U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of New Hampshire
Federal Building
53 Pleasant Street, 4th Floor
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
603/225-1552
| MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release October 6, 2008 |
Thomas P. Colantuono United States Attorney Don Feith Assistant U.S. Attorney (603) 225-1552 |
CANADIAN WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TELEMARKETING FRAUD
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Deborah Wasserman, of Montreal, Canada, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from a telemarketing scheme originating in Canada and targeted towards United States citizens. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2009 at the United States District Court in Concord.
The prosecution began on October 2, 2002, when a grand jury for the District of New Hampshire indicted 15 Canadian citizens in connection with a nationwide telemarketing fraud targeted at the elderly. Nine defendants have been sentenced to federal prison, one is awaiting sentencing, one is awaiting trial, one is incarcerated in France awaiting extradition and one remains a fugitive. One case was dismissed and one defendant was not prosecuted because Canada would not extradite him.
United States Attorney Colantuono stated: “Telemarketing fraud is a serious crime that warrants federal prosecution. The best way to fight telemarketing fraud is for citizens to be careful. No citizen should ever send money by mail or wire to a person or business unless the citizen knows the person or business or has initiated contact with that person or business. The telemarketers that created this fraud were professionals that were able to overcome the natural skepticism of the victims. My office is dedicated to finding and prosecuting these fraudsters, but the best way to prevent fraud is to not allow yourself to be a victim. If you receive one of these calls, just ask yourself: Is this too good to be true? If the answer is yes, then hang up the phone.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other agencies belonging to the Project Colt investigative team in Montreal.