Man Sentenced for Selling Fake Gloves During Pandemic
- A man in Southern California has been sentenced to prison for defrauding buyers of gloves during the pandemic.
- The man was found guilty of selling fake gloves, taking advantage of the high demand during the pandemic.
- The sentence serves as a warning against fraudulent activities exploiting public health crises.
LOS ANGELES—Christopher Badsey, a 63-year-old man from Lake Forest, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison on August 23 for defrauding victims out of more than $3 million in a scheme involving COVID-related medical protective equipment. Badsey pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud in April 2023, admitting to misleading buyers about his access to millions of boxes of medical-grade nitrile gloves through his company, First Defense International Security Services Corp (FDI). During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for personal protective equipment surged, Badsey entered into contracts with three companies, requiring them to pay monetary deposits to inspect the gloves before delivery. However, when the victims attempted to visit the supposed warehouse in Los Angeles, they were met with excuses from Badsey and his employees, who claimed the gloves were unavailable for inspection or delivery. Federal prosecutors revealed that Badsey directed the companies to wire their deposits to accounts he controlled, ultimately totaling $3.23 million. He used the funds for personal expenses, including luxury items, while concocting elaborate stories to delay the delivery of the gloves, even claiming that government agents were obstructing access to the warehouse. In addition to his prison sentence, Badsey has forfeited various assets linked to his crimes, including a yacht, multiple vehicles, and cash. He was also ordered to pay over $1.9 million in restitution to his victims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.