More testimony today in a 43-million-dollar telemarketing trial underway in East St. Louis.
Kyle Kimoto (kim-oh-tow) is charged with wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. He's accused of misleading hundreds of thousands of consumers, including more than six-hundred in Southern Illinois.
Prosecutors allege Kimoto and his co-conspirators led consumers with poor or no credit to believe they would get MasterCard or Visa cards. Recorded phone calls played in court Tuesday reveal consumers were sold "pay as you go cards".
Kimoto's business associate, Peter Porcelli, has already pleaded guilty in the case. During government questioning, Porcelli told jurors Wednesday that Kimoto was in "total control" of the alleged bank card scheme that took funds from consumers' checking accounts.
On cross examination, Porcelli told the court he had approved the telemarketing language given to him by Kimoto. He also acknowleged that he had negotiated contracts for the cards with banks.
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posted on May 13, 2008 12:05 AM ()