Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Arrest Made in Murder of Long Island Motivational Speaker

From 1010wins.com:
NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) -- There has been an arrest in the case of the Long Island motivational speaker who was found dead last week.

Kenneth Minor, 36, of East Harlem, who had been caught on surveillance camera using Jeff Locker's ATM card, was charged with second degree murder.

Minor has been arrested several times in the past for offenses including drug sales and attempted robbery, police said. He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. The 52-year-old North Woodmere resident was found near the Wagner Houses in East Harlem with his hands bound behind his back with an electrical cord. He died from multiple stab wounds to the chest, with injuries to the heart, lung, liver and aorta, according to the medical examiner's office.

Investigators were still looking for a second man and a woman seen on the ATM surveillance.

Locker's Web site described him as dedicated to ``bringing spirituality into the business world.'' He offered workshops on dealing with stress, frustration and anxiety in the workplace. Major companies around the country have hired him to speak, according to the site. The site also said that he co-authored a spiritual self-help novel called "Teachings for a New World'' and was a radio talk show host. "Jeff finds balance in his life by being an avid golfer and a devoted, participating father to his two sons and his little princess,'' according to the site.

But Locker also apparently had serious legal troubles. A federal bankruptcy court trustee in Florida sued Locker in April, identifying him as one of the investors who profited from a giant Ponzi scheme run by Louis Pearlman, the impresario who created boy bands 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys. The trustee demanded that Locker give back at least $121,200 of about $373,000 in bogus profits. Locker said in a response filed in May that he categorically denied "all aspects'' of the suit, and said he had no way of repaying the money. The case was pending. "I would be forced to declare bankruptcy. I am severely in credit card debt and my business is just paying my family's bills.'' He added that he was "mortified'' to have been accused of knowingly participating in a Ponzi scheme.

"I trust that the court will honor this answer to the complaint based on the facts presented herein so that I can get on with my life.''

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