PLANO, Texas (CN) - Austin St. John, the Dallas-area actor famous for playing the Red Ranger in the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," avoided a federal prison sentence Thursday for his role in a $3.5 million Paycheck Protection Program scam during the Covid-19 pandemic.
St. John, 50, of McKinney, was sentenced to five years of probation under his legal name of Jason Lawrence Geiger after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
St. John told U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle the crime was "a one-off thing." He faced up to 16 months in federal prison.
"This court will never see me again," St. John during the sentencing hearing. "I will go back to my good works."
St. John was dressed in a black suit, white shirt, dark glasses and a blue-striped tie. He was joined in court by his wife.
The Donald Trump-appointed judge ordered St. John to pay over $225,000 in restitution, waiving a fine and interest due to his inability to pay the additional amounts.
A total of 19 defendants were indicted in 2022 over the scam. Prosecutors say Michael Lewayne Hill, 50, of Mineral Wells, recruited people to use existing businesses or create a business to apply for PPP funds. The program was launched in 2020 under the CARES Act to prop up American businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
The government money originated as loans with a two-year maturity period and interest rate of 1%, with PPP loans being forgiven if businesses spent it on payroll, mortgage interest, rent and utilities within eight weeks of receipt. At least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been spent on payroll alone.
Prosecutors claim Andrew Charles Moran, 46, of Lewisville, helped recruits with PPP paperwork and phony supporting documents. St. John and other defendants paid Hill and Moran, then spent the remaining money on themselves, according to prosecutors.
A statement posted to St. John's social media immediately after the indictment claimed the actor never met or interacted with the majority of the 18 other defendants.
"It is our understanding that Austin put his faith, reputation, and finances in the hands of third parties whose goals were self-centered and ultimately manipulated and betrayed his trust," spokesman Zachery McGinnis said in 2022. "We expect Austin's legal team to successfully defend against these charges and lead to his ultimate exoneration."
"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" debuted on the Fox network in 1993 during daytime Fox Kids programming. St. John portrayed teenage martial artist Jason Lee Scott and his Red Ranger alter ego. He later portrayed the Gold Ranger in 1996 on the "Power Rangers Zeo" show before reverting to the Red Ranger.
Prosecutors asked Kernodle last week to spare St. John prison time, citing his cooperation with law enforcement since his arrest.
"In addition, this defendant met with the government multiple times leading up to trial and testified truthfully at trial," the four-page sentencing memorandum states.
Kernodle explained he declined to give St. John prison time due to testimony he gave during the trials of two co-defendants. He cited St. John's lack of criminal history and otherwise law-abiding life.
Prosecutors noted Gregory Fitzgerald Hatley, 41, of Allen, is the only defendant so far in the case to receive prison time "due in large part to his criminal history."
St. John has been active on the fan convention circuit for several years. He is scheduled to appear at the Hall of Heroes Comic Con on May 31 in Elkhart, Indiana.
Source: Courthouse News Service
