Judge Randall Cole has sentenced a Hammondville man, who pled guilty to three counts of Theft by Deception 1st Degree, to ten years in prison on each case.

Thomas V. Warren entered the guilty plea in May (2013).

Warren had been operating websites under different names, and was selling silver coins over the Internet.

Victims from Alabama and other states reported sending payment but never receiving the coins – with some customers being out as much as $20,000.

Investigator Josh Summerford with the District Attorney’s Office, said he was able to establish a pattern of the thefts, thereby leading to the felony Theft by Deception 1st Degree charges.

Deputy District Attorney Bob Johnston stated that there are probably more victims in other states that authorities don’t yet know about, simply because the victims don’t know what jurisdiction to contact regarding their loss.

District Attorney Mike O’Dell said that he was pleased with the sentence because it appeared the only way to stop Warren from continuing to commit the crimes, was for him to be incarcerated – he also commended Investigator Summerford and Deputy District Attorney Johnston for the hard work and long hours they put in, to bring the case to a close.