[3][5] In November 2000, John Ding Young of Formosa Plastics Group (FPG) sought Dingel out and, convinced that the invention was genuine, signed a "preliminary understanding" with him for several projects.
[4] 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 December 9, 2008, Judge Rolando How of the Parañaque 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.
"[3] Young claimed that Dingel signed a joint venture agreement with FPG, and initially received $30,000 in goodwill money and $20,000 for research and development.
[3] Former Solicitor General of the Philippines Francisco Chavez, whom Dingel asked to serve as his counsel, said that he would appeal the court decision before it became final on Christmas Eve 2008.