Canadian Violinist gets three years in prison for fraud

Joseph Tang google

Canadian Violinist gets three years in prison for fraud

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2 hours, 41 minutes ago  2008.10.21

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By The Associated Press
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SAN FRANCISCO - A Canadian man convicted of swindling San Francisco Bay Area violin collectors out of thousands of dollars has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.

Authorities say Joseph Tang, an accomplished violinist, posed as a broker and took high-end instruments on consignment, but never paid the owners.

In May, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty in federal court to eight counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud between 2002 and 2006.

At his sentencing Monday, Tang was also ordered to pay more than $436,000 in restitution to the victims.

Tang, a Canadian citizen, also faces deportation.