Conman farmer convicted of depriving victims of €177,000

A CONMAN who effectively laughed at his victims when he named one of his companies Pear Shaped Resources has been convicted of depriving them of €177,000.

A jury took just 62 minutes at the end of a five-day trial to convict Thomas Elvin — a small farmer with 17 acres and 20 cows — of all 26 charges against him.

Elvin, aged 50, whose Pear Shaped Resources was based in the British Virgin Islands, claimed at Donegal Circuit Court he was a penniless bible-believer who wanted to raise millions for benevolent causes.

His defence lawyer said Elvin had none of the trappings of a conman.

He had operated from a computer on his farm at Meencargagh, Ballybofey, through an internet contact with a US aide who, the court was told, had a plan to raise 25% profit a day on high-risk investments on international currency exchanges.

The Florida-based aide was reportedly linked to a company called Loan Doctors and also worked for Pear Shaped.

Elvin admitted to the jury — whom he addressed in a whisper as he suffered from asthma and depression — he hoped to turn $50,000 into $98 million in between 30 and 45 days. But the aide duped him.

Elvin only sent €33,500 to the aide. He kept all the other money.

None of the money was returned and none of the victims received a penny in the operation between 2003 and 2005.

Elvin, who was always immaculately dressed, met his victims in plush hotels and at their homes.

The victims included a former pub owner and a family with a shop in Donegal town.