Former Dealer Hecker Faces 2 New Fraud Charges

Denny Hecker, the former Minnesota auto dealer mogul, faces two new charges in his pending federal criminal fraud case, the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn., reported.

A federal grand jury in Minneapolis handed down the superseding indictment today charging Hecker with new counts of bankruptcy and wire fraud. A money-laundering charge was dropped. Hecker, 58, also faces 11 previous charges of bankruptcy fraud.

All told, he now faces 26 charges.

According to the Pioneer Press, prosecutors also filed a new wire-fraud charge against Steven Leach, 55, former president of Hecker's leasing company. Leach now faces 14 charges of wire fraud.

Attorneys for Hecker and Leach declined to comment to the newspaper.

Hecker's empire -- which once encompassed 15 dealerships and 200 businesses -- collapsed last year. He filed for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy protection owing $767 million to creditors. Hecker alleged Chrysler Financial cut off his financing and demanded payment of $550 million in debt.