10 Accused in ‘Boiler Room’ Free Trip Offer

Six men and four women were arraigned before Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Glenette Blackwell Friday on felony charges stemming from an alleged $1-million telephone sales scam in which customers were offered “free” trips to Hawaii that actually cost $700.

Detective Ernie Bell of the Los Angeles Police Department’s bunco-forgery division said that the fraud scheme was operated under the direction of Larry Berry, 39, of Brentwood, for about seven months, with “boiler room” telephone sales offices in downtown Los Angeles, Venice, Studio City and Pasadena. As many as 150 telephone solicitors were employed, Bell said.

The detective said that customers were offered a “free” trip for two to Hawaii for eight days and seven nights upon purchase of $49.95 coupon books. The coupons were good for discounts on local goods and services.

Once the coupon book was purchased, however, the purchaser was informed that he or she would have to pay an additional $700 for a companion’s air fare to Hawaii.

Charged Under New Act

Deputy Dist. Atty. David R. Disco said Berry and his partner Roy Castner, 43, were charged under the new telephonic seller registration act.

Angela Summers, 39, of Brentwood; Roger Byers, 44, of Los Angeles; Belinda Harrison, 27, of Venice; Phillip Walsh, 23, of Brentwood; Sheryl Simpson, 18, of Van Nuys; Jessica Jaquez, 19, of Los Angeles; Rodney Flynn, 37, and Shelby Stewart, 28, all were charged with one count of unlawful telephone sales.

Berry was also was charged with one count of subornation of perjury for allegedly having Summers register as sole owner, and both were additionally charged with one county of perjury. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 8.