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June 16, 2008

Hearing today for convicted flimflam man

A hearing is scheduled today for a convicted con man who used fake stories of woe and despair to trick at least 30 people into giving him money.

John Kluth, a former Newport lobsterman, was convicted in March of obtaining money under false pretenses. He is scheduled for sentencing later this week.

But today he is scheduled for a habitual-offender hearing, when the judge could add up to 25 years to Kluth’s sentence for repeated unlawful acts. Kluth has been convicted of at least 54 crimes in three states, varying from passing bad checks to drug possession.

Victims who testified at Kluth’s trial said he would tell them that his lobster truck had broken down and he needed a quick loan to fix it before his lobsters went bad. He promised to return money and to thrown in some lobsters to say thanks.

But there was no truck, there were no lobsters and there wasn’t any repayment.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 9:02 AM | Permalink

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