By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A career con artist who foolishly tried to scam a streetwise Swedish military commander vacationing in New York was convicted Monday of attempted robbery and weapon possession.
Louis Parson, 41, tried to con Lt. Peter Palm on Seventh Avenue near Penn Station by deliberately smashing vodka bottles — refilled with water — on the pavement and pretending it was Palm's fault.
"Excuse me sir, you just bumped into me," Parson told the tourist, before demanding $40 compensation.
"No, I'm not giving you money, you bumped into me," Palm rebutted.
Parson followed Palm and his 77-year old father Lars into the lobby of the Hotel Pennsylvania, where he pulled a box cutter on the the European military man.
"Don't tell me somebody's gotta get f***ed up over this," Parson threatened the commander, according to his own testimony.
Two plainclothes NYPD officers were trailing Parson and Palm, along with Palm's father, into the Hotel Pennsylvania where the Swedes had wandered to try to shake off the scammer.
The officers, who were seen following the trio on hotel surveillance video, arrested Parson, a violent predicate felon with a history spanning more than two decades.
Parson testified that the scam was his routine con game and that he frequented Midtown West area, which neighbors Herald Square and is normally swarming with tourists.
"I didn't know he was a military officer," Parson said on the witness stand.
Palm was back in New York last week to testify in Manhattan Supreme Court against his would-be scammer.
Parson also testified, claiming he pulled the box cutter only because he was scared Palm would punch him.
He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on March 25. The minimum possible punishment is 16 years, due to his criminal past.
