Judge orders house arrest for Robert Stinson Jr.

A federal judge has ordered house arrest for Robert Stinson Jr., awaiting trial on charges related to a $17 million Ponzi scheme, until April 27, when a hearing is scheduled on a motion by prosecutors to have his bail revoked.

At a hearing Monday, prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson to imprison Stinson until his trial, alleging that Stinson had been using the online alias Jon P. Sascha II to solicit money for an Internet video service, among other actions violating the terms of his release on bail in November.

Baylson ruled that Stinson, who has used the Jon Sascha alias to promote a new venture online and via e-mail, should remain at home with few exceptions, and that his residence should be thoroughly searched to remove any computers or other devices that would give him Internet access.

The judge assured David L. Axelrod, the assistant U.S. attorney who urged Stinson's immediate incarceration, that he was being as tough as he could be, given the absence of Stinson's criminal defense attorney, Felicia Sarner of the Defender Association of Philadelphia. "I tell you, Mr. Axelrod, I have never imposed anything as strict as this," Baylson said.

At the heart of the motion is EclipseChannel.TV Global Broadcasting Network, an online video service designed to compete with Hulu. The network, started in 2008 under Stinson's shuttered Life's Good Inc., was set to launch March 25. But its debut was stopped by a request for a temporary restraining order by the official gathering assets for defrauded investors.

A March 26 note on the Facebook page for EclipseChannel.TV Global Broadcasting Network said: "Sending apologies to all of our fans for the cancellation of the launch. Had last minute problems which delayed our start. Will go back to the drawing board start again. Will keep you up to date. Thank you sooo much for your kindness and patience with this difficult situation."

Prosecutors said Stinson persisted in his disregard for court orders. On April 7, he switched the e-mail address associated with Sascha's Facebook page from one at EclipseChannel.TV to a Gmail account, Axelrod said, noting, "It's just further evidence that he's not going to abide by any conditions."

In a court filing last week, Axelrod argued Stinson used the Jon Sascha pseudonym for two reasons: It would be difficult to solicit money for a new business as Robert Stinson, given the attention to Life's Good, and the alias would conceal his efforts to raise money from law enforcement and other officials.

The Facebook page for Sascha, who counts Stinson among his "friends," depicts a white man with short brown hair and sunglasses on a beach.

The link between Stinson and Sascha was uncovered by attorneys at Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick & Raspanti L.L.P. who work for Kamian Schwartzman, the court-appointed receiver in the Life's Good civil case filed in June by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to an attorney for the receiver, Peter Shindel Jr., a public auction Sunday of Life's Good assets and cars, as well as personal belongings of Stinson and his wife, Susan, raised $260,000.

Susan Stinson, who is separating from her husband, faces her own legal troubles. Axelrod said charges were being filed against her, but he did not say when. She is expected to plead guilty.