A court hearing over the bail terms for Sonoma businessman Ken Mattson, who is accused of running a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme, grew heated yesterday in San Francisco.
Per the Press Democrat, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse threatened to remand Mattson back into federal custody during a debate over the value of a property offered as part of his criminal bond. This prompted clapping and vocal support from a gallery filled with alleged victims of Mattson’s ventures, who were quickly admonished by the judge.
Ultimately, Mattson was ordered to place the $2 million-equity home into the $4 million bond agreement, a move investors have pushed for.
Mattson has pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. The judge declined to hear statements from the alleged victims, stating they were not relevant to the legal bail issues at hand.
