Two Johnson County businessmen entered no-contest pleas this week for a nationwide theft scheme that took more than a million dollars from elderly customers.
Two others involved from Sioux City, Iowa, also have pleaded guilty in Johnson County District Court.
District Attorney Steve Howe said today that the consumer fraud scam hooked thousands of people seeking a discount on prescription drugs or dental work.
After customers turned over their bank or credit card information to the companies involved, scammers would take far more money out of the accounts than authorized, usually $80 to $110 at a time, he said.
They were even still taking money out of accounts of some people who had died, he said.
Grant Wilms, 44, and Hermann Wilms, 74, a son and father who owned ASP Inc., each pleaded no contest Monday to four felonies of false writing and to four misdemeanors.
Kenneth Opstein, 86, of Sioux City, a former consultant for ASP and owner of its predecessor, NHCD, also pleaded Monday to four felonies and four misdemeanors.
His office manager, Shirley Schopp, 71, of Sioux City, pleaded guilty previously to three felonies and two misdemeanors.
The Wilmses and Opstein are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6.
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Johnson County Men Plead No Contest to Bilking Elderly Customers
Hang em high!
ReplyDeleteThere is so much of this going on these days - government is not doing enough to stop it.
ReplyDeleteWe need stronger enforcement and penalties.
Predators!
ReplyDeleteAnd bigger jails, Thelma!
ReplyDeleteDid you notice the age of these thieves? Except for one they are all in their 70's and one even 86 years old. How long have they been crooks, scamming the people?
ReplyDeleteMay they rot in jail!