Oregon Public Broadcasting

A former bookkeeper for a financially-troubled Bend couple will return to court next week to continue her testimony.

This week's hearings, in Jefferson County Court, gave accusers their first chance to present evidence in the high-profile case, involving a former Bend police captain and his wife.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey gives us this update.

Former Bend police captain Kevin Sawyer, his wife Tami, and their companies are the subject of an FBI investigation, according to the Bend Bulletin.

The Jefferson County case involves three sons who have sued the Sawyers for misusing money set aside by their late father.

Tami Sawyer, a real estate investor, testified this week that she deposited money into the father’s trust and some in the Sawyers' company.

The Sawyers' bookkeeper also testified, using her email records to show how Tami Sawyer, and her company Starboard LLC, spent money from new investors to pay old obligations.

Securities investigators call that sort of financial maneuvering a Ponzi scheme.

Kevin Anselm is the chief of enforcement within the state’s Department of Consumer and Business Services.

Anselm is not involved in the Sawyers’ court case, but says investigators are looking into other alleged Ponzi schemes across the state.

She says often, fraud starts off as a a legitimate investment idea.

Kevin Anselm: “And then something happens. Maybe it’s a situation like we’ve had in the recent economic climate, where the funds that are expected to come in from other sources, not investor funds, don’t make it in on time – or don’t make it in at all.”

Tami and Kevin Sawyer own ten properties in Deschutes County that are currently in danger of foreclosure.

The couple and their companies are the subject of five open lawsuits in Deschutes County. They’ve recently settled two other suits involving unpaid debts.

The Jefferson County case, involving the three sons and their father’s will, is expected to go to trial this summer.