American School for the Deaf alumni bilked of nearly $400000

From: WTNH - New Haven,CT,USA - May 26, 2004

(Hartford-AP, May 26, 2004 8:17 AM) _ A graduate of the American School for the Deaf has pleaded guilty to federal charges that he bilked six others affiliated with the West Hartford school of nearly $400,000.

Massoud Shokouhi Vafa pleaded guilty to wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Hartford yesterday. He was accused of taking $384,432 from six people who believed his story that he was a Wall Street investor.

The 55-year-old Shokouhi did not invest the money in stocks and bonds but instead gambled it away in Atlantic City.

He faces 27 to 33 months in prison when he is sentenced August 13th. He also faces almost certain deportation to his native Iran once a prison term is completed.

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