Hecker's former father-in-law intended to help investigation
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Unsealed court documents indicate Denny Hecker's former father-in-law intended to help law enforcement authorities investigating Hecker, but that was before William Prohofsky fatally shot himself in an apparent suicide last week.
Investigators have been trying to track Hecker's assets. The trustee in his bankruptcy case sued Hecker accusing him of hiding assets that eventually could be used to repay the creditors which Hecker owes nearly $790 million.
Earlier this week, prosecutors unveiled 10 new criminal counts of bankruptcy fraud against Hecker connected to the allegedly hidden property.
According to documents unsealed today, investigators last week asked Hecker's former father in law William Prohofsky if he had been hiding Hecker assets in safety deposit boxes. Prohofsky denied doing that.
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The next day, Medina police found Prohofsky in a Volvo sedan, with a gunshot wound. The police found a note on Prohofsky that referred to his involvement in concealing Hecker assets.
The note referred to a safe deposit box Prohofsky had been questioned about. The note also indicated Prohofsky planned to help investigators by providing information. A key to the safe deposit box was found in the car.
Investigators obtained a search warrant to inspect the box. They found it contained an envelope with $10,000 in cash. It was labeled as money for 2009 taxes. The box also contained some legal, lease and other documents.
In Prohofsky's car, investigators also found a laptop computer, cell phone, and a briefcase containing documents.
Court filings don't provide additional details about the documents. They also didn't contain any information about the gun Prohofsky used to shoot himself.
Hecker was one of Minnesota's biggest auto dealers before his empire collapsed. In addition to the bankruptcy fraud charges, Hecker has been indicted by the Feds for allegedly trying to defraud lenders.
His lawyers are quitting his case because Hecker lacks money to pay them.
