One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Jodie Foster's Crooked Old Dad Convicted of Swindling Investors in Valley Home-Building Scheme
Photo by bloomsberries via Flickr
Lucius Foster, the estranged 89-year-old father of Jodie Foster, was convicted of using his charm, war stories and the family name to swindle dozens of would-be homebuyers in the Valley out of thousands of dollars.Prosecutors called him the "Bernie Madoff of Sherman Oaks," and today a jury convicted him of 21 counts of grand theft and nine counts of contracting without a license, according to The Daily News. He is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow and could face up to 25 years in prison.
Foster said he wanted to get out of jail quickly so he could work on repaying his low-income and elderly customers. In his scheme, Foster promised affordable housing on plots of land in the San Fernando Valley — then took off with dozens of $5,000 down payments. The homes never materialized.
"We're going to get it (the money) back to them," Foster said. "... If it takes two or three years out of my life ... I'm an old man, I want to be alive when I get out."
It doesn't sound like the judge is falling for that line. The Van Nuys Superior Court judge said Foster needed to be jailed, because he was worried that — despite his age — Foster hadn't learned his lesson. During the trial, Foster said he had every intention of continuing to advertise and solicit new customers.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
