Attorney General's News Release

February 22, 2000

Canadian telemarketer who pretended to be a judge sentenced to five years in prison for consumer fraud

Jefferson City, Mo. — A Montreal telemarketer who was caught on audiotape pretending to be a Canadian judge as a part of an attempt to scam Missouri victims was sentenced today in Cole County to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful merchandising practices.

Ronald James Blum, a/k/a "Sharky," was indicted by a Missouri grand jury in 1998 based partly on undercover tapes made by the office of Attorney General Jay Nixon. Blum was extradited to the United States to stand trial on both state and federal fraud charges and already has been sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for his telemarketing activities.

Blum, age 34, identified himself to an undercover investigator from Nixon's office as Randall Parham, a Quebec judge who was disbursing cash prizes left by a defunct contest company. During the calls made in late 1995, Blum told the investigator she could claim prizes totalling $100,000 by sending him more than $18,000 as payment for taxes to the Canadian government.

Judge Thomas Brown sentenced Blum to five years in prison for the scam, with the sentence to run concurrent to his federal prison sentence.

Nixon praised the work of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in helping bring about the charges against Blum.

"Increased cooperation among law enforcement agencies means that state and even international boundaries cannot act as barriers to bringing lawbreakers to justice," Nixon said.

Learn how to protect yourself from telemarketing fraud

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818