Pair Admits to Fraud Charges in Phone Scam
A Hollywood couple who defrauded 1,500 customers of $1.1 million through two telephone sales firms has pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges in Los Angeles federal court.
Leslie Burke, 58, pleaded guilty Thursday to four counts of mail fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $4,000 in fines. His wife, Judith, 55, pleaded guilty to two counts and faces up to 10 years in prison and $2,000 in fines.
People called by salesmen for the firms were told that they had won $5,000 cash, a Hobie Cat or a Lincoln Continental. To receive their prizes, the customers paid a $500 charge for a box of pens, but never got the prizes.
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