The Region : DuPonts Sentenced in Investment Scam

Two members of the DuPont chemical manufacturing family were sentenced to federal prison in connection with an investment scam that prosecutors say bilked more than 300 investors of $1.2 million. U.S. District Judge Rudi M. Brewster, sitting in San Diego, sentenced Michael duPont to 358 days in prison and his wife, Peggy, to 179 days in prison. Both were placed on 10 years’ probation, which will be revoked if they fail to turn over the income from family trust accounts for restitution to investors. The DuPonts’ company, DuPont Energy Control Corp., purported to manufacture and market a succession of supposed “wonder” building products and energy-saving devices, including wood and concrete substitutes, cosmic energy beams and petroleum additives. The DuPonts insisted that they were victims of promoters who convinced them to invest the company’s money in fraudulent products.