in Wisconsin.

He was sentenced to life in prison two years later.

Thursday's decision affirms a lower court's ruling and means Dassey should be released from prison unless the state of Wisconsin chooses to retry him or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

It may have been a little hot for outdoor ice hockey, but a few future players still took a swing at the game ahead of the NHL Draft, which starts Friday at the United  Center.

As part of the Fan Fest, happening outside United Center, some of the game's top prospects coached a few smaller players from the Little Blackhawks Learn to Play program.

The kids also got a little help Blackhawks icon Denis Savard and former player and Blackhawks ambassador Jamal Mayers.


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors