Man Takes Plea Deal in Case of Fraud, Swindling, Grand Theft, Money Laundering

Asoka Perera, who stole more than $450,000 from an elderly woman, banks and tea supply houses, took a plea deal Monday and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Perera was arrested April 5 and charged with multiple counts of fraud and swindling to obtain property, grand theft, money laundering and writing bad checks.

As part of a plea deal, Perera pleaded guilty to money laundering, theft from a person 65 years of age or older, criminal use of personal identification information and two counts of grand theft.

In addition to prison, Perera must serve 10 years of probation.

Circuit Judge Beth Harlan ordered that Perera must pay more than $457,000 in restitution to several victims. However, the figure will get larger. The judge will determine at a later hearing how much money one remaining victim, a tea supply company, should receive.

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Man Takes Plea Deal in Case of Fraud, Theft, Swindling and Money Laundering