Elys’ Residence Scheduled to Be Sold at Public Auction

The home of former community college trustee James T. (Tom) Ely, who was convicted of embezzlement almost a year ago, is scheduled to be sold at a public auction in Ventura at the end of the month.

Officials of an Orange County foreclosure company said Ely and his wife, Ingrid, owe $59,794 on a second mortgage on their Simi Valley house and could be evicted by the first week of July if he does not make good on the loan by June 29.

Ely said Friday that he has no knowledge of the planned auction. He said he recently sent a check to Wells Fargo Bank to meet the mortgage requirements on the house, which has an assessed value of about $214,000. He would not disclose the amount of the check.

But Brad Hammill, foreclosure processor for Wells Fargo, said he has no record of a recent payment by Ely. Hammill declined to discuss the case further.

Ely was sentenced in September to one year in jail for stealing $15,000 from the Ventura County Community College District. But the former trustee’s sentence has been delayed until he completes treatment for face cancer.

Ely’s attorney, James M. Farley, said he is not surprised that his client is in danger of losing his home, which he has been trying to sell for more than a year.

“He’s been disgraced, destroyed financially and now his health is deteriorating,” Farley said. Farley predicted that the Elys, who declared bankruptcy about 18 months ago because of large gambling debts, would find an apartment with the disability money they get from Social Security.

The couple’s woes date back to April, 1990, when Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury announced that the Elys were the target of an investigation into possible misappropriation of district funds.

Tom Ely was subsequently charged with 29 counts of fraud, embezzlement and conspiracy. And Ingrid Ely, who served as president of the Moorpark College Alumni Assn., was charged with one count each of grand theft, conspiracy and embezzlement.

Last June, a jury convicted the couple on all charges. In addition to jail time, Tom Ely was sentenced to pay $14,415 in restitution and serve six years’ probation. Ingrid Ely was ordered to do community service and serve five years’ probation.

But Ventura County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Storch agreed to stay the sentences because of Tom Ely’s health. His doctors have told the judge that they expect to remove Ely’s right eye, right eye socket, the right half of his nose, right upper jaw, the right half of his upper lip and entire right cheek to stop the cancer from spreading.

Ely said Friday that doctors have not decided on a surgery date. He said he is still undergoing radiation therapy.