Lisa Camp and Barry Biddle of Lake Elsinore were sentenced to nine years and $2.2 million in restitution for defrauding 4,000 job seekers in a telemarketing scam.
The couple escaped from supervision in August, 2020, and have not been found, according to the United States Attorney’s Office. Their sentencing hearings were originally scheduled for October, 2020, but sentencing happened on Feb. 6. They pleaded guilty in September and October, 2019.
They ran the telemarketing scam with their three adult children from 2009 to 2013, according to the indictment against them.
They auto-dialed their victims, and told them that they could get jobs leads if they passed a background check that would cost between $39 and $99. They claimed the money would be returned if the applicant did not pass the background check. After the victims would pay for the check over the phone, or through the couple’s website, the couple would keep the money, the indictment said.
The couple also employed salespeople.
The couple’s children have been sentenced for their participation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea Aviles of Lake Elsinore was sentenced to 18 months in prison, Gerald Camp of Lake Elsinore was sentenced to one year in prison and Allisa Vasquez of Sun City was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
They were each originally charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Biddle was also charged with bank fraud and identity theft in a separate case in 2018. He pleaded guilty Oct. 25, 2019.
California Central District Judge Stephen Wilson presided.
Assistant United States Attorney Julius Nam of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted.
Public Defender Craig Harbaugh defended.
Case No. 5:18-cr-00200.
Read the indictment here.
Read Biddle’s plea agreement here.
