CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials say hundreds of people were used in a massive Fedex scam run by a Charlotte man for five years.
A judge sentenced Ernest Keith Jr. to three years in prison after investigators say he ran a large fraud operation and defrauded Fedex out of more than $700,000.
They say he shipped 390 packages for 200 people offering cut rates, then sent items through Fedex. But Fedex never got paid.
Court records show Keith Jr. got away with it for five years by opening Fedex accounts in the names of bogus companies or using account numbers from legitimate ones.
Investigators say Fedex questioned customers creating a huge hassle and the company lost $720,000 in the scam, a cost prosecutors say can fall on customers.
Keith Jr. asked a judge for leniency with letters from family defending his character. In court, he explained how his attempt to be an entrepreneur turned into mismanagement that got out of hand.
The judge refused to back off the sentence, referring to Keith Jr. as a "fraudster."
Keith Jr.'s attorney said he spent all the money he stole but he will have to some how pay it all back even if it means forfeiting any property he may have.
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