A Twin Cities serial swindler has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison in connection to defrauding several local motor sports businesses out of over $230,000 through fraudulent check purchases and local homeowners out of nearly $1 million in unfulfilled construction contracts.
Richard Patrick Wooton, 55, pleaded guilty in two cases last month to two counts of theft by swindle, and under the terms of a plea agreement admitted to being a career criminal. Each of the two cases was comprised of several separate incidents in which Wooton defrauded businesses or homeowners.
The case involving the motor sports businesses detailed 13 incidents between May and October 2023 in which Wooton purchased motor sports vehicles and equipment from 12 businesses across the metro in the cities of Shakopee, Willmar, Columbus, Burnsville, Vadnais Heights, Wyoming, Rogers, Forest Lake, Chisago City, Hugo, East Bethel, and Eden Prairie.
In each case, Wooton presented checks to the businesses for the various purchases that ranged from about $5,400 in a couple of the cases to over $48,000 in one case and nearly everything in between. The total loss to the businesses was $232,204.
The case involving the construction cases listed 35 individuals across the metro who had given Wooton down payments for projects, some of which were never started. The loss to homeowners was $849,734. Additionally, the construction complaint listed several materials supply vendors which were owed over $481,203 related to unpaid invoices.
Wooton was sentenced on Friday in an upward departure from sentencing guidelines in Hennepin County District Court to 150 months by Judge Matthew Frank. Wooton has been incarcerated since November 2023 on a prior conviction and will receive credit for up to 537 days of time already served in prison. A restitution plan will be worked out between the prosecution and Wooton’s defense. Under Minnesota law, Wooton will only be required to serve two-thirds or less of his sentence incarcerated before becoming eligible for supervised release.
Wooton’s numerous prior convictions include over 25 felonies including burglaries, swindle, forgeries, receiving stolen property, thefts by check, vehicle theft, non-payment for improvements, and other thefts.
At sentencing, Wooton’s attorney referenced prior life trauma and events he experienced, which she claimed contributed to Wooton’s criminal lifestyle. In a statement during sentencing, Wooton told the court that he intends to make changes and turn his life around and plans to work to pay back restitution to the impacted victims.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
