MARIETTA - Before jurors found a Marietta man guilty of using investment schemes to take more than $2 million from a woman in her 80s, they a got to see how a real man of confidence works, District Attorney Pat Head said.

"That's what a con man is - a man who is able to gain people's confidence," Head said. "Fortunately, he did not get the confidence of the jury."

In Cobb Superior Court Wednesday, jurors found Frank Constantino, 64, guilty of three counts of theft by taking, three counts of exploitation of an elder person, six counts of violating the Georgia Securities Act, and one count of violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. They could not come to a unanimous decision on 16 other counts of theft and violations, thus were deadlocked.

Superior Court Judge Adele Grubbs will sentence Constantino Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. Head predicts he will get ten to 20 years, which could be a combination of prison and probation if the man agrees to restitution for the elder woman, Judy Cox.

Constantino's attorney, Francisco J. Marquez, of Belli, Weil, Grozbean, & Davis in Roswell, did not return calls for comment by press time.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Timmons prosecuted Constantino, who was arrested last year after being indicted on the charges. As the judge determined Constantino to be a flight risk, no bond was set and he has been in jail since.

According to his indictment, "Constantino acted as a financial and estate planner for (Jewell) Judy Cox and convinced her to provide him with United States currency in excess of $2 million. Constantino was to invest that currency in certain business ventures related to Belize, a country located in Central America. (Constantino) insisted that these investments were safe, would generate large returns and that (Constantino) would also be investing in these business ventures."

Constantino took "at least a portion of the funds he received from Judy Cox for his own personal use or for the use of other persons," according to the indictment.

The indictment also states Constantino was not registered to sell securities in Georgia, and was actually legally prohibited from selling securities during some of the times he made the sale. Allegations date back to at least 2002.

Head said other victims from Missouri testified during the trial, which began last Tuesday. However, Head said he is unaware of any other local victims other than Cox.

Head said Cox was "a very good witness."

"It's like looking at your grandmother - and what someone did," he said.