- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 11 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Illinois Man Sentenced for Photocopier Pyramid Scheme
EAST ST. LOUIS • An Altamont, Ill., man was sentenced in federal court here Friday to five years and three months in prison and ordered to pay back almost $1.5 million for running several schemes that victimized a Belleville school, an Edwardsville church and 23 other similar groups from 2001-2009, federal prosecutors said.
Kevin E. Welch, 49, supplied copiers to the Governor French Academy in Belleville, but never canceled or replaced copier leases when the school upgraded their equipment. The school’s copier bill would eventually grow to $500,000, according to civil court proceedings last year.
Prosecutors say Welch also defrauded the St. Boniface Catholic Church by providing used copy equipment that he said was new and altering signed lease agreements, they said.
Welch continued the scheme despite being interviewed in 2000 and 2002 by the FBI. He is a former police officer, fired after a theft arrest, they said.Welch pleaded guilty last November to two counts of mail fraud and a financial charge involving the proceeds of unlawful activity
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.