More Minnesotans Plead Guilty In Huge Telemarketing Scam
Minneapolis (KROC AM News) - Eleven more people have pleaded guilty in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that scammed victims out of $300-million.
And some are facing huge restitution orders.
The case was prosecuted by the Minnesota US Attorney’s office. The victims were described as elderly and other vulnerable victims.
Two of those who pleaded guilty Friday are from Minnesota:
- 37-year-old Jared Michelizzi, the owner and operator of fraudulent magazine sales companies in Fridley, Minnesota, and San Diego, California. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to pay $22,000,000 in restitution to his victims.
- 41-year-old Corlos Smith, a telemarketer at a call center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution to his victims.
According to the US Attorney’s office:
The defendants participated in the fraud scheme in various roles, including telemarketers, call center managers, or magazine company owners. The defendants used, or directed their co-defendants to use, fraudulent sales scripts to defraud victim-consumers, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable, out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The fraudulent sales scripts were designed to induce consumers, through a series of lies and misrepresentations, into making large or repeat payments to the companies.
Other Minnesotans pleaded guilty earlier. One was ordered to pay nearly $30-million in restitution.
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