Tuesday, December 14, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Three men who called themselves the "3 Hebrew Boys" and were convicted of fleecing thousands of people out of more than $80 million have been sentenced to decades in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Margaret Seymour on Tuesday sentenced Joseph Brunson and Timothy McQueen to 27 years in prison and Tony Pough to 30 years.

All three also were ordered to repay $82 million in restitution. The three were convicted in 2009 on nearly 60 charges each. Authorities say the men claimed they could make amazing returns in currency markets but actually invested less than $1 out of every $10,000 they were given.

Prosecutors say they used the cash for cars and houses.

The three remained defiant Tuesday, telling the judge they didn't think they did anything wrong and were only trying to help people.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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