Repeat offender

Fraudster (33) cashed in on coronavirus protective masks

The defendant made a remorseful confession to the judge(Bild: © Harald Dostal / 2024, Krone KREATIV)

The shortage of face masks at the start of the coronavirus pandemic gave a convicted fraudster from Upper Austria the idea of making a quick buck. The man with a gambling addiction offered to provide a company with more than one million masks. He collected several 100,000 euros for this, but never delivered.

"And every day the groundhog greets the groundhog - you obviously already have a routine of being accused," the public prosecutor said to the defendant on Monday at the Linz Regional Court during the fraud trial for undelivered face masks. 

A total of six previous convictions
The 43-year-old's criminal career is indeed remarkable and has lasted more than ten years. A total of six previous convictions, four of which are relevant, are noted in his criminal record. With two convictions, the probationary period for conditionally suspended prison sentences is still in place. The damage he has caused now amounts to almost one million euros.  

1.25 million face masks
On Monday, the case concerned a serious fraud that the father of three had caused in Gallneukirchen during the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. The prosecution accused him of untruthfully promising the delivery of 1.25 million respiratory masks to another company as managing director of a company and collecting 380,000 euros in return. "He was never in a position to deliver the masks, the money then trickled away somewhere," emphasizes the public prosecutor.

"I was a very bad manager," the 43-year-old told the Linz senate of lay assessors. He also justified his fraud, to which he fully confessed, with his long-standing gambling addiction. "The casino was my retreat, it was like my second home - my living room. A place where I felt no pressure."

The casino was my retreat, it was like my second home - my living room. A place where I didn't feel any pressure.

Angeklagter vor Gericht

"I've fucked up so much"
However, he has since completed a long and successful course of therapy, acquiring skills that could prevent him from relapsing. He also has no plans to ever work as a self-employed person again. He has the support of his family. "I've fucked up so much and I still get threats," he explained tearfully. He also has three wonderful children who encourage and support him. "He is not a ruthless criminal," his defense attorney affirmed. 

The panel of lay assessors gave the 43-year-old, who wants to make amends for the damage he has caused, another chance. The final sentence: 18 months - six of them unconditional for aggravated fraud. He can apply for an ankle bracelet for the latter. The defendant thanked the court and accepted the sentence, the public prosecutor waived his right to appeal.