Wild West World founder Thomas Etheredge has been sentenced to five years in prison – 30 times longer than his park survived – for defrauding investors.
A jury in Wichita, Kansas, heard from nearly 40 witnesses, then convicted the 55-year-old Etheredge in February on seven counts of securities fraud.
In 2006 and 2007 he raised capital for Wild West World in nearby Park City. The attraction closed after just two months and declared bankruptcy.
Etheredge was accused of failing to disclose to investors that he had prior criminal convictions and was an investment risk. Seven investors gave him between $50,000 to $300,000 each to help develop the park.
