Business and Economic News

Two people part of telemarketing scam sentenced to serve years in prison

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MPR News
MPR

Two people involved in a $300 million telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted retired and vulnerable victims, some of who lived in Minnesota, were given prison sentences Monday.

Anthony Eugene Moulder of Fort Meyers, Fla., and Abdou-Rahmane Diallo of Montreal were sentenced to 10 years and 7 1/2 years respectively in prison for their roles in the scam. Both pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud charges.

The scheme ran from 2008 to 2020 and targeted victims through fraudulent magazine sales and deceptive cancellation offers. 

Federal authorities say Moulder’s companies defrauded victims of more than $86 million while Diallo’s fraud scheme stole $30 million from more than 20,000 victims. 

There were more than 60 defendants in the case and most pleaded guilty last year.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis says this is among the largest telemarketing scams  the Justice Department has prosecuted.