LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Canadian con man who bilked at least 60,000 U.S. residents through a cross-border telemarketing scheme has been sentenced to federal prison.
A judge in Los Angeles sentenced Mark Wilson on Monday to more than 11 years behind bars.
Prosecutors say the Vancouver man targeted mainly the elderly with a scheme that sold them a non-existent credit card protection service. The victims were charged about $300 for phony protection against — ironically — fraudulent credit card charges.
Authorities say the scam raked in about $18 million from people in 37 states.
Prosecutors say Wilson funded a lavish lifestyle that included luxury boats, a fleet of cars, Las Vegas gambling jaunts and an offshore bank account in the South Pacific.
In March, Wilson was convicted of mail and wire fraud.
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