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Pocono News Section
Man Pleads Guilty in $300,000 Scam
Man Pleads Guilty in $300,000 Scam - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 5:20PM EST
POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY -- Thomas Wiley pled guilty to scamming people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. He posed as a private investor and took money from nearly 30 people.
Paul Lazarchick says Wiley promised to invest all of his $160,000 worth of savings. When Wiley spent the money, Lazarchick nearly lost his business -- Pottsville Zone Sports Bar and Grill.
"To know I was close to losing everything, and you have to live with it every day, so did my wife," said Lazarchick. "It was terrible."
Dan Poletti trusted Wiley with some of his retirement savings.
"$30,000 is a lot of money these days, especially at a time when everything dropped in the markets," said Poletti of the Tri-Valley area.
The judge says Wiley must pay back the money he took from the victims. He was also sentenced to a minimum of four years in state prison. Poletti says that's not enough.
"What's four years when it took 25 years to earn it?," said Poletti.
Nancy Bucklar is also out of a lot of money, thanks to Wiley's empty promises of investments.
"$15,000 total. I worked hard for that," said Bucklar. "I work two jobs now just to make ends meet."
Wiley said in court he bought several vehicles with the money, including a Harley Davidson and a BMW. They've been sold to help make restitution. But that's no comfort to people like Lazarchick.
"I will follow you to the end of time, and I promise you that," Lazarchick said to Wiley, as he walked into court.
Wiley will get credit for about one year already served, and he's eligible for parole after three years in state prison. | | |
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