PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Federal officials say they've auctioned off a Renoir painting and a custom-built sports car they seized from a convicted con man to help repay victims of his $6 million fraud.
The U.S. attorney's office in Providence says on Thursday that it raised $740,000 from the two auctions of the items seized from Rocco DeSimone.
The Renoir work on canvas is titled "Paysage a Cagnes" and sold for $551,000. The 2006 Ford GT sports car sold for $189,000.
The sum will go toward partial restitution of DeSimone's victims.
DeSimone was convicted in 2011 of seven counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Prosecutors said he scammed investors into giving him money for inventions, then wasted their money on things like falconry and jamming with the band Aerosmith.
The U.S. attorney's office in Providence says on Thursday that it raised $740,000 from the two auctions of the items seized from Rocco DeSimone.
The Renoir work on canvas is titled "Paysage a Cagnes" and sold for $551,000. The 2006 Ford GT sports car sold for $189,000.
The sum will go toward partial restitution of DeSimone's victims.
DeSimone was convicted in 2011 of seven counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Prosecutors said he scammed investors into giving him money for inventions, then wasted their money on things like falconry and jamming with the band Aerosmith.