SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - A concert violinist was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison and ordered to repay $436,800 to people he defrauded in sales of violins, violas and bows. Prosecutors said Joseph Hokai Tang "abused his position of trust that the victims had placed in him ... because of his status as a violinist."
Tang, 29, of Eugene, Ore., pleaded guilty to 10 counts of mail fraud and wire fraud, in a plea bargain. He admitted he misrepresented the authenticity and condition of the instruments in order to sell them, and that he had at least 10 victims.
U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel sentenced Tang to 37 months in prison, to begin immediately.
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