Connecticut Man Sentenced After Defrauding Family And Friends Of Nearly $500K

PROVIDENCE, RI—A Connecticut man will serve 63 months in prison for defrauding elderly family and friends of $447,000, the U.S. Attorney's office said Tuesday. Robert Oathout, 37, of Hartford, Conn., was sentenced in Providence federal court on Monday for wire fraud. According to court documents, Oathout asked his victims for help because he temporarily was short of money for medical bills, claiming that they'd be paid back as soon as a million-dollar settlement came through. He claimed the settlement was for a "botched" procedure performed on him at a Connecticut medical facility.

"Oathout told the victims that the medical facility would repay them upon payment of the settlement," the U.S. Attorney's office said. An FBI investigation concluded that no such medical procedure was performed on Oathout and that he was not due any settlement payments from the medical facility."

According to court papers, between Sept. 27, 2013, and Dec. 22, 2015, Oathout persuaded his victims, all between the ages of 67 an 87, to give him $447,267.25.

"Electronic transfers of varying amounts were made to Oathout before, while and after he was a federal inmate at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "Some of the funds were transferred into his and other inmates’ prison accounts while he was being detained on federal drug charges in an unrelated case brought against him by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut."

On July 16, he pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud. In addition to prison time, he was ordered to serve 3 years' probation after his release and to pay restitution.