
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 13, 1990                   TAG: 9004131061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

RUNNELLSES PLEAD INNOCENT IN LOAN CASE

William and Marika Runnells, fugitives for two years before their arrest in Dallas last month, pleaded innocent today to charges of tax evasion, fraud, obstruction of justice and criminal contempt.

U.S. District Judge J. Calvitt Clarke Jr. set June 5 as a trial date for the husband and wife.

Marika Runnells faces a possible 272 years in prison and fines of $500,000 if convicted. Her husband could get up to 403 years in prison and similar fines. He also faces racketeering and criminal conspiracy charges.

The couple were indicted in April 1988 on felony charges stemming from the bankruptcy of Landbank Equity Corp. of Virginia Beach. When the company went under in 1984, it was one of the nation's largest second-mortgage lenders, making more than $200 million in loans in five states.

by CNB