A Florida business owner pleaded guilty today for his role
in selling the personal information of tens of thousands of individuals to
fraudulent telemarketers, who used the information to target potential victims
for various fraudulent telemarketing schemes.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the
Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow
of the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Richard T. Thornton
of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher
Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Paul
Wysopal of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
Ronald John Mendleski, 72, of Bokeelia, Florida, pleaded
guilty to one count of wire fraud before U. S. Magistrate Judge Carol Mirando
of the Middle District of Florida. Sentencing will be set at a later date.
As part of the plea, Mendleski admitted that for several
years he operated an enterprise that provided telemarketers with information
called “sweepstakes leads,” which are the phone numbers and personal
information of individuals who have responded to mass mailings notifying
recipients that they have purportedly won, or are about to win, expensive
prizes and enormous cash payouts. Such information is highly valued by
fraudulent telemarketers, who seek to identify individuals who may be
susceptible to falling for fraudulent scams. Mendleski admitted that he sold
this information to scammers, knowing that they intended to use the information
to engage in fraud. This scheme generated over $1.5 million for Mendleski, he
admitted.
The FBI is investigating this matter. Trial Attorney Timothy
A. Duree of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
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