Day Before Sentencing, Scott Wrote Victims Asking For Leniency

BERLIN — One day before being convicted on theft charges and sentenced to 10 years in jail, Bill Scott, who absconded with hundreds of thousands of dollars from several condominium associations, made an 11th hour appeal to his victims to intercede on his behalf.

On Tuesday, Scott was found guilty of two counts of theft scheme over $100,000 and one count of theft scheme from $10,000 to $100,000 and was sentenced to a net 10 years in jail. On Monday, however, Scott appealed to his victims to ask the court to consider allowing him to accept a job offer.

“The purpose of this letter is to inform you that I have taken numerous steps to try to repair my life and, moreover, to make up for any wrongs that have been done,” Scott’s email to representatives of the various condo associations he victimized reads. “I have obtained an offer of employment with a company in Baltimore and if I were to accept this offer, would be able to generate a good salary allowing for restitution to your association over a number of years.”

In the email, Scott told his victims he had made a last-minute appeal to prosecutors to allow him to take the position and avoid jail time.

“I recently explained this situation to the State’s Attorney,” he wrote. “My hope was that an agreement could be reached which would allow me to pursue this employment without being jailed, a punishment which is not unusual in this type of situation for someone with no criminal history.”

Scott attempted to appeal to his victims’ financial interest rather than any zeal for punishment.

“My sincerest hope is that you will receive this letter, give thought to my present circumstance and allow me the opportunity to make restitution to your association,” the email reads. “I really feel as though this may be my only opportunity to repair the damage that was done. If I have to spend time in a detention center, I am confident in the fact that I will never again be able to obtain an employment offer like I now have.”

Finally, Scott urged his victims to intercede on his behalf at proceedings scheduled for the next day.

“If you find it in your hearts and in your best financial interest to allow me to do this, I would ask that you please contact the State’s Attorney or speak up at the sentencing hearing tomorrow and ask them to allow me this opportunity,” the email reads.

The controversial email was broached during Scott’s sentencing phase on Tuesday, drawing the ire of Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Rakow.

“I don’t believe he’s interested in making restitution. He just doesn’t think he deserves to go to jail. Frankly, I’m infuriated the victims were subject to this last-minute appeal for leniency. They know as well as I do they’ll never see a dime of this money,” Rakow said.