An individual who has been involved in fraudulent activities, deceiving numerous individuals and embezzling $1.1 million in COVID-19 funds to support a lavish lifestyle, has been apprehended and is now facing imprisonment for his unlawful actions.
Joey Cipolla owned luxurious vehicles, including a Lamborghini and a Bentley, which were often parked in the driveway of his expensive mansion in Bloomingdale, Illinois, a prestigious suburb of Chicago.
He owned his own Cessna plane and had the ability to fly it. Additionally, he had a reputation for gambling large sums of money in casinos.
Serial Scammer Joey Cipolla's Fraud in Luxury Car Sales, COVID-19 Fund Misuse
Joey Cipolla's true nature was far from that of a legitimate businessman. Throughout his entire adult life, he operated as a fraudulent conman. He has admitted to defrauding individuals in luxury car sales on eBay and misusing COVID funds to purchase his home as reported by Daily Mail.
Now, federal prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence as they present their case for sentencing.
"He reminds me of someone from 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'," said Dion Antic, a Chicago restaurateur and victim, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. 'He's a notorious offender, and this has been an ongoing issue for a long time.'
Antic mentioned the 1999 film about a con artist while discussing Cipolla, who once handed him a counterfeit $35,000 check for a pre-owned Corvette. Three years ago, Antic created a Facebook account called 'Conned by Joey Cipolla' as a way to express his frustration.
Surprisingly, the account now has over 100 followers. He and other individuals who have been affected by Cipolla have developed strong connections through their shared experiences.
Members of Antic's conned community argue that Cipolla's sentence is far too lenient given the extent of his actions.
Cipolla's Lawyer Pleads for Seven-Year Sentence
Cipolla's attorney, Jack Corfman, is requesting a sentence of only seven years, asserting that Cipolla's addiction to cocaine played a significant role in his fraudulent activities.
Corfman argues that Cipolla has now turned his life around and is committed to living an honest life after getting sober in jail, according to Chicago Tribune.
According to Chapman, Cipolla's motive for deceiving numerous unsuspecting victims remains straightforward and unchanged.
"It's a clear example of excessive greed," Chapman stated.
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