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March 28, 2008

Alert: Jury finds Kluth guilty on 30 of 31 counts

PROVIDENCE -- The jury has returned a verdict against con man John Kluth Jr. in the second day of its deliberations.

The jury took about 8 hours total to find Kluth guilty of 30 out of 31 charges of obtaining money under false pretenses.

The charges range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the amount of money and the age of the victim.

The one count upon which he was acquitted -- a complaint by noted local philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein.

One victim of Kluth's con -- who told targets his lobster truck had broken down and that he needed to get it fixed -- came into the courtroom just to hear the verdict.

That was Eugene McMahon, state jury commissioner, whose testimony the jury asked to have read back to them earlier today.

Dates have not yet been set for Kluth's next appearance in court, according to a statement sent from the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.

Kluth also is wanted for alleged scams in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Extra: Listen to Kluth explain his actions to Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 1:38 PM | Permalink

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