Investment Schemer Gets Prison Term

The owner of a Woodland Hills telemarketing company was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison Monday for fleecing stock investors out of nearly $1.4 million.

Employees of Assured International Inc., owned by Sam Harris, told victims, most of them retirees, that the firm was about to go public and that they would double their money when it did. But prosecutors said the planned public offering was bogus. Assured held itself out as a manufacturer and distributor of high-quality latex gloves and condoms, a claim authorities said was also phony.

Harris, 48, of Newbury Park, pleaded guilty in March to charges of conspiracy and criminal contempt. The contempt charge grew out of his violation of a 1999 injunction obtained by the Securities and Exchange Commission, barring the sale of stock in Assured.

After the injunction was issued, Assured continued to operate out of rented apartments in the Valley.

In May, four of Harris’ associates were convicted of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, contempt of court and perjury.

Kirk Kuykendoll, 53, of Thousand Oaks; Henry Perrin, 60, of Van Nuys; and Sharman Walker, 49, and Anthony Durant, 43, both of Canoga Park, are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12.