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LEE COUNTY — Business owner Ronald John Mendleski of Bokeelia pleaded guilty for his role in selling the personal information of tens of thousands of people to fraudulent telemarketers.
The telemarketers used the information to target potential victims for various fraudulent schemes, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa.
Mendleski pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Mendleski admitted he operated an enterprise for several years that provided telemarketers with “sweepstakes leads” — phone numbers and personal information of people who responded to mass mailings notifying them they had won or were about to win prizes and cash payouts, authorities contended.
According to the statement, Mendleski admitted he sold the information to scammers knowing they intended to use it to engage in fraud. He also admitted the scheme generated him over $1.5 million.
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