Serial con man sent to prison

[Gann listens as the prosecutor speaks this morning. Carrie Pratt | Times]

TAMPA -- Jordan Gann, the man accused of posing as a doctor, lawyer or Realtor in order to steal money from unsuspecting victims across the country, earned his second prison sentence this morning.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Robert Foster sentenced Gann, 27, to 30 months in prison, followed by six months of community control and 24 months of probation.

Tampa police arrested Gann in October, after he convinced a woman he was a doctor who could help her pay off her student loans.

He said his name was Dr. Johnathan Marion and he had just purchased a $2.3-million condo. He told her he would give her $100,000 to help pay off her student loans if she paid him $750 to open the account.

She met him to give him the money but then changed her mind. He grabbed the cash and ran.

Gann pleaded guilty in January to one count of grand theft. Prosecutors did not offer him a plea deal, leaving his fate in the judge's hands.

"You use your charm, your good looks, your wit to take advantage of people," Foster said. "You're a predator. You prey on the naive and the harmless and the trusting."

Gann, who previously served prison time in Bay County for a similar offense, admitted to bilking the woman. He said he has a drug problem, but he was not going to use that as a crutch at sentencing.

"I'm not here to blow smoke," he said. "I've manipulated almost everybody I've come into contact with. I know it's unacceptable."

Gann has spent 146 days in jail already. He will end up serving about two years in prison.

Foster warned him of continuing his cons once he gets out.

"In the end, assure you, you will be caught," the judge said.

Previous coverage:

Con artist not apologetic

Suspected con man caught

Angry women, police on his trail

-- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer