LEBANON, Ohio — The man accused of scamming car dealerships across the Tri-State jas been convicted and sentenced.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced Friday that a Warren County judge sentenced 53-year-old Jerry Agostini to 19 years in prison for fabricating financial records and a dummy corporation, Engineered Environmental, to get loans to buy vehicles from car dealerships.
DeWine said Agostini scammed the dealerships and others out of more than $800,000 between 2014 and 2015, and investigators recovered nine vehicles taken as part of the scene.
Agostini was also ordered to pay restitution.
“This man was a true con artist,” DeWine said in a statement Friday afternoon. His crimes were widespread and intentional.”
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell agreed, saying, “I’m often amazed out how much effort these scam artists put into developing their criminal schemes, as opposed to using their talents to benefit society.”
When indicted on the charges last August, Agostini was already incarcerated at the Clermont County Jail, serving sentences for theft and identity theft.
