Man Sentenced to 12 years in Prison for Scam
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- A 32-year-old Canadian man is sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for a telemarketing scam that prosecutors say netted $2.9 million over four years. Terrence Croteau was sentenced yesterday in federal court in East St. Louis, Ill. Between 2000 and 2004, Croteau had employees call individuals, businesses, charities, churches and sheriff's offices to offer them a listing in a business directory for $800. Officials say the directories were fake. Prosecutors say Croteau's two companies, MDSC Publishing and Pinnacle Publishing, ripped off more than 6,000 customers across the country. In May, Croteau pleaded guilty to 25 fraud-related counts.