A former Crown Point (Indiana) man must pay $19 million in restitution and serve five years in prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar telemarketing scam that promised job seekers careers in the post office.
Judge Allen Sharp followed plea agreement guidelines Friday during the 30-minute sentencing hearing for William H. Tankersley at the U.S. District Court in South Bend.
Tankersley ran a nationwide scam for seven years, promising jobs in the U.S. Post Office for a flat fee of $39.95, plus $7 shipping and handling. Thousands of people nationwide responded to newspaper ads and were mailed brochures guaranteeing them a job and high scores on the postal exams within two weeks.
Tankersley worked in offices in Merrillville and Crown Point, and his advertisements were posted in newspapers throughout the country.
Consumers who called for more information about the ads were directed to telemarketers from National Answering or The Rosewood Group at 701 E. 83rd Ave. in Merrillville.
The telemarketers asked the callers several questions which would prequalify them for the employment, according to court documents. One of the questions asked was whether they could start working in two weeks. The jobs, however, didnﾴt exist.
Between 1996 and 1998, Tankersleyﾴs business, which operated as Think Achievement, Career Advancement Corp. or Information Delivery Services, earned $31 million, according to court documents.
In 1991, Tankersley was ordered in a civil lawsuit to repay clients $28 million. He was later convicted in federal court and sentenced to 27 months in prison for attempting to conceal and make profits on some of his assets before his trial. Prosectors said he sold his yacht for $293,000 and attempted to transfer a $191,500 check to the Bahamas from Portage, payable to himself.
Tankersleyﾴs most recent 60-count grand jury indictment included charges of wire fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns, forfeiture and conspiracy.
When he pleaded guilty to the charges in February, the sentencing guidelines suggested he receive 57 to 71 months in prison.
Sharpﾴs sentencing of 57 months was fair, his attorney, Nick Thiros, said.
ﾓWe asked for the court to follow the plea agreement,ﾒ he said following the sentencing.
By Danielle Braff / Post-Tribune staff writer
www.post-trib.com
