FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – A Florence man was sentenced to more than four years in prison after defrauding people for nearly a decade, according to United States Attorney Sherri Lydon.
A press release from Lydon’s office says Edward Lawrence Johnson, II, 42, of Florence, was sentenced in federal court in Florence to four years and three months in prison and ordered to pay $1,246,122 in restitution, for violations of wire fraud.
Evidence presented at the change of plea and sentencing hearings established that Johnson defrauded at least 41 victims from 2007 to 2016 primarily on the internet by selling goods, such as cell phones, or services, such as promoting musicians, which he never provided.
Prosecutors say Johnson used at least 11 aliases and 14 business names while defrauding individuals and businesses of $1,246,122. The case was investigated by the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office handled the case.
