Ex-UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell was defrauded by an escrow company and was awarded a nearly $2 million judgment in a California court, the Fresno Bee reported.
Liddell, 45, had invested in four real estate developments with developer Kelly Gearheart, who in 2012 pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Federal prosecutors are seeking an 11-year jail term for Gearheart, who will be sentenced on Monday in Los Angeles.
Liddell's attorneys successfully argued that an escrow officer for Cuesta Title Company had a conflict of interest in the case because she was close friends with Gearheart. In addition, Liddell had alleged that his signature had been forged on documents.
The jury found in Liddell's favor and awarded him $1,982,727.
Liddell is now the vice president of business development with the UFC. He retired in 2010 after losing his final three fights and five of his last six. He won the light heavyweight title on April 16, 2005, when he knocked out Randy Couture in the first round of their match at UFC 52. He made four successful title defenses before losing his belt to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 71 on May 26, 2007.
He is a member of the UFC Hall of Fame.
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