Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit March 9, 1998, 97-1542, 97-1543 (United States v. Paul R. Stafford, Sr., and Robert L. Allison)

POSNER, Chief Judge.

The defendants, Stafford and Allison, were tried together before a jury on a variety of charges relating to an advance-fee loan scam, were convicted, and were sentenced to 188 and 160 months of prison, respectively.

In this type of scam, the con men make a phony offer of a large loan on highly advantageous terms upon condition that the borrower pay a sizable fee in advance.