A federal judge today likened two brothers to "financial vampires" and sentenced them to 14 years in prison each for a massive fraud scheme targeting elderly and minority homeowners.



In handing down the sentences for John and Daniel Sullivan, U.S. District Court Judge Ruben Castillo said he was particularly troubled that the brothers preyed on vulnerable people who had worked to obtain equity in their homes and "were counting on that to live out the rest of their lives."



"This was sophisticated financial devastation," Castillo said. The judge also ordered the brothers to pay $710,000 in restitution and forfeit $748,000 worth of ill-gotten gains.



The brothers were convicted in a trial last November of mail fraud for swindling more than 50 victims by promising to perform expensive home repairs, convincing them to refinance their homes to pay the costs and then later intentionally failing to perform or complete the projects, prosecutors said. They also engaged in investment fraud, mortgage fraud and thefts by deception involving millions of dollars, prosecutors said.



When identifying targets for their schemes, the brothers were known to use catch phrases such as "the older the better," "the blacker the better" and "the more ignorant the better," according to a filing by prosecutors.



In addition to the victims presented at trial, Assistant U.S. Atty. Patrick Pope told the judge about other victims from the brothers' schemes that were not charged, including the story of a 48-year-old Northbrook woman who killed herself earlier this year after John Sullivan, 50, faked a romantic interest in her and then defrauded her mother of her entire savings — nearly $600,000.



"They destroyed a family, and they've taken a life," said Pope, who referred to the brothers several times as "monsters."



Attorneys for both men urged the judge to not be swayed by prosecutorial hyperbole.



"They are not monsters. They are real human beings with feet of clay just like the rest of us," said Barry Sheppard, an attorney for Daniel Sullivan, 46, of Niles.



His brother, John, formerly lived in Northbrook. Both are being held in federal custody.