Oleson sentenced for selling fake Facebook stock

OSHKOSH - The Oshkosh woman convicted of selling fake Facebook stock is going to prison. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Marianne Oleson to seven years in prison. Oleson was convicted of scamming acquaintances, friends and family out of tens of thousands of dollars by selling them the fake shares - all while the company was still privately owned and no actual stock in Facebook was available.

"I am very sorry. I am very sorry. I never want to hurt anyone again," said Oleson, speaking through tears as she apologized in court. 

She acknowledged that a lot of people lost money because of her deceit.

"I see and know how much I need help and I want help," said Oleson.

Oleson's mother spoke in her daughter's defense. She said there is a lot of good in her daughter's heart, despite the mistakes she's made.

"I believe she is a person worth saving and she should be given a chance to continue working on her problems," said Jeanette St. Andre.

Oleson's attorney asked the judge for probation so Oleson can seek help for bipolar disorder, but Judge Barbara Key said Oleson's lies and tricks have added up, citing a past history of fraud. Key said mental illness is no excuse.

"The only term I could come up with was master manipulator," said Key.

Randy Stafford is one of the people Oleson scammed. He told FOX 11 Oleson owes him $29,000. Stafford said he hopes Oleson learns her lesson.

"She hurt people and intentionally set things us without any feelings of concern for how it might affect other people. Prison may give her some time to look at her acts and how she's affected people," said Stafford.

Oleson will be on extended supervision for more than a decade after she gets out of prison. She will also have to pay her victims back. Oleson says she has already returned some of the money.