In December 2008, Dingel became even more controversial when he was found guilty and sentenced to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment in an Estafa (swindling) case filed against him by Young and FPG. In a decision dated Dec. 9, 2008 Judge Rolando How of the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 257 found him guilty of taking $410,000 from FPG, saying that Dingel "defrauded Young when the inventor failed to fulfill his obligation of developing his “hydrogen reactor” and creating experimental cars in 2000." [1]
The decision has been quoted as saying:
“Mr. Dingel did not use the money for the purpose it was intended ...He excused himself from producing or developing the prototypes allegedly after entertaining the notion that his invention would be stolen. Since he thought of it, he should have returned the money to Dr. Young and told the latter to forget his invention... He did not purchase the three cars, [he] did not work on his research and [he] did not develop the invention ... Mr. Dingel’s misappropriation of the money has no doubt resulted to damage and prejudice of Dr. Young and the FPG in the sum of $380,000.” [1]