CLEARWATER, Fla. — Prosecutors in Pinellas County, Fla., are seeking a six-year prison sentence for Jonathan Yacketta, a water treatment equipment salesman who is accused of scamming customers out of more than $80,000 by using scare tactics and false claims, TBO.com reported.

WaterTech e-News Daily™ reported on Sept. 13, 2010, that Yacketta had been arrested on two felony charges of exploiting senior citizens, two misdemeanor counts of home solicitation without a permit and a violation of water treatment device requirement.

Yacketta made headlines again last December when an elderly woman told police that he misled her into paying $37,000 for filtration equipment that was worth no more than a few hundred dollars.

Yacketta was released from the Pinellas jail on $100,000 bail last week after spending eight months there awaiting trial, the article stated.

A trial date has been set for Aug. 20, 2011, but Yacketta’s attorneys said they hope to reach a plea deal, according to the story.

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