Odenton Man Sentenced In Exploitation Scheme

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Anne Arundel County prosecutors say an Odenton man has admitted to tricking a mentally retarded man into giving him more than $250,000 over the course of three years.

Prosecutors say Eugene Allen Hinson, 59, pleaded guilty on Wednesday. He was sentenced to serve 18 months of a 10-year sentence in prison and ordered to pay restitution to Thomas Newberger, who prosecutors say has worked at the post office in Glen Burnie for about 30 years.

Prosecutors say that between 2005 and 2007 Hinson convinced Newberger, 50, to do things like co-sign on vehicle purchases, apply for loans and refinance the mortgage on his home multiple times to help pay for Hinson's expenses.

The scheme was discovered and reported by Newberger's siblings.

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