© Ohio Attorney General
Cleveland -- An Ohio Jury convicted mysterious mustachioed man John Donald Cody, also known as Bobby Thompson, on Thursday for masterminding a $100 million charity scam that preyed on people's sympathy for American military veterans.
The charges of theft, fraud, money laundering and the use of false identities stemmed from Cody's stewardship of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, which raised millions, but when examined by authorities, offered little proof that money was used to assist veterans.
After the scheme fell apart, Cody, who had identified himself as a retired lieutenant commander named Bobby Thompson, went on the run for two years and was ultimately captured in Oregon. But even after his arrest, Cody refused to confirm his real name, going so far as to sign his name "Mr. X" on court papers.
Now, Cody, 66, faces a sentence of at least 10 years in prison, and possible as many as 80 years. Sentencing for the defendant is expected to take place next month.
The swift verdict came after a series of stunning twists this week in the bizarre month-long case. After the prosecution took weeks to build its case, Cody on Tuesday surprised even his own lawyer when he announced he would not testify as he was scheduled to.
After consulting with his client, Cody's lawyer informed the judge that his client "would not be able to survive" cross examination.
Then Wednesday, after prosecutors walked the jury meticulously through the charges in a two-hour closing argument, Cody's lawyer revealed he was waiving his closing statement. In other words, Cody never mounted a defense.