(ST. GEORGE) – A St. George man was ordered to spend a year in the Washington County Jail on seven counts of securities fraud. According to court documents, 67-year old William Hammons, was convicted by a jury in February on counts related to his involvement in VesCor, an investment company. Hammons worked with Val Southwick, an Ogden businessman, who is currently serving a prison term for a real estate investment scheme that bilked hundreds of investors out of more than $180 million. VesCor companies took in an estimated $250 million from investors, according to accountants, who examined their books during bankruptcy proceedings. It was the largest financial fraud in Utah history. Retired 8th District Court Judge Lyne Payne sentenced Hammons to four prison terms of 1-15 years on the second-degree felonies and three terms of 0-5 years on the second-degree counts, to run consecutively but suspended the prison terms. Hammons was also ordered to pay fines, totaling $11,500 and pay $163,905 in restitution.