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Seven years in prison for Grinchlike scammer

MIAMI - A show promoter labeled a "Grinch" by prosecutors for selling tickets to thousands of children for a nonexistent Christmas pageant was sentenced Wednesday to more than seven years in prison by a federal judge who pronounced his actions "reprehensible."

David Lee Ellisor, 52, was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $38,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Richard Goldberg.

Ellisor was convicted in February of eight counts of mail fraud for a December 2003 scam in which he sold $10 tickets to more than 2,700 Miami-Dade County schoolchildren and parents for a "Christmas Around the World" show he falsely claimed was sponsored by the University of Miami and would be attended by ambassadors from 28 countries and feature live reindeer.

Hundreds of children were left crying outside the Coconut Grove Convention Center when they learned there would be no show. Trial evidence indicated that Ellisor emptied the show's bank account of $4,000 to buy a Jaguar XJC luxury car.

"Mr. Ellisor, what you did was reprehensible, to take money from young, vulnerable and impressionable children," Goldberg said. "I am convinced that given the chance, you would do it all over again."

In brief remarks, Ellisor insisted he was a longtime successful promoter and an accomplished guitarist and violinist. He said the show turned out bad for reasons beyond his control.

"It was not my intent to defraud anyone," he said.

Ellisor's attorney, Stuart Adelstein, urged leniencythat 18 months Ellisor already has spent behind bars changed him. He also said the offense didn't warrant a long prison stretch.

"Certainly everybody was upset, but there was certainly no long-term, devastating impact on these kids," Adelstein said.

"Well, we really don't know that, do we?" Goldberg replied. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Shipley said Ellisor had pulled similar scams in Utah, California, Missouri, Colorado and Arizona.

"This defendant is ready, willing and able to take money from vulnerable children when it suits his purposes," Shipley said.

[Last modified August 11, 2005, 00:42:17]