An unemployed British truck driver has been convicted of trying to sell the world famous Ritz Hotel for 250 million pounds ($380 million) to a duped investor.
Anthony Lee convinced potential buyer Terence Collins to hand over a million pounds in 2006. The 49-year-old Lee claimed he was a close friend and associate of Frederick and David Barclay, the billionaire brothers who own the central London hotel.
But the Barclay brothers had never heard of Lee and were unaware he was claiming to be able to sell the hotel. The sale never happened and the money was never returned.
Prosecutors said that as soon as he got the money, Lee split it with a friend and blew the cash on a spending spree.
Lee faces sentence on July 27.
