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Man posed as recording artist to get guitars

Colin

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(Article taken from the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 01/04/2006)


Brian G. Sparks claimed he was a famous guitar player, but in front of a judge on Tuesday he changed his tune.

Sparks, 42, admitted in U.S. District Court at St. Louis that he had bilked businesses out of about $18,000 worth of electric guitars and music equipment by posing as Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Johnson. Sparks pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.

He acknowledged that he posed as Johnson to victimize guitar dealers around the country, convincing them to send him guitars and equipment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen said.

Johnson, of Austin, Texas, gained prominence in 1990, when his instrumental single "Cliffs of Dover" won a Grammy award.​
 
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