2 ex-members of Westhaven Group granted early release

Defendants Scot Ulmer, left, and Roger Morr received early release from prison during a hearing Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Two members of the former Westhaven Group, each sentenced to four-year prison terms for defrauding hundreds of real estate investors, were granted early release Monday.

Scot Ulmer and Roger Morr appeared in Lucas County Common Pleas Court with their attorneys who noted that on March 24, the men each had served at least half of their sentences behind bars.

Noting the plea agreement in which the prosecutor’s office vowed not to oppose early release after they served at least half their sentences, Judge Stacy Cook granted release and ordered each of the men to serve five years on community control. Included in Ulmer’s probation sentence was 90 days in work release.

Ulmer and Morr were among four Westhaven officials who entered pleas in February, 2009, on multiple charges of securities fraud and making false statements.

Also convicted was Ulmer’s father, Westhaven founder John Ulmer, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Anthony Garzony, a former Westhaven president, who was ordered to serve five years of community control and to make $20,000 in restitution.

The Ulmers were ordered to pay more than $15 million in restitution. Morr was ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution.

The few investors who attended the hearing chose not to speak in court.