The Associated Press

Tue, Sep 9, 2008 (4:42 a.m.)

A Las Vegas man convicted of masterminding a telemarketing scheme that swindled at least $43 million from more than 300,000 people has been sentenced to 29 years in prison.

The U.S. attorney's office in East St. Louis said Monday that Kyle Kimoto, convicted in April, also will serve a term of five years supervised release and pay restitution of $34.9 million.

The government alleged Kimoto led consumers to believe they would get credit cards. But those who responded to the pitch and paid fees of $159 or more just received an application for a card that had to be loaded with money.

The indictment alleged Kimoto operated the scheme out of Utah through a Nevada corporation.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com