Lawrence Tchakounte

One of three African nationals charged in a nationwide online puppy scheme was paroled during sentencing in Butler County Court on Thursday.

Lawrence N. Tchakounte, 27, was immediately paroled on time served after being sentenced by county Judge Timothy McCune to nine to 18 months in Butler County Prison.

However, he will not be released to the street. Tchakounte continues to be held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, according to his attorney, Public Defender Charles Nedz.

He was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, court costs and $2,421 in restitution.

Tchakounte previously pleaded guilty to felony corrupt organizations on Oct. 18, after being charged alongside two others — Lawrence N. Francis, 27, and Emmenuel Nkwate, 32 — with felony operating a corrupt organization, theft by deception, conspiracy counts to both, theft, receiving stolen property, forgery and criminal use of a communication device.

The defendants, all natives of Cameroon, lived in Slippery Rock Township at the time while Francis and Tchakounte attended Slippery Rock University.

Authorities said Francis and Tchakounte are both in the United States on student visas. Nkwate is here on a refugee visa.

Police said the system involved people looking to buy boxer puppies through Craigslist and other online sites, and money transfers.

Tchakounte was arrested in Lawrence County in March by Shenango Township police in connection with a similar online scam. That arrest eventually led to search warrants and the identification of his alleged accomplices. A search of Francis' car, which Tchakounte was driving when he was arrested, turned up receipts linked to the suspected scam, a fake Delaware driver's license and a fraudulent vehicle registration plate.

Police also searched the defendants' apartment and found more receipts and other evidence of their involvement in the online puppy racket, documents said,

During the investigation, state police also uncovered fake identification, including evidence of phony passports that the defendants were using.

Police said the scheme netted the trio tens of thousands of dollars from victims across the country. The money was laundered and eventually made its way to Africa.

Police suspect the victims sent an average $700 to the defendants believing they were going to get a boxer puppy, as advertised on Craigslist or through another website. But once the scammers got their hands on the money, the buyers got nothing.

Tchakounte told investigators that he came to the U.S. in January and that he did not know the other two individuals before arriving. By the time he landed here, Francis and Nkwate were both involved in the online scheme.

Just weeks after coming to America, according to court documents, he met the others and, at their encouragement, joined them in the scam.

Tchakounte and Francis were both arraigned and held in the county prison on $100,000 bail. Tchakounte's bail was later reduced to $25,000 cash.

Francis awaits further court proceedings. An arrest warrant was issued for Nkwate, whose whereabouts are still unknown.