NYer pleads guilty in scam of noted pianist

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Credit RogerDavisonmusic.net

A New York businessman has pleaded guilty to defrauding a wealthy musician and oil-family heir of $20 million. WAMC’s Dave Lucas has details.

Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore said Vickram Bedi bilked pianist and composer Roger Davidson of $20 million over six years. Bedi and his company, Datalink Computer Products of Mount Kisco, pleaded guilty to one count of grand larceny on Tuesday.

The scam began in August 2004 when Davidson's computer developed a virus. Prosecutors say Bedi then persuaded Davidson that there were threats against him coming out of Central America and the CIA.

Davidson is a pianist and composer from Katonah, N.Y. He's founder and president of the Society for Universal Sacred Music. His great-grandfather and great-uncle founded the Houston-based oil services company Schlumberger Ltd.

Sentencing was set for Jan. 22.

© 2012 AP