Deseret News | Reader comments: TV sports anchor pleads guilty, will testify in fraud

Reader comments
TV sports anchor pleads guilty, will testify in fraud

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Jim Platt | 5:23 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Welcome to Utah, the fraud capital of the world. It always amazes me when people have little money, they work harder to get more, when people have lots of money, they want more and are willing to compromise themselves in order to get it. No wonder Utahn's get caught up in this manipulating. After all, our new national motto is: " IN GREED WE TRUST ".

No sympathy here | 6:20 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

So are we to feel sorry that he lost money in an attempt to get-rich-quick through illegal activity?

bothered | 6:30 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

yeah! forget about real estate fraud, what about talent fraud.

Comments continue below

VICTIM? | 6:42 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

He is no victim. He knew exactly what was going on.

R.M. | 6:58 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

That is sad because Dave Fox is a super nice guy. I have always admired him. It does almost sound as if he was taking somewhat in this.

Rocko Meese | 7:53 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Representing to a lender plans to occupy a residence with an acutal intention of selling upon completion of construction or purchase is a lot more common than people think. Mr. Fox just happened to get caught. This type of think happens a lot.

Jay | 8:08 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Fox knows how to read. He knew the application that he signed said he intended to live in the home, and he knew he did not intend to live in the home. The only 'victimization' here is that he (and the others) got caught.

Happens a lot? | 8:27 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

That is sad, especially when there are a lot of hard working families out there, some two income families, just to have the American dream of owning a home.

ro | 8:32 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

These sounds like something Dave would do and then blame someone else after getting caught. It's no different than purchasing a second (winter) home in St George and declaring it your primary residency to avoid paying additional taxes or purchasing a second home in Nevada and declaring it your primary residency to avoid paying income tax, them claiming to be a victim once youï¿½re caught! Does Dave own homes in St George and Nevada that someone tricked him into buying? Has Dave really accepted full responsibility? Come on Dave.. ï¿½tell us the rest of the storyï¿½

Bill | 8:46 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

The communications fraud statute is a blank check for prosecutors and lenders to victimize individuals that may have breached a contract. When did strictly civil acts become criminal? We should all be concerned that our government has taken away general power from judges (sentencing guidelines) and given extensive power to prosecutors. If you examine the communications fraud statute, just about anything applies. Mr. Fox's actions should not be considered criminal.

Moessers | 8:50 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Murders. Drug dealers. MLM's in Utah conning old people out of their retirement. Oh, but one guy says he's going to live in a house that he doesn't... well let's just tie up the state's tax dollars on that one! I wonder if he watered the lawn on the property? I bet we could charge him with another crime if he didn't!

SomeGuy | 8:54 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

"He purchased a home, which he's responsible to make all the payments for, and he got no money out of it," said attorney Jim Bradshaw. "There are people who did make money off of this transaction, but the one who was stuck with the loss was Dave Fox."

LOL!!!! Nice stretch there! We're supposed to feel sorry for the dude?

L.V. | 8:58 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Iraq, immigration,energy, health,politicans celebrities, business, people are all the same,driven by one thing GREED:

Sports Fan | 9:04 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

I hope Dave doesn't lose his job. He is the only good sports caster in the state. To bad he made some bad choices, like all of us do.

Responses to Rocko & Bradshaw | 9:06 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

To Rocko Meese: You wrote that "this type of think (sic) happens a lot," which seems to suggest that Dave Fox ought to be excused for it. I hope that's not what you mean. If I read it wrong, I apologize for twisting your words.

I've seen more underhanded business dealings in Utah than anywhere else I've lived. That's ironic for a state where members of the dominant religion supposedly "believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous" and in "obeying, honoring and sustaining the law."

An earlier post suggested Utah seems to be our country's fraud capital. I agree. Greed reigns supreme here, and it's about time we held people -- even marginally famous folks like Dave Fox -- accountable.

To Jim Bradshaw (Fox's attorney): Cry me a river! Your client knew what he was signing; that's why he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. He tried to defraud the lender to make a quick buck and he got caught. If he loses a little money on the deal, it's a small price to pay. At least he's not going to jail. Using pathos to invoke public sympathy is going to backfire here, Mr. Bradshaw. Don't do it.

Andy | 9:24 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

I agree 100% with Bill. There is a LOT of this going on. It doesn't make it right for the borrower, but the lenders really set themselves up. All Dave Fox did was sign on a owner occupied loan to get .5% better rate. Is that criminal? As far as I'm concerned if he is still meeting all of his contractual terms ie making his payment then there shouldn't be a problem. He is the one stuck with the house and the payment.

SpiderPig | 9:25 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Fox was a victim in this. Someone probably convinced him that this wasn't illegal and it was done all the time. I consider myself smart and very pessimistic in money-making schemes and I could find myself listening to mortgage lenders, real estate agents, appraisers, etc. and trusting their expertise. True, he should have read the fine print and realized that he wasn't going to live in the house. I guess all Utahns need to follow the rule of money making schemes: "If it is too good to be true, then it probably isn't". Maybe we could get rid of MLMs for good in this state if people followed this. Good luck Dave and I hope you nail the people that took your for a ride.

M.J. | 9:25 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Cutie pie Fox. Don't worry he!s so smart he!ll be able to talk his way out of this embarassment,ha ha.Have you ever heard of what goes around comes around? This fits.

We all pay | 9:28 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

All Utah homebuyers pay higher mortgage rates due to our state's reputation/history on mortgage fraud. Nationwide Utah is a disgrace. Mortgage and loan fraud are federal crimes. Read the standard loan application form which all borrowers sign. Most lenders in the mortgage are trying to stomp out this type of fraud. We applaud the government agencies that are trying to make a difference. Stealing from a lender, embezzeling from a employer or robbing a bank....is there a difference? I think not.

ct | 9:32 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

This is all about greed. Trying to take advantage of others while being dishonest and knowing it. I don't care how "nice of a guy" Dave Fox is, he knew exactly what he was doing! Cheating others and being greedy. Let's stop accepting that type of life style!

Oldtimer | 9:35 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Have the channel 2 helicopter drop him into the big house at the point of the mountain, and see if those people have a cake for him.

MSP | 9:36 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

To those defending Fox, have you been keeping up with current events (i.e. the mortgate industry)? Foreclosures, for example, are up big time. Part of the reason why is because of this type of fraud (Fox was involved in a process which falsely inflated the prices of homes). Don't feel sorry for Fox -- he knew what he was doing. He plead guilty, for crying out loud.

Jimmy Giles | 9:41 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Dave Fox should be fired from his job. He should
go to jail. I bought a house several years ago
at an inflated price due to some dishonest crook
like Fox. I did lose a lot of money on this deal
so its nice to see guys like this get caught. Mr.
Fox should be a role model for the community not a crook and
he is smart enought to know this was wrong.cmon
Bradshaw

Looking over shoulder | 9:41 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Mr. Fox may and may not lose his job...most likely not. While listening to a competiting sports station this morning most callers stated his actions should/would not hurt his status as a sportcaster. Other involved in these real estate flipping scams such as mortgage officers, appraisers and real estate agents need to worry. Their licenses are in jeopardy. Lose the license lose the career. To all those involved in these scams I would be looking over my shoulder.

Fraud is fraud | 9:47 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Fraud is fraud, poor David wants us to believe he didnï¿½t know what he was doing but had he gotten away with it heï¿½d probably still be doing it. Itï¿½s the same as buying a second home in St George and claiming it your primary residency to avoid paying higher taxes or a second home in Nevada and claiming itï¿½s your primary residency to avoid income tax. Stop playing the victim role, itï¿½s not going to fly. Call it GREED and weï¿½ll forgive you, call yourself a victim and youï¿½ll be laughed at.

Fraud capitol? | 9:56 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

IS Utah really the fraud capitol of the country? Having lived in many other states and seen lots of business dishonesty, I've always wondered. Or is it that when it occurs, we are surprised, since many in Utah subscribe to the "honest, true, chase, benevolent" belief system. Since so many do, is it also possible that they expect those they deal with to be honest and are a bit more gullible and fall for things others might be more suspicious of?
There is tremendous fraud in the housing and mortgage industry everywhere--what do you call so many of the sub-prime loan problems that are surfacing? Or what about the medical industry, where hospitals and doctors inflate their charges 4 times in order to get re-imbursed by government and insurance companies for what they want to be paid. That leaves the uninsured paying 4 times the price that the insured do for the same services. Then they offer to settle with the uninsured for ONLY twice what others pay. I call that dishonest, too.
Which has nothing to do with the case at hand--which probably wouldn't even have made the news in my state.

Greed? | 10:08 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

For all of those who blame this on Greed, or that think that causes all the ills of society. Please give me your paycheck..otherwise you are being greedy. Please let your children not compete in thier sports, you need to let the others win, and if you don't you are being greedy. etc.. Need I go on? Before you complain about 'Greed', become a homeless bum, because otherwise you are just as greedy as everyone else.

Brain Dead | 10:11 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

I love all these people that write: "He knew exactly what he was doing!. Really? Are you all somre sort of magical mind readers? I don't know if he did or not but the State investigater even said right in the article that Fox, Atkin and others did not know of the scheme. All of you brilliant sevants who claim "he knew what he was doing" lets climb on a bus to Wendover and pick the winning numbers on the roulet wheel.

N. Ethics | 10:10 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Derrrrrrr!!! He may have been duped somewhat, but come on. Just a guess, but he probably knew what he was doing to some extent. Putting myself in his shoes, I would have known what I was doing. We all have to be responsible for our own actions. Blaming others for our own actions is weak. It doesn't matter what you do on Sunday if you conduct yourself with a lack of ethics Monday through Saturday.

The REAL problem | 10:11 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Besides the fact that Fox is a snob, everyone is missing the issue. Why should any of us be penalized by trying to buy either one house, or two houses or 50 houses? The tax and interest laws are the problem, not the Dave Fox's of the world. Blame the government, not those who want to use thier OWN money for thier OWN purposes.

Gil | 10:18 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

I believe that the question was whether Utah is the fraud capital of the nation. As a professional salesman, I've heard that for years. Most of the fraud is "white collar". Most of the blame has been directed at returned missionaries who've recieved the finest sales training in the world to sell one of the most difficult products, the gospel. Is there a connection? I don't know of any real study that has taken place, or why anyone would spend the time and effort to find that out. I stongly suspect that it's mostly rumor with very little basis. But again, who knows.....

GREED | 10:20 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Don't be too quick to jugde, eveyone has their price. Some may hold out longer but eveyone will cave at a some point.

Pay your debt to society Dave and lets move on.

jethro | 10:26 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

REAL problem:

he's not accused of buying too many houses - he's accused to loan fraud.

but blame the gubmint if you want.

SportsGirl | 10:34 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

As a female listener who heard the morning show on 1280 talk about this, I agreed most with the comment that Dave should be prosecuted more for talent fraud than mortgage fraud. I'm "only" a woman and can see through that. We are the cops?

Bill G | 10:35 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Quick --- Someone call Get Gephardt about this!!!!!

MEB | 10:52 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Utah is the fraud capital of the world?? I guess you've never hear of a little town called New Orleans!

MP | 10:53 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

I've never been a Fox fan. Can't seem to get past his arrogance when I watch him do Sports. But it's a good reminder to all of us that just because "everyone is doing it" doesn't make it right.

Abe | 11:07 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Leave foxy alone... he was just making a quick buck. There are bigger problems in the world today. Come on.

Back off | 11:10 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Geeze, you people hungry for a good old fashioned electronic lynching, or what?

We all make mistakes. Let the judicial system handle this. That's what IT is there for. This does not affect his ability to do his job. As long as he makes it right with the legal system he should not lose his right to make a living. And quit the personal attacks. They do nothing positive here. If your name was in the paper, how many people out there would be taking cheap shots at you.

I don't dislike or like Dave Fox. I just don't see this as the way to treat someone else.

You without any sin cast the first stone.

Abe | 11:20 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Leave foxy alone... he was just making a quick buck. There are bigger problems in the world today. Come on.

Jethro | 11:28 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

How can there be any 'fraud' if the government didn't make the laws that outlines what fraud is? The LAW states that you get a certian % for your primary residence, and you have to pay more if it is not. How is that not related to the government?

jazzman | 11:31 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Out the door with FOX, AK47,& Sloan. Pampered people make me sick. I!m losing my interest in all sports and government,and business phonies

Sports world | 11:33 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Itï¿½s like recruiting illegally, you break the rules to improve yourself financially (better record) then claim you didnï¿½t read the fine print about gifts and recruiting visits. Try blaming that on the AD. Letï¿½s check the Sting roster and see if there are any illegal pick ups or if they are athletes that were developed, rather than recruited. Dave knows how important rules are in the SPORTS, why should we believe he doesnï¿½t believe rules are important in the in the real world? Rat your friends off and feel good about thatï¿½ he wouldnï¿½t last long in the drug and gambling infested MLB, NBA or NFL by turning in his friends.

i'd bet... | 11:45 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Just about everyone calling for Fox's head and job could be prosecuted for "something" in this great land of ours. Just be grateful you're not the one in the hot seat.

If you REALLY have done nothing wrong or something in the gray area...by all means, have at it...

Sure is quiet all the sudden!!!!!!!!!! All these people balking makes me sick!!!!!

Eclipse | 11:47 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

Lets focus on something else... I know daves daughter and thats a good family. I am sure he is embarrased about what has taken place. But come on people!

Comment Nazi's busy today.. | 11:50 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

This comment will probably not show up because someone sitting at a desk in the Deseret News building is frustrated by thier position in life and the only thing that gives them any satisfaction is to delete 'offensive' comments...or at least the comments that make the most sense.

T3 | 11:55 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

The problem is not the quick buck, and the issue is not with the lender, the issue here lies squarely with Mr. Fox. When he signed, under oath of perjury, that he was to "occupy the house within 60 days of closing" as his primary residence, he knew he was not planning on doing so. He lied, he committed mortgage fraud. The reason for having both state and federal mortgage laws are to prevent this from happening. I like Dave Fox the sportcaster, and I hope the feds also prosecute Dave Fox the criminal.

Trout-P | 11:59 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007

For Jim Platt, hey the Greed you mentioned , we have that as our motto here in St. Greed, Southern Utah
This is the Greediest little place you can imagine. Everyone here, including the Church tries to make a buck off of someone else at their expense. If the Feds came down here, especially a year ago, they would have rounded up so many like Fox! In case you haven't heard the guise of a company called ingenuity is doing the same things down here to people. Someday they will get their due. Once again that is INGENUITY....check those guy out and see if that isn't GREED to the Max!
Have a good day neighbors, and while your at it, hand over your money to me so I can live in ST. GREED!

boonestone | 12:05 p.m. Sept. 27, 2007

I live in the same neighborhood as Fox. Two years ago his next door neighbor had to have a survey done because Fox had built a fence taking about ten feet of his property. Public record. boonestone

Laytonian | 12:08 p.m. Sept. 27, 2007

You don't plead guilty UNLESS there are more severe charges that were bargained down.

I'm not surprised at charges against Fox. A friend was his neighbor (and I don't need to say more except "hubris" and an "I'm on TV and you're not" attitude).

He pleaded guilty and has to testify against the others involved in this scheme.

These things don't happen in a vacuum; a supposedly-"good" guy doesn't suddenly lie to make more money.

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