Comments about ‘Former LDS bishop charged in Southwick's Ponzi deal’

Who's Zions Patsy?

I have to wonder- how would this have been headlined if it had been a Jewish rabbi or a Methodist minister. Or an atheist. Why not list how many children this person has or if he had graduated from an accredited school.

It doesn't look good, but the constitution still guarantees due process under the law.

He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Until then, any judgmental comments about this person are in fact prejudiced... pre-judging.

The one thing we can comment on with confidence is giving our sympathies to those who were ripped off.

I hate it when people take advantage of others with lies.

Yes, unfortunately this kind of thing happens with those called to positions of leadership and trust.

Brigham Young said, If the Lord ever revealed anything to me, he has shown me that the Elders of Israel must let speculation alone and attend to the duties of their calling. (Journal of Discourses, 8:179.)

How typical, "he didn't do anything wrong" while operating his business in two states illegally.

The reason his religion is mentioned is because he used it to gain trust of his congregation.

He must have been singing, "We thank thee O God for a P-R-O-F-I-T" in church. I think many in our congregations sing that tune. Especially all the MLM and "passive income" preachers. "It is not given that one man should possess that which is above another...wherefore the world lieth in sin."

I personally know Bill Hammons to be an honest and decent person. Let's not jump to conclusions and judge him based on media reports. Every story has a least two sides; please let Bill tell his side in a court of law.

with SG Neighbor. To assume guilt before due process of law is wrong. Not to mention hypocritical. And there are always two sides. It is possible his only crime was trusting the wrong people. Even if he was truly operating illegally, those who point their fingers and cry sinner the loudest are usually guilty of the same or worse. So instead of trashing him, look at yourself. That you have power to do something about.

I understand the need for restraint in judgment of Mr. Hammons. And he needs due process under the law. At the same time you cannot be so naive so as to think he, as your neighbor, is unable to rip others off with a smile on his face and a book of Mormon in his hand. I don't pretend to know anything about him, but I am 100% skeptical of anyone using any level of religious or other "high standards" group affiliation to lure people into places of ill-repute... of any kind. Honest and decent as a neighbor doesn't cut it when your dealing with other people's rice bowls. It is a fact that he was not licensed, and yet had built up enough wealth to make his own 1.4 million dollar investment into a company to which there was, obviously, no serious accountability as to how investors money was used. I suggest Mr. Hammons was too enamored with his own wealth creation to care exactly what Mr. Southwick was doing with all those millions. Until recently, the checks didn't bounce.

Bill was my Bishop. My friend invested with him. My friend was very happy with the investment and told me Bill was investing in property and insisted that anyone investing with him would have to own their home free and clear. I thought that was a great prerequisite. My friend told me the investment was paying a very nice, steady return, in the teens, and recommended it to me.

My paternal grandfather died from an accident when my dad was only about 10, back in the 40's. This left my grandmother alone to care for three small children, my dad being the oldest. She did receive some kind of life insurance settlement. Her bishop convinced her to invest this money with his investment company, and assured her that it would garner her a nice yearly return just on the interest. Well, you know where I'm going. He lost 100% of the money. This left my grandmother to struggle, seriously struggle to raise her family on a single income back when women got paid a lot less than men. The amazing thing is that she never left the Church over this, and as far as I know found a way to live peaceably with this huge injustice.

LValley neighbor: are you saying that Bill was forthright with your friend? You almost sound as if this whole deal when bad naturally... with the economic downturn. This was a PONZI scheme! But, maybe Bill was an truly ignorant. Time will probably tell...

Why does this story remind me of the failed banks like Washington Mutual?

I have had personal experience in lending Bill Hammons money and he paid it back exactly as agreed. We did a rather large business deal on a handshake, and Bill performed his part just like he said that he was going to.

Due process has a wonderful way of sorting out the truth. Let's give Bill his day in court and not make judgments based on allegations or media reports.

I personally knew Bill and his wife and have traveled with them on several occasions. I am deeply saddened that he is mixed up in this. Lets not judge to harshly until we get the whole story. I don't think Bill would personally want to financially hurt anyone. He has given me good investing advise. I know he is a good person, father, husband and friend.
My prayers are with all those suffering.

It's easy to convict someone before the facts are known when people are looking for blood. It's a good thing we have a sound court system that allows us our day in court to examine the facts. I've known Bill for over 40 years and I can easily say that he would not have done anything illegal or knowingly taken money from people. RHM

HE SHOULD GO TO PRISON FOR A LONG TIME, HE WAS A BISHOP OF THE LDS CHURCH AND USED HIS MEMBERS TO GET MONEY FOR VAL SOUTHWICKS' VESCOR.