Man Who Stole $1.4M To Pay Online Romance Scam Gets Prison

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A man who prosecutors say was victimized in an overseas, online romance scam has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for stealing more than $1.4 million from two Pittsburgh-area companies whose funds he controlled.

Fifty-nine-year-old Jeffrey Plimpton pleaded guilty in August to stealing the money from Alpha Aromatics, a fragrance business, and Pestco Professional Services, a pest control firm. Plimpton worked as the companies' controller.

During Thursday's sentencing, he also was ordered to repay the money.

Federal prosecutors sought about three years in prison, but Plimpton's attorney asked for leniency.

Plimpton used more than $80,000 to pay his mortgage and credit card bills but sent most of the money overseas at the direction of someone he thought was a woman he met online.

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