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Nov 19, 2008 10:23 pm US/Central
Girlfriend: Petters Felt Betrayed By Whistleblower
(WCCO)
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"He trusted her with everything," said Mixon.
CBS
Tom Petters long-time girlfriend, Tracy Mixon, says Tom Petters was extremely close to Deanna Coleman, the whistleblower in the case.
It was Coleman, a long time Petters employee who went to the U.S. Attorney's office on Sept. 8 and revealed what prosecutors now call a $3 billion fraud.
Mixon said she and Petters would often party with Deana Coleman, even going on trips with Coleman and her husband to Las Vegas.
"I'd consider her a good friend as well, we spent a lot of time with her," said Mixon.
Mixon said Petters was stunned when he found out that it was Coleman who was the whistleblower.
"He trusted her with everything," said Mixon.
In addition to Coleman, former Petters colleagues Robert White, Michael Catain and Larry Reynolds have all pleaded guilty and agreed to testify that Petters was the person at the center of the $3 billion fraud.
Mixon said Petters feels betrayed.
"He's gone through so many phases, from disbelief to complete outrage and anger at some of the things that have been said by Deanna, especially Deanna, because that was probably his closest confidant," she said.
Coleman also delivered another devastating blow to Petters. In secret recordings she made, the FBI said "Petters repeatedly admits executing the fraud scheme by providing fraudulent information to investors."
Mixon said Petters often makes comments he doesn't mean.
"He will make comments all the time and he is very sarcastic. If you were reading the words that he's saying, you're not hearing them, I would say it could be incriminating," she said.
Mixon said she and Petters spend her jail visits talking about their young sons Joey, 3, and Nicholas, 1 and 1/2. They don't talk about what some say may be Petters possible future.
"It's hard to be on this end and think about the things that they're saying, life in prison and think of having him gone, gone from our lives for so long. We choose not to think about that. We can't think about that right now," she said.
Mixon said despite down moments Petters is looking forward to his day in court and maintains his innocence.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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