Con man at center of MT jail deal says he's broke

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. — The California con man who failed in his bid to take over an empty Montana jail testified Friday he has no money, none of the corporate backing he once claimed and no law enforcement or military experience.

Michael Hilton appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court about a 2000 civil judgment against him now estimated at $700,000, KULR-TV reported on its Web site.

Hilton had insisted in multiple interviews that his bid to take over a 464-bed jail in Hardin had backing from deep-pocketed security industry investors who wanted to remain anonymous.

But Hilton testified Friday he has no money, no employment, no one working for him and is four months behind on his rent, Cris Armenta, the plaintiff's attorney, told The Associated Press on Friday.

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