WASHINGTON — A 72-year-old Bokeelia man pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in selling personal information from tens of thousands of people to fraudulent telemarketers, the Justice Department said.
Ronald John Mendleski admitted to making more than $1.5 million in a scheme that sent phone numbers and other information to scammers, according to the Justice Department.
Mendleski was accused of mining the information via “sweepstakes leads,” which came from people who responded to mass mailings falsely informing them they won, or were about to win, expensive prizes and enormous cash payouts.
He admitted that he sold the information to scammers, knowing that they intended to use the information to engage in fraudulent telemarketing, the Justice Department said.
Mendleski was facing one count of wire fraud following an FBI investigation. A sentencing date has not been set.
