Man admits ripping off customers
Published 11:48 pm Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Gulfport furniture store owner has pleaded guilty to bilking customers of thousands of dollars.
Charles Thomas Ingram III, former owner of High Point Furniture, pleaded guilty Monday on five counts of false pretense. Harrison County Circuit Judge Roger Clark set sentencing for May 5.
Prosecutors say Ingram faces up to 50 years in prison and more than $116,000 in restitution.
Prosecutors say Ingram set up shop in Prime Outlets, where his store at first appeared to be a legitimate business but was found to be a scheme to take advantage of people trying to recover from the hurricane.
Prosecutors say some people initially got the furniture they paid for, but after a while, a large number of people received nothing.