Chow, son victims of scam

University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow and a son, Carter, were reportedly among 18 victims of a multi-million dollar financial scam in Utah for which two men have pleaded guilty, according to published reports in Salt Lake City.

The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News reported that investors put in nearly $3 million and Chow was the largest investor with $500,000. His son, Carter, a Los Angeles attorney and agent, is said to have invested $400,000.

News reports said Michael Kay Smith and Quintin Fullmer Smith each pleaded guilty in state district court Monday to two counts of third-degree felony attempted securities fraud as part of a plea deal. They face up to 10 years in prison when they are sentenced next month. Michael Smith can have his felony counts reduced to misdemeanors if he completes probation and pays full restitution of almost $1.3 million, the Deseret News reported.

Citing court documents, the Deseret News said the two Smiths ran Newport Financial Services and allegedly guaranteed investors an 18 percent return on their investment by purchasing contracts of furniture store customers who could not qualify for traditional financing. They are said to have attracted at least $1.8 million in investments beginning in 2005.

The pair are alleged to have told people they had invested $1 million of their own money, which investigators said was a lie.

The Deseret News said the state charged that six of the investors received little or no return. The documents did not indicate whether the Chows received any return. The Tribune said at least five of the investors did not receive their promised payments and lost at least $911,000 in the deal, the documents state.

Norm Chow earns $550,000 a year as UH head football coach. He was previously an assistant coach at BYU and the University of Utah.

Chow refused to comment.