Thomas John Sfraga, who is not an importer, exporter, architect, or even a latex salesman, but a debt-ridden Seinfeld fan and podcaster, has been sentenced for defrauding investors of millions.
According to the New York Times, Sfraga—or “TJ Stone,” as he refers to himself—will serve up to 45 months in prison for stealing roughly $2 million from friends, neighbors, and strangers alike through his two businesses, Build Strong Homes LLC and, drum roll, Vandelay Contracting Corp., between 2019 and 2022. Sfraga reportedly collected money from real estate and crypto investors for his two companies—the latter a wholesale lift of George Costanza’s fictionalized company in Seinfeld—promising them returns of 30% to 60% for buying into Sfraga’s house-flipping and crypto schemes.
Except, most, if not all, of that money went into Sfraga’s pocket, and when it was time to collect, the Brooklyn man dodged calls and gave some pretty wild excuses for not promptly coming up with the money or getting back to his investors. Sfraga told one of his victims that he was visiting his dying father in Alaska, and another that he’d suffered a heart attack (both, objectively, very Costanza-like cop-outs). It’s unclear whether either of those victims were among the half-dozen who showed up for Sfraga’s sentencing hearing last week, but those in attendance seemed relieved some justice would be served. In court on Thursday, March 13, Sfraga was ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution on top of the 45-month sentence. As the judge delivered the sentence, Sfraga looked out to see a neighbor he defrauded wearing a black t-shirt with his face and the word “grifter” across it.
The whole scene actually reeks of the Seinfeld series finale, in which George, Elaine, Jerry, and Kramer are sentenced to a year in prison for violating a “good samaritan” law. Here, at least, it seems Sfraga was able to outdo his sitcom inspo.
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