Swindler faces up to 6 years for defrauding Sochi pensioner

A 72-year-old pensioner in Sochi fell victim to a fraudulent «builder» she entrusted with landscaping her property, according to the Sochi police press service.

The con artist gained the pensioner«s trust, drew up estimates for future work, took money in installments »for materials,« and never began any landscaping.

Over 10 days, he swindled more than 660,000 rubles (approx. $7,100 at current rates) from the woman before cutting off all contact. Criminal investigation officers from Sochi«s Central District police department located the 39-year-old suspect, a previously convicted migrant from Bashkortostan, and brought him to the station.

He had already spent the pensioner«s money. A criminal case has been initiated against him under Part 3, Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code (»Fraud«). He faces up to six years in prison.