(MARIETTA, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a Marietta man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for running an electronics sales scam that defrauded 22 victims, including elderly individuals and a church.
Wayne Hunter, 47, was sentenced today in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas to serve 30 months in prison and to pay $14,637.87 in restitution to victims.
Hunter agreed to the joint sentence recommendation in June, when he pleaded guilty to one count of attempt to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity, one count of grand theft, and one count of theft against an elderly person.
Between March 2014 and December 2014, Hunter accepted over $14,000 in upfront payments for computers or video equipment that he failed to deliver to customers. Among the victims were nine elderly consumers and a church that paid Hunter $3,849 for a sound system it never received.
In some cases Hunter allegedly told elderly consumers that their existing computers were fire hazards or beyond repair in order to sell them a new computer, which he never delivered.
“Mr. Hunter took thousands of dollars from his victims, including elderly consumers and a local church, while providing nothing in return,” Attorney General DeWine said. “We appreciate those who came forward to report this scam and the local law enforcement officials who helped ensure that Mr. Hunter was held accountable for his crimes.”
Hunter had operated a computer business in downtown Marietta called Wayne’s Computer World or Wayne’s World of Computers, offering computer repairs and sales.
The case was investigated by Attorney General DeWine’s Economic Crimes Unit (a division of the office’s Consumer Protection Section), the Marietta Police Department, and the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Washington County Sheriff’s Department also assisted with the matter.
An attorney with Attorney General DeWine’s Economic Crimes Unit was appointed special prosecutor by the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office to handle the case.
Consumers who suspect a scam or unfair business practice should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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