William J. McCorkle
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William Joseph McCorkle (b. 1966 in San Antonio, Texas) is an American businessman, former real estate guru and former owner of William McCorkle Seminars. In the 1990s he and his wife Chantal created a number of late-night television infomercials, selling materials which purported to teach people how to make money buying foreclosed real estate properties. McCorkle and his wife Chantal are currently serving prison time after being convicted on multiple counts of fraud.
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[edit] History
McCorkle, born William Joseph Gonzalez, later took the last name of a stepfather.[1] He worked in a number of jobs, including busing tables and exotic dancing,[2] before turning to real estate as a career.
[edit] Infomercials
In his infomercials, McCorkle represented himself as having made millions of dollars from the "real estate secrets" he was selling. The infomercials showed McCorkle and his wife in expensive homes, luxury cars and helicopters bearing his name--all of which had been leased for the infomercials. Others who appeared in the infomercials, affirming that the McCorkle Seminars had made them rich, were paid actors.[3] Although the McCorkles lived in Orlando, Florida, they transferred most of the money they made to a bank account in the Cayman Islands. He attended Bishop Moore High School in Orlando Florida graduating in 1984.
[edit] Trial and conviction
William and Chantal McCorkle were charged in a multi-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, laundering money, using fraudulently obtained credit cards, and using a false Social Security number. They were represented in court by F. Lee Bailey. Following a two-month jury trial, both McCorkles were convicted and sentenced to prison time.[3] McCorkle reportedly collapsed when the jury pronounced him guilty, and had to be taken to the hospital.[4]
The McCorkles were each originally sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison under mandatory sentencing laws, but after two appeals, their sentences were reduced on March 14, 2006 to 18 years.[5] Following their conviction and incarceration, Chantal McCorkle divorced her husband. William McCorkle has since transferred to a low-security "camp" prison in preparation for release. His Federal Prison register number is 23034-018 and his sentence expires on July 7, 2014.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Leusner, Jim. "McCorkle's Life Story: Inspiration or Bunk?" Orlando Sentinel, September 4, 1998, p. B6.
- ^ "National News Briefs; Get-Rich-Quick Promoter To Stand Trial for Fraud." The New York Times, September 1, 1998.
- ^ a b Decision in United States v. William McCorkle, et. al.
- ^ The Associated Press. "Infomercial King Guilty: collapses as sentence is read." November 4, 1998.
- ^ "Judge cuts couple's jail term." Orlando Sentinel, March 25, 2006. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
