Saturday, 3 April 2010

WILD WEST WORLD FOUNDER JAILED

WICHITA, - The founder of a defunct Wichita-area theme park has been sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding investors.

A Sedgwick County jury convicted 55-year-old Thomas Etheredge in February on seven counts of securities fraud. He was sentenced Friday in Sedgwick County District Court.

The case arose from his efforts in 2006 and 2007 to raise capital for the Wild West World in Park City. The park opened for three months but went bankrupt and closed in July 2007.

Etheredge was accused of failing to disclose to investors that he had prior criminal convictions and was an investment risk.

Seven investors gave him between $50,000 to $300,000 each to help develop the park.

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