IN BRIEF

+ Court date is set for Ponzi pair
The Sarasota couple the Securities and Exchange Commission is suing for allegedly duping investors in a Ponzi scheme will have a court hearing on the case June 25.

John and Marian Morgan are accused of bilking investors out of about $14 million and using the money to pay for their mortgages and make Ponzi payments to other investors.

A temporary freeze on the Morgans’ assets, including their three Sarasota properties, has been issued, but the judge could issue a permanent freeze or appoint a receiver, who would be in charge of the Morgans’ assets.

Reached by phone June 23, Marian Morgan said she could not comment on the case, because it was in litigation. But in an e-mail sent to friends two weeks ago, she professed her innocence and blamed a third co-defendant for the legal trouble.

+ New deputy city manager named
Marlon Brown has been hired as the city of Sarasota’s new deputy city manager. He replaces the retiring Peter Schneider.

Brown has more than 15 years of municipal-management experience and is currently the county advisor on economic stimulus for the Florida Association of Counties. He previously served as the county manager of Gadsden County and assistant city manager in Tallahassee.

Brown’s first day on the job will be July 13.