A Spokane Valley businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday to several counts of hiding financial transactions concerning the sale of stolen metals and agreed to forfeit about $1.4 million in cash, property and vehicles purchased with proceeds of the illegal transactions.

Craig A. Dickson entered a plea agreement before U.S. District Court Judge Edward Shea at a hearing in Richland. Dickson, owner of Dickson Iron and Metal, 907 N. Dyer Road, pleaded guilty to seven counts of structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements and one count of conspiracy to commit the same offense.

Read the rest of Tom Clouse's story here.

The president of a Spokane-based company under investigation for an alleged $50 million-plus Ponzi scheme is to give up a motor home and Corvette, according to a legal notice published last week.

An Internal Revenue Service official declined comment on the probe involving Doris Nelson, president of Little Loan Shoppe LLC, and affiliates, saying any underlying civil or criminal complaints — if any — are under seal.

Bert Caldwell wrote about this and several other financial and business-related frauds in a story you can read here.

Past coverage:

May 20: LLC in Ponzi probe in the black, report says

Feb 24: State outlines Ponzi charges

July 23: Loan shop files for bankruptcy