Man Is Sentenced for Scam

A bit of advice to con artists: Avoid trying your scams on criminal prosecutors.

A Woodland Hills man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges that he bilked at least six people out of $3,140 for trips to jazz festivals that he offered to arrange.

George M. Brauer, 55, pleaded no contest to charges of grand theft and selling travel packages without a license. Prosecutors said he provided some of the services he advertised, but also diverted clients’ money to his own pocket.

Brauer was caught after Jerry Smilowitz, a prosecutor for the attorney general’s office, got a fax from Brauer at his office advertising trips to jazz festivals.

Smilowitz said he had already received complaints about Brauer, but had not been able to find him for questioning.

“The fax indicated that he was still out there working,” Smilowitz said.

Smilowitz teamed up with Deputy City Atty. Mark Lambert to prosecute the case.

After Brauer pleaded no contest in a downtown Los Angeles municipal court, Judge Harold Crowder sentenced him to 180 days in jail, 36 months on probation and ordered that he pay $3,140 in restitution.

Brauer advertised under the names “Interworld Pacific Tours” and “Music in Paradise,” according to investigators.

Smilowitz said he is not sure why Brauer sent a flier advertising his travel services to the attorney general’s office, knowing he did not have a license and had already bilked several customers.

“It’s a curiosity,” he said.