The Region - News from Dec. 5, 1985

A Los Angeles man was sentenced to five years in prison for bilking thousands of consumers out of $133,000 through a telephone solicitation scheme offering non-existent gifts. Laszlo Bossanyi, 42, was also fined $12,000, ordered to pay $269 in restitution to five victims who testified at his trial and placed on five years’ probation. Assistant U.S. Atty. Sharon Ellingsen said Bossanyi and three other men indicted with him called consumers outside California and told them they had won one of several gifts. After a $39 c.o.d. fee was paid, consumers--none of whom received a gift--were told they had to pay an additional fee of $60 to $90. The three other men are fugitives.