Con Man Who Sold Fake Bomb Detector Is Sentenced To Ten Years

This CNN.com report covers the career and fall of James McCormick, who sold thousands of fake bomb detectors to governments and individuals in all parts of the world, some of whom paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the devices. British police say the ADE651 is really just a golf ball finder.

A UK judge has now sentenced Mr. McCormick to three ten year sentences on three counts of fraud, to run concurrently. He will not be eligible for parole for at least five years.

At the sentencing, the judge told Mr. McCormick he was successful in convincing customers to purchase the devices through "extravagant and fraudulent claims." Detective Inspector Edward Heath told CNN that the defendant "'is a conman. He uses sleight of hand, absurd sales tactics to actually con governments, officials, private individuals out of money to buy this device.'"