Judge Expands Jail Time for Scam Victimizing the Elderly

A Long Beach man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for a telemarketing scam in which he threatened and verbally abused his elderly victims when they balked at sending him money.

Charles L. Kentz’s victims were “just plain terrified,” U.S. District Judge Audrey B. Collins said Monday as she tacked extra time on his prison term.

She also ordered him to pay $587,000 in restitution to his victims, who range in age from 76 to 91.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Manuel A. Abascal said Kentz called elderly people around the country, telling them that they had won sweepstakes prizes and that his company was authorized to collect taxes they owed on their winnings.

If they refused to pay, he warned of dire consequences, including lawsuits, seizure of victims’ Social Security benefits and even arrest, according to the prosecutor.

One victim testified at his trial that she sent the 33-year-old Kentz nearly $20,000 because of his threats, but received no prize money.

One victim said she suffered a stroke and another said she had a heart attack after being harassed by Kentz over the telephone.

While free on bail after his arrest in December, 1998, Kentz continued to operate his scam, according to Abascal.

In court Monday, the prosecutor said Kentz wrote threatening letters to his victims from his jail cell after his conviction.

The judge said she increased his sentence because his crime was unusually cruel, his victims were elderly, he continued the scam while free on bond and he hired a minor to help him.