Sentencing for a Milan couple who bilked a local bank out of a million dollar loan has been delayed.
Jens and Pamela Hirsch owned Blackhawk Autoplex in Milan until it was shut down. Both were indicted and plead guilty to federal bank fraud charges in May.
The two were supposed to find out their punishment for the crime on Friday, but Mr. Hirsch essentially fired his attorney at the last minute, and both cases were continued to November.
Friends and family started with a peaceful protest before Friday's hearing.
When they left the courthouse, several of Pamela Hirsch's supporters shoved and shouted at local media trying to take a picture of her.
"They had a g--damn business go bankrupt, is that a big deal?" yelled one man at a Quad City Times reporter., who says he was chest-butted, and threatened with a punch.
Earlier in the day, Hirsch's attorney said he's hoping the judge has mercy on her, because she played a lesser role in the fraud.
"This is a serious crime, no doubt about it. She is very remorseful," said James Marcus, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor out of Chicago.
Hirsch is out on bond. Her husband, Jens is in federal custody, and faces deportation after serving his sentence.