Canadian sentenced for running fake online dating

Published 9:49 pm Friday, November 12, 2010

SEATTLE — The U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle says a Canadian man who ran online dating services — but provided fake “dates” — has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for mail fraud.

The government said a U.S. District Court judge on Friday also ordered 66-year-old Barrie Turner, of Delta, B.C., to pay more than $300,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors allege Turner took money from more than 1,000 customers, but sent them fake matches. They said if clients attempted to meet them, they were sent e-mails saying the person was no longer interested.

Turner was arrested in March after he tried to cross the border at Point Roberts to pick up mail. He pleaded guilty in June.