One of the four co-defendants in the Top Dollar Pawn money-laundering case attempted to have his guilty plea withdrawn in court on Friday morning.

Walt Mauro, 34, appeared in court on Friday for what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing after previously entering into a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Instead, Mauro’s attorney, David Miller, told the court he wants to be removed as counsel for Mauro because of a conflict, and that Mauro wants his plea deal revoked and to plead not guilty.

Each of the defendants — Daria Mauro, Walt Mauro, Mischa Jargowsky and Jack Jargowsky — face 29 charges, including a pattern of racketeering and money laundering, after being arrested in 2022.

The defendants were accused of laundering money over four years at Top Dollar Pawn locations in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, a scheme investigators say resulted in the transfer of more than $1.3 million in stolen goods.

Court records obtained by The Gazette allege Top Dollar Pawn employees knowingly accepted stolen goods still in packaging from “boosters” and would sell those items in their stores or on eBay at a profit.

Boosters steal merchandise, usually from retail outlets. They often work in concert with others as part of a “booster crew.”

Colorado law requires that pawnbrokers must be given a receipt of purchase on all items still considered new and in packaging to confirm that these items were not stolen.

Pawnbrokers also are required to keep an electronic record of these items and the identification of the seller. Records allege that Top Dollar Pawn ignored both requirements.

The request from Mauro’s attorney came as a surprise to Judge David Gilbert. Miller has represented Mauro since his arrest in 2022.

Miller didn’t specify why he was requesting to hold a conflict hearing, but said it was essential to moving the case forward. Mauro also did not say why he was requesting to have his plea deal revoked, but Gilbert expressed concerns he had with the pre-sentence investigation report, or PSIR.

Gilbert said the PSIR alleges Mauro took the plea deal primarily because the District Attorney’s Office said it would dismiss the case against Mauro’s wife and co-defendant Daria Mauro. Gilbert added that Walt Mauro had said that was not the only reason he accepted the plea, but that comment in the PSIR gave him serious pause.

To remedy the situation, Walt Mauro’s sentencing hearing was postponed until June 4, and a conflict hearing to determine if Mauro needs new representation was held in a different courtroom, but the hearing was sealed to the public.

Since their arrests in 2022, the four co-defendants are all at dramatically different points in their cases.

Court records show that Mischa Jargowsky went to trial in February, was found guilty of three counts of money laundering and one count of pattern of racketeering, and was sentenced to eight years of community corrections. However, in a hearing on Tuesday, her sentence was postponed by Gilbert because of a continuing appeal.

Part of Mischa Jargowsky’s sentence includes no longer being able to work in the pawnshop business anymore, which her attorney on Tuesday stated had been causing problems as she attempts to sell Top Dollar Pawn.

Jack Jargowsky has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is to begin trial on July 8.

There are no longer any criminal filings against Daria Mauro in El Paso County, according to court records, implying her case was dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.

On Friday, Gilbert informed Walt Mauro that, if he is able to revoke his guilty plea, the court would set a trial in the near future.

One of the four co-defendants in the Top Dollar Pawn money-laundering case attempted to have his guilty plea withdrawn in court Friday.

Walt Mauro, 34, appeared in court for what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing after previously entering into a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Instead, Mauro’s attorney, David Miller, told the court he wants to be removed as counsel for Mauro because of a conflict, and that Mauro wants his plea deal revoked and to plead not guilty.

Each of the defendants — Daria Mauro, Walt Mauro, Mischa Jargowsky and Jack Jargowsky — face 29 charges, including a pattern of racketeering and money laundering, after being arrested in 2022.

The defendants were accused of laundering money over four years at Top Dollar Pawn locations in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, a scheme investigators say resulted in the transfer of more than $1.3 million in stolen goods.

Court records obtained by The Gazette allege Top Dollar Pawn employees knowingly accepted stolen goods still in packaging from “boosters” and would sell those items in their stores or on eBay at a profit.

Boosters steal merchandise, usually from retail outlets. They often work with others as part of a “booster crew.”

Colorado law requires that pawnbrokers must be given a receipt of purchase on all items still considered new and in packaging to confirm that these items were not stolen.

Pawnbrokers also are required to keep an electronic record of these items and the identification of the seller. Records allege that Top Dollar Pawn ignored both requirements.

The request from Mauro’s attorney came as a surprise to Judge David Gilbert. Miller has represented Mauro since his arrest in 2022.

Miller didn’t specify why he was requesting to hold a conflict hearing, but said it was essential to moving the case forward.

Mauro also did not say why he was requesting to have his plea deal revoked, but Gilbert expressed concerns he had with the presentence investigation report.

Gilbert said it alleges Mauro took the plea deal primarily because the District Attorney’s Office said it would dismiss the case against Mauro’s wife and co-defendant Daria Mauro. Gilbert added that Walt Mauro had said that was not the only reason he accepted the plea, but that comment in the presentence investigation report gave him serious pause.

To remedy the situation, Walt Mauro’s sentencing hearing was postponed until June 4, and a conflict hearing to determine if Mauro needs new representation was held in a different courtroom, but the hearing was sealed to the public.

Since their arrests in 2022, the four co-defendants are at dramatically different points in their cases.

Court records show that Mischa Jargowsky went to trial in February, was found guilty of three counts of money laundering and one count of pattern of racketeering, and was sentenced to eight years of community corrections. However, in a hearing Tuesday, her sentence was postponed by Gilbert because of a continuing appeal.

Part of Mischa Jargowsky’s sentence includes no longer being able to work in the pawnshop business anymore, which her attorney on Tuesday stated had been causing problems as she attempts to sell Top Dollar Pawn.

Jack Jargowsky has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is to begin trial on July 8.

There are no longer criminal filings against Daria Mauro in El Paso County, according to court records, implying her case was dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.