GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A De Pere businessman is pleading not guilty to federal bank fraud conspiracy charges.
Ron Van Den Heuvel appeared in federal court on Friday.
“There are a number of factors of Mr. Van Den Heuvel that give the government pause,” said the U.S. Attorney during the hearing, according to FOX 11.
The attorney went on to say Van Den Heuvel claimed his net worth to be more than $700 million but after further review, the court found he only had around $682 in his bank account.
The judge ordered Ron Van Den Heuvel to pay a property bond of $300,000. The court says Van Den Heuvel owned his home but the defense disagreed and told the judge he does not own the home.
The judge noted both sides will have until May 16 to come to an agreement on bond.
But Van Den Heuvel isn’t alone. His wife and their loan officer were also charged in the case, which accused them of owing more than $1 million in loans.
Van Den Heuvel’s wife, Kelly and their loan officer Paul Piikkila also pleaded not guilty Friday.
The federal indictment alleges that Paul Piikkila, a loan officer at Horicon Bank in Appleton, approved a series of loans totaling more than $1 million. It says Horicon Bank had told Piikkila not to loan any money to Van Den Heuvel, so none of the loans mentioned in the indictment were written to him by name.
Van Den Heuvel’s and Piikkila did not comment after court. A trial date was set for July 11.
If convicted Van Den Heuvel could face a maximum penalty of 365 years and Kelly could face up to 65 years behind bars. Piikkila could face up to 5 years if convicted.
Search warrants indicate Van Den Heuvel also defrauded the state’s economic development agency.
Van Den Heuvel says his company is still behind on repaying that loan of taxpayer money.
