INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ A Fishers man who swindled an Indianapolis church trying to rebuild after a fire out of $400,000 and two Indianapolis-area men out of $225,000 has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Sixty-nine-year-old Hrond Arman Gasparian was convicted in June on 10 counts of wire fraud. He was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Acting United States Attorney Josh Minkler says Gasparian claimed he was a loan broker who could secure funding for businesses and non-profits.
Minkler says the first scheme involved Bell's Chapel Church in Indianapolis. He says Gasparian told members seeking financing to rebuild the church that burned in 2008, he could secure a $3 million grant but would need $365,000 for earnest money and $35,000 non-refundable fee to broker the deal.
