The former WFAN morning show co-host is on trial for allegedly swindling investors out of millions of dollars in a ticket resale business, in part, to pay his gambling debts. Newsday reports that U.S. Attorney Brendan Quigley said Carton, “had one of the most influential and trusted voices in radio in New York City. People liked him, people trusted him and he lied to those people. That’s fraud and it’s a serious crime.”
Carton argues that he had a legitimate ticket resale business and never intended to defraud anyone. He claims he was victimized by Joseph Meli, who’s now in prison for a separate ticket-related Ponzi scheme. Newsday reports that Carton thought Meli was legitimate, and he was played. Defense lawyer Robert Gottlieb told the jury. “He had no reason to suspect that Meli was the con man, the huckster that Mr. Meli turned out to be.”
The trial continues today.
