A Georgia man who pleaded guilty to wire fraud after he used COVID relief funds to purchase a rare Pokémon card has been sentenced to 36 months in prison.
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As previously reported, Vinath Oudomsine,31, purchased a rare Charizard Pokemon card with the money he received from the government after applying for a COVID relief loan. Oudomsine claimed he ran a small business and was awarded $85,000 and used $57,789 to purchase a first-edition, shadowless, and holographic Charizard card as told by Polygon. The card was also listed with a 9.5 gem mint rating. and purchased from the PWCC marketplace in December.
Oudomsine was ordered by a judge to pay $10,000 in addition to the $85,000 in restitution and serve 36 months in prison. He also agreed to turn the card over to the government. After serving his prison sentence, Oudomsine will also serve three years of supervised release.
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“Congress appropriated funding to assist small businesses struggling through the challenges of a global pandemic. Like moths to the flame, fraudsters like Oudomsine took advantage of these programs to line their own pockets – and with our law enforcement partners, we are holding him and others accountable for their greed.” said U.S. Attorney David H. Estes.