2 Sentenced in Scam That Targeted Elderly
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A Santa Ana father and son were sentenced to federal prison terms Monday for running a telemarketing prize scam that targeted elderly victims across the country.
John Wesley Scrivener, 44, received a 42-month sentence, and his son, Jade Steven Scrivener, was sentenced to 56 months behind bars after pleading guilty in Los Angeles federal court to nine counts of wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Manuel Real said the men were “lucky” because the investigation uncovered only “the tip of the iceberg.”
Passing themselves off as representatives of Publisher’s Clearing House, the Scriveners would telephone elderly contestants and say they had just won a big prize, but would have to pay advance fees of up to $12,000 for taxes, attorneys or processing.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Daniel Saunders said the pair defrauded scores of victims of at least $385,000. The case was an outgrowth of an investigation by the Orange County Boiler Room Apprehension Task Force, a multi-agency group run by the FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
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