Businessman Gets 10 Years in Car Fraud
A Japanese businessman was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for masterminding a fraud that involved shipping leased Rolls Royces and Cadillacs to Tokyo for sale at an enormous profit.
Koichi Ishihara, 42, was convicted May 17 on 17 counts of international transportation of stolen automobiles. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer.
Ishihara ran a Century City trading firm from 1977 until 1981. In 1979, federal prosecutors said, he devised a scheme to lease luxury automobiles, including nine Rolls Royces, 40 Mercedes-Benzes and several Cadillacs.
He exported the vehicles to Japan, where they sold at a huge profit, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Anita Dymant.
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