Free Ceci - Wrongfully Convicted

My mother was arrested in November 2012, convicted of grand theft, for money stolen from clients, by her superiors, in real estate foreclosure transactions.

Her case has been ongoing for 2 years because she refused to take a plea. Why? Because she believed in our justice system. She erroneously believed that if you are innocent, then you will not go to jail. Although some of her superiors were arrested as well, they took the plea, and thus are currently free.

Sadly, since we did not have money to hire an attorney, she was represented by a Public Defender who did nothing to protect her and, as a result, she was found guilty.

As a last ditch "Hail Mary" effort, I hired an attorney to file a Motion for New Trial. That hearing is set for February 2013. If the Motion is granted, the attorney said he would need an additional $15,000 retainer to represent her in the new trial. I just can't have my Mom unrepresented again, as I saw it did her no good the first time. But I also don't have $15,000, so I am asking for help.

To make matters worse, I also just found out that her Social Security benefits have been taken away, because she is in jail. That was the money I was using to pay her bills (rent, car payment, utilities, etc.), so extra funds are needed for that as well. My Mom has already lost so much; I would hate to have her lose the last bit she has left.

Those of you who have met my mother know she is a Mom in every sense of the word, and that her only crime is being too giving of herself and trusting of others. So to have her in jail, amongst criminals, is devastating to me and my family. She is a good, law-abiding, God-fearing woman, who couldn't live with herself if she stole from others. She has been wrongfully convicted and does not deserve this fate.

Please help me right this wrong and set her free! I haven't hugged my Mom since November, and I really miss not having her in my life.

Please give whatever you can. Also, please re-post on your page or pass this along however you can. All help is greatly appreciated. I thank you with all my heart.

~Sylvia