eBay figurine scammer gets 6 years in the slammer

freeP.com: 

A former White Lake Township figurine dealer who ripped off more than $300,000 from eBay customers in an online scam was sentenced Monday to more than six years in prison — a hefty penalty that surprised both the prosecution and defense.

“I have to send a message to Americans that there will be swift and sure punishment for these types of crimes,� U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedmancq-ashenfelter told Stewart Richardson before sentencing him to consecutive 37-month prison sentences for mail and wire fraud. Friedman also ordered Richardson, 65, to pay $323,261 in restitution to the victims of his fraud.

The sentence was twice as harsh as the Probation Department had calculated cq on calculated.