News

Actions

Alleged telemarketing scheme may land 9 Valley residents in prison

Posted at 1:50 PM, Oct 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-28 17:02:50-04

Millions of dollars in sales were generated from the defendants' telemarketing enterprise.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Missouri announced Friday that nine people living in the Phoenix area have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud and money laundering.

According to records, the scheme began prior to 2013 and continued through July 2015, generating over $10 million in sales from individuals across the U.S. and Canada.

The defendants operated a telemarketing enterprise that ran under several different names and sold fictitious “business opportunities.” They specifically targeted people over the age of 55, according to documents.

If convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in prison-- fine of $250,000 or both.

The case is being investigated by the Office of the Arizona Attorney General along with the United States Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.