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Marine Sentenced to Prison For Fraud

RIVERSIDE (AP) — A Camp Pendleton Marine has been sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges.

Judge Virginia Phillips on Monday sentenced Eric Schmidt,40, of Murietta,. Prosecutors say he skimmed $1.7 million from government contracts in Iraq.

Phillips says the scheme cost personnel in Iraq first aid kits and explosive detecting devices.

Schmidt pleaded guilty last May to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Schmidt's wife, 39-year-old Janet Schmidt, pleaded guilty last year to a tax offense for failing to report income received as part of the scheme.

She faces up to three years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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