LOS ANGELES – A lawyer has been convicted of using a credit card scam (search) to pay his way through law school.
Christian Ehlers (search), 29, a 2001 graduate of Loyola Law School (search), was found guilty Tuesday of conspiracy, fraud and other federal offenses in a scam authorities said cost credit card companies $1.2 million.
Prosecutors said Ehlers and two friends obtained hundreds of cards using bogus names and Social Security numbers, rang up phony purchases on stolen store equipment, and then, posing as stores, collected reimbursement from the credit card companies.
The two other men pleaded guilty.
Ehlers was admitted to the California bar in 2001 and his status was still listed as "active" Wednesday.
Prosecutors said the charges carry up to 175 years in prison. Sentencing was set for Feb. 5.
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