Southland

Sentencing in First Pension Fraud: William E. Cooper of Villa Park, who pleaded guilty to defrauding thousands of investors out of $121.5 million while running now-failed First Pension Corp., will be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. Thursday by U.S. District Judge John G. Davies. Cooper and two other defendants, Valerie Jensen of San Juan Capistrano and Robert E. Lindley of Laguna Niguel, have admitted to enticing investors to put money into phony mortgage pools created by Irvine-based First Pension. Lindley will be sentenced at the same time. Jensen is to be sentenced March 8. Cooper’s sentencing will take place at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, 255 E. Temple St. in Downtown Los Angeles.