LOS ANGELES—A man from Orange County has been sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison for defrauding victims who paid over $3 million for COVID-related medical protective equipment that was never delivered.
Christopher Badsey, aged 63 and residing in Lake Forest, pleaded guilty in downtown Los Angeles in April 2023 to four counts of wire fraud.
Badsey falsely claimed to have access to millions of boxes of medical-grade nitrile gloves through his Irvine-based company, First Defense International Security Services Corp (FDI). This specific type of personal protective equipment was in high demand and short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He entered into agreements with three companies, requesting a monetary deposit for the inspection of the gloves before delivery. However, after receiving the deposits, Badsey failed to deliver the gloves as promised.
Victims were led to believe that the gloves were stored in a warehouse in the Los Angeles area, but when they attempted to visit, they were given excuses and unable to inspect or receive the gloves.
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Badsey instructed the companies to wire the deposits to accounts controlled by himself, FDI, or a co-schemer. They wired a total of $3.23 million based on his false claims.
The prosecution argued that Badsey used the deposit money for personal purchases while misleading potential buyers with false stories, such as claiming that government agents were hindering access to the warehouse.
As part of his sentence, Badsey forfeited assets obtained through his crimes, including a yacht, vehicles, and cash. He was also ordered to pay over $1.9 million in restitution to the victims.
