British Con Man Gets 13 Years In Federal Prison
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An international con man once hauled to court by Bruce Springsteen has been sentenced by a Los Angeles judge to 13 years in federal prison for swindling investors in property schemes, bogus music ventures and other financial deals.
Judge S. James Otero on Tuesday also ordered 65-year-old Robert Tringham of Knebworth, England, to pay $8 million restitution and recommended deportation after his release. Tringham was convicted on 10 fraud and tax counts.
The Los Angeles Daily News says Tringham told investors he was be the chief executive officer of First National Bancorp and persuaded him to part with millions.
Among his victims was Springsteen, who traveled to London in 1998 to fight the scam artist for illegally releasing CDs of his music. The court ruled Tringham owed Springsteen $3 million.
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