Woman admits worker's comp fraud, was selling sex toys on eBay

budnonymous · Top Poster

RE: EBAY LOVES, PROFITS FROM, AND SUPPORTS CRIME WORLDWIDE:

budnonymous · Top Poster

Former Airline Employee Gets Prison for Stealing from Employer and Selling Goods on eBay

July 29, 2011

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison, followed by three years' supervised release, on his conviction of interstate transportation of stolen property, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today. Aikens was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $585,941.08 to U.S. Airways.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Ronald Aikens, 53.

According to information presented to the court, Aikens, a former employee of U.S. Airways, stole various properties from U.S. Airways valued at nearly $580,000 between 2004 and 2009. He then sold the property on eBay.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Schwab stated that this crime was not a single isolated incident, but involved a course of conduct that occurred over several years.

Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Aikens.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Monroe Policeman Indicted in Federal Court
For Selling $193,310 in Stolen Property on eBay

U.S. Attorneys Office

August 25, 2011

Western District of Louisiana

(318) 676-3641

SHREVEPORT, LA - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a police officer with the Monroe Police Department was indicted by the federal grand jury for selling stolen merchandise on eBay.

Raul X. Johnson, age 43, of Monroe, La., was named in a federal indictment charging seven counts of mail fraud and one count of false statement to a federal agent.

The indictment alleges that beginning in December 2004 and continuing until February 2009, Johnson and another caused payments to be sent to a West Monroe, La., post office box in payment for stolen merchandise sold on eBay. The defendant and another person allegedly listed 14,334 items for sale on eBay with sales prices totaling $193,310.53.

According to the indictment, Johnson personally opened the eBay, Paypal and bank accounts utilized in the scheme. The stolen merchandise sold on eBay had been obtained from a variety of national retailers with locations in Monroe. The indictment further alleges that during the course of an interview conducted by the FBI and the U. S. Postal Inspector, Johnson knowingly made fictitious and fraudulent material statements, including how much money he obtained from the scheme and whether he knew the merchandise being sold was stolen.

If convicted of mail fraud, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both on each count. False statement to a federal agent carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspector, and the Monroe Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney C. Mignonne Griffing.

budnonymous · Top Poster

(emphasis mine)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or

MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
September 16, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md

OPERATOR OF PAWN SHOP CASE PLEADS GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD CONSPIRACY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF STOLEN MERCHANDISE

Baltimore, Maryland - Scott Bradford, age 49, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the sale of stolen merchandise through Fast Money, the pawn shop he operated.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel S. Cortez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeannine A. Hammett of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

According to his plea agreement, from 2007 to March 2010, Bradford and others, operated Fast Money, a pawn shop located at 3529 S. Hanover Street in Brooklyn, Maryland. Scott Bradford had no ownership interest in Fast Money, but was primarily involved in the business's day-to-day operations. Scott Bradford admitted that he and others were involved in the purchase and sale of mass quantities of stolen over-the-counter medications, health and beauty aid products, gift cards, DVDs, tools, and other merchandise. Scott Bradford and others purchased large amounts of stolen items from shoplifters, also known as "boosters." The boosters would steal products from Target, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, and other retailers in Maryland and other states.

During this investigation, law enforcement officers observed boosters bringing in large bags full of stolen material to Fast Money, sometimes several times a day. The stolen items often had retail security labels and merchandise tags still on the products. Several witnesses took stolen merchandise directly to Scott Bradford and others at Fast Money. In addition, on March 17, 2010, an undercover detective conducted a controlled sale of a DeWalt power tool at Fast Money. The undercover had never been introduced by anyone into the shop and therefore went in unsolicited. The DeWalt power tool had a "spider wrap" security sensor around the entire box that was prominently displayed. This security system is often used by retailers to prevent thefts. The undercover sold the product to Scott Bradford, who accepted the merchandise even with the spider security wrap.

Scott Bradford had others use a heat gun and lighter fluid to remove the security labels from the stolen medications, tools, and other items. Once the items were "cleaned" and the security labels removed, Scott Bradford and others would sell the stolen items over the Internet using an eBay account. At one point, eBay closed the Bradford account. In response, Scott Bradford and others used other eBay accounts to continue their activities. After the transactions were completed, Scott Bradford and others used PayPal to collect payments and to wire funds to their bank accounts. Scott Bradford and others sold over $2.8 million in stolen items using eBay and PayPal. Scott Bradford made additional money with eBay and PayPal websites using nominee names and bank accounts, after eBay closed their account.

On March 25, 2010, agents from the United States Postal Inspection Service, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at Fast Money and the pawn and buy/sell shops in this case. Agents recovered in total well over $1 million in stolen merchandise, approximately $1 million in bank accounts, and over $140,000 in cash from these shops.

Between $1 million and $2.5 million in stolen merchandise was reasonably foreseeable to defendant Scott Bradford during the conspiracy.

Scott Bradford faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg has scheduled sentencing for February 2, 2012, at 2:00 p.m.

Fifteen defendants have pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy to date.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Baltimore County Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Department; and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation for their work in this investigation and commended Assistant United States Attorneys Sujit Raman and Joyce K. McDonald, who are prosecuting the case.

-------

...still no word on what ebaY and Paypal did with their shares

budnonymous · Top Poster

Irene 'fraud' hit $aps: AG

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

Last Updated: 11:40 AM, September 18, 2011

Posted: 12:14 AM, September 18, 2011

He was hoping for a flood of donations, and now hes in a boatload of trouble.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has shut down a suspected fraudster who claimed to be a search-and-rescue worker gathering cash for upstate victims of Hurricane Irene.

Benjamin Ellis Freedland went online posing as a volunteer for the Fire Department in Prattsville, a Catskills town ravaged by floods, and urging people to send cash to a PayPal account he set up, the AGs Office told The Post.

Additionally, the alleged huckster set up an e-mail address for his PayPal account that suggested he was with a well-known charity to help Marines.

But neither the Prattsville FD nor Marines Helping Marines knows or does business with him, the AGs Office said...

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/irene_fraud_hit_aps_ag_uE38wdgoYBr6OYw7yLRhvL#ixzz1YNIpIlyW

mugshot at link ^

budnonymous · Top Poster

Shrewsbury Police Blotter: Antique Mall Thief Caught Selling on eBay

The following information was supplied by the Shrewsbury Police Department. Arrests do not indicate convictions.

Monday, Sept. 12

Update: Police arrested a South St. Louis City man who leased a booth at the Kenrick Antique Mall. The suspect admitted to taking 16 items from other booths over the past seven months and selling the property on eBay, due to a lack of sales at his booth. The original report was filed on Aug. 28, regarding a theft from the Kenrick Antique Mall, 7435 Watson Rd. The owner of the property informed police that a ceramic dog ($15), an incense burner ($5) and ceramic elephant bookends ($20) were taken from the booth she leases between July 7 and Aug. 5. The owner of the property noticed the items listed on eBay.

repsky912 · Noob

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budnonymous · Top Poster

Originally Published: 9/21/2011 10:36:00 AM

Exeter man charged with selling counterfeit sporting goods

Steve Henshaw

Reading Eagle

Federal authorities have charged an Exeter Township man with selling via the Internet a gamut of golf and sporting goods and apparel, with counterfeit labels including the Titleist, TaylorMade and Ping brands, that he had shipped from China.

From 2007 to early this year, David R. Liss took orders totaling more than $142,000 through his eBay account and shipped most of the items to customers via the Postal Service from his home in the first block of Holly Drive, authorities said.

The charges were filed last week by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.

Liss is charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and mail fraud. He remains free to await further court action.

According to authorities:

On Sept. 23, 2010, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations placed an order on Liss' website, www.thegolfaccessoryoutlet.com, to be shipped to a Philadelphia address.

Liss sent the undercover agent an email stating that one of the items, a TaylorMade golf cart bag, would be shipped separately from a warehouse.

Within a week the golf bag arrived at the Philadelphia address from Hong Kong.

The remainder of the items arrived in early October. Among the items were two DeSean Jackson Philadelphia Eagles Reebok game jerseys, a Raul Ibanez Majestic Phillies jersey and a 10-piece set of Titleist neoprene golf club covers.

About five months later, on March 17, federal agents raided Liss' home and found numerous counterfeit merchandise, including 3,400 golf club covers with labels that included the Nike, Titleist, TaylorMade and Ping brand names.

Among the other items found in the residence were dozens of golf grips, golf clip makers, professional sports team jerseys and Major League Baseball World Series patches. There were also 19 Zumba Fitness DVDs.

The fake labels were nearly identical to those of the genuine brands.

budnonymous · By Ashley Bishop

Eye Care worker accused of stealing more than $80,000

By Ashley Bishop

Published: Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Updated: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 20:09

GROVE CITY, Pa.-- State Police in Mercer County say an arrest warrant was issued for a 63-year old office employee at Wigton Eye Care in Grove City this week. Troopers say Sharon Leone faces multiple felony charges of theft, tampering with records, and failure to deposit funds. They charges allege the 30 year employee took funds of over $80,000.

"The accused failed to make cash deposits in the amount of $82, 236.81," Trooper Eric Weller told Titan Radio News. "During the period of 2006 to 2010 during this time the accused falsified changed and concealed records of her theft on business records and took control of the $82,000 dollars."

Leone is accused of selling items and merchandise that belonged to Wigton's Eye Care on eBay there they say she made about $4,721.08.

Troopers say the arrest warrant comes after a nine month investigation into bank records and other documents.

Police have not arrested Leone yet as she is currently hospitalized for a medical condition.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Former Gentex Employee Accused of Theft

video at link

By Jon Meyer

5:41 p.m. EDT, September 19, 2011

Manufacturing plant Gentex in Simpson makes sophisticated helmets for the military, but some of those helmets were showing up on the internet and they were for sale.

A former employee for Gentex was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing the highly secured helmets from the company. He is accused of selling them to two other men to then sell on e-Bay.

Prosecutors said at least one of them went for nearly $800, but that was sold to an undercover FBI agent.

Robert Morcom of Blakely is under arrest for taking products from his employer, and not just any products.

He is charged with taking highly secured military grade helmets.

Arrest papers state Morcom took around 16 helmets. Those helmets were classified to be for the Japanese Department of Defense only, not put for sale on eBay.

Investigators said Morcom worked for Gentex. He was responsible for destroying faulty products, an involved process to make sure the helmets were shredded numerous times.

The plant has a strict policy about removing any materials, even if they are defective.

Now Morcom is accused of taking those helmets despite knowing the policies.

He told investigators since the products were going to be destroyed, he didn't think it was a big deal to take them.

Prosecutors do see it as a big deal. Morcom is now facing felony theft charges.

Gentex had no comment about the theft, but investigators said Morcom is now a former employee.

budnonymous · Top Poster

High-tech criminals target Seattle-area businesses

Three men are accused of using sophisticated 'wardriving' to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars with complex cyber-infiltrations that disguised their identities and locations.

By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times

September 22, 2011

Reporting from Seattle -

The first sign of trouble at the small Seattle software company where Alec Fishburne works came when several employees reported that their paychecks hadn't shown up as usual via direct deposits at their banks.

Checking the payroll, the company accountant found that the routing numbers for the employees' bank accounts had been changed. The money was being diverted to bank accounts in North Dakota, where it could be quickly loaded onto debit cards and withdrawn.

Another downtown company discovered that several employees had been given unauthorized raises and that their money was similarly redirected. Company accounts were being used on EBay and through false PayPal accounts to buy high-end automobile parts, Rolex watches and computer equipment.

Detectives were able to trace many transactions to Internet protocol addresses at more than nine homes around town and thought they had their culprits. But when they pounced, they found nonplussed citizens whose home computers had been, without their knowledge, drawn into elaborate networks of cyber-warfare.

On Wednesday, western Washington's U.S. attorney, Jenny Durkan, announced the indictment of three men on charges of operating an extraordinary series of "wardriving" operations that targeted at least 53 businesses here. The losses are still being tallied but are expected to reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The federal charges come just days after Durkan disclosed that about $1,000 had been lifted from her own bank account in one of a series of ATM-skimming operations. Indictments in some of those cases were announced this week.

Federal authorities have been focusing on increasingly rampant fraud and identity thefts perpetrated by high-tech criminals around the country, including a well-known wardriving case in Boston in 2008 in which hackers lifted more than 45 million credit and debit card numbers from national retail outlets. But the new case in Seattle, authorities said, was stunning in its brashness and complexity.

The newly indicted men - called wardrivers because they allegedly drove the streets in a vehicle equipped with large antennas and high-tech laptops looking for available WiFi networks - are accused of combining garden-variety burglaries with highly complex cyber-infiltrations, often involving multiple layers of hijacking that disguised not only the identities of the hackers, but where they were working.

For weeks, police were questioning innocent home computer owners, and companies were anxiously suspecting their own employees.

"Not only were the locations being physically burglarized, but literally electronically burglarized," assistant Seattle Police Chief Jim Pugel said.

At a news conference Wednesday, authorities demonstrated how antennas - one fashioned from an empty can of Pringles potato chips - were often paired with GPS devices and installed in cars that drove slowly down streets until they found an available WiFi signal. The accused perpetrators then mapped the location for later, or parked, penetrated the network and used it as a springboard to probe into other computer systems.

Fishburne's company, located in a downtown high-rise and apparently penetrated electronically from another floor ("I guess you'd call it war hoteling," he said), had protected its WiFi network with a security code, but the hackers were able to decrypt it.

"It was very disconcerting for a small company for those of us who had been there for a long time to start to wonder whether there was some internal fraud of embezzlement happening," Fishburne said.

At another small Seattle firm, hackers broke into the offices twice within a week, stole a laptop, and installed malware on the company's computers to detect and transmit passwords.

The problem was discovered only when company President Jeff Eby found a computer printout about a month after the break-in showing that two names he'd never heard of had been added to his payroll.

"There was a lot of havoc for all of us," he said.

In many cases - including one involving more than 50 workers at a company in Renton, Wash. - employees' names, birth dates and Social Security numbers were lifted and used to open fraudulent credit card accounts or penetrate personal bank accounts.

The perpetrators took over email servers of some businesses, allowing them to eavesdrop as victims became suspicious and began communicating with the police, the indictment alleges. They remotely destroyed firewall logs that would have allowed the businesses to detect intrusions - and helped eliminate evidence in case they were caught.

"It's enraging, because you think you have a [security] system that's going to work. But these guys are really smart, and they're ambitious, and that's a tough combination," said Mark Houtchens, chief executive of a company that lost at least $100,000 when hackers penetrated its accounts and diverted money onto debit cards.

Named in the indictment are Joshua Witt, 34, Brad Lowe, 36, and John Griffin, 36, all of Seattle. Two of the men have already entered not-guilty pleas in Seattle federal court. They face, if convicted, up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is the second major cyber-crimes case announced in Seattle this week. In the other, authorities announced that six suspects had been arrested and charged with installing "skimming" devices at automated teller machines - usually a data recorder and a tiny camera able to read PIN entries - to drain bank accounts and run up unauthorized credit card charges.

"The suspects arrested over the last few weeks account for more than a million dollars in losses to banks and consumers," Durkan said. Total skimming operations in the U.S. now reach up to $1 billion a year, she said.

Durkan said about $1,000 was removed from own her bank account after she had used an ATM in a vestibule with a door lock that was not working.

"I knew better than most the means that these people would use to skim bank accounts, and I usually take great precautions when I use my ATM card," said Durkan, who chairs the Justice Department's cyber-crime and intellectual property working group.

"The door swipe [lock] was missing, which was unusual, and the door just pushed open. I usually jiggle the slot and look for cameras, but I was in a hurry and I just put my card in, got my money and left," she said. The money, she said, was gone "within hours."

budnonymous · Top Poster

Clothes shop boss stole his own stock and sold it on eBay

Published on Sunday 25 September 2011 07:01

A MANAGER at a designer clothes shop stole thousands of pounds worth of clothing which he then sold through eBay, a judge has heard.

Jack Weston, of Shreres Dyche, Warwick, pleaded guilty to stealing £5,000 worth of goods from the Superdry clothing company.

The 22-year-old, who had stolen the clothes over a two-year period, was given a 12-month community sentence and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Iain Willis said the offence took place between June 2009 and June this year while Weston was a manager at the Superdry store in Regent Street, Leamington.

"He had been taking high value designer items from the shop and selling them on the eBay auction site."

But in March this year a loss prevention officer with the company was looking at the eBay site to see if any Superdry clothing was being offered for sale.

He came across a leather jacket, still with its shop tags on it, which normally retailed for £174.

Further checks were carried out, and when the investigator came across a Superdry gillet on the site, he made a successful bid for it.

When it arrived the return address on the parcel was Weston's home address, so he was spoken to at the store and admitted what he had been doing.

The police were informed, and when he was arrested Weston admitted he had stolen about 90 items worth approximately £5,000 from the store over a two-year period and sold them on eBay.

Mr Willis said that when the case was originally in front of Leamington magistrates they had been prepared to deal with it themselves.

But it was committed to the crown court at the request of the prosecution to enable a confiscation order to be made - and since then Weston has repaid £5,000 to Superdry.

Nick Devine, defending, said Weston, who had never been in trouble before, 'told the police everything that had been going on' when they questioned him.

"He is extremely ashamed of what he has done and he has repaid in full the loss to the Superdry organisation. That is not money he has borrowed; it is his own money which came from a compensation claim he had going through."

Mr Devine added that Weston, who is 'terrified' at the prospect of a custodial sentence,' now works for a local landscaping management company and has enrolled on a plumbing course.

Recorder Kevin Hegarty QC told Weston: "You held a responsible position in a business which sold clothing.

"You, it seems at the suggestion of another, fell into a pattern of dishonesty by stealing your employers' goods. But there did not seem to be any hesitation by you before falling into that and stealing for a considerable period of time.

"This conviction will stick with you for a very long time, and it is going to hamper your career for the foreseeable future."

budnonymous · Top Poster

Half-brothers extradited from Warrnambool over alleged eBay ute deal

ANDREW THOMSON

04 Oct, 2011 09:42 AM

MOUNT Gambier brothers who allegedly attempted to sell a stolen $36,000 Holden utility in Warrnambool for less than half price on eBay were yesterday extradited to South Australia.

The half-brothers, one 24 and the other 15, appeared in courts yesterday where Mount Gambier police detectives successfully applied for extradition.

After being transported to Mount Gambier, the brothers were late yesterday assisting police with their inquiries.

Mount Gambier Detective Sergeant Tony Scott said late last night police were interviewing the brothers in relation to the theft of a utility at Naracoorte on September 21 and attempted deception allegations.

The brothers were last Friday remanded in custody at Warrnambool after being arrested.

A woman in her early 20s was also charged and bailed. Police alleged the trio tried to sell a VE SS Holden utility valued at about $36,000 for $16,000 on eBay.

Warrnambool police Acting Sergeant Rex Habel said police would allege the car was stolen from a Mount Gambier car yard several days ago, driven to Warrnambool and advertised on eBay.

The trio have been charged with handling stolen goods and attempting to obtain property by deception.

The boy has also been charged with unlicensed driving.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Jasper County man pleads guilty to celebrity memorabilia fraud and firearms possession charges

1:45 PM, Oct. 3, 2011

A Jasper County man pleaded guilty today to defrauding more than 1,200 people by selling forged celebrity memorabilia through eBay and to illegally possessing a firearm when he was arrested after a police chase.

David Bruce Shryock, 49, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to wire fraud and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Shryock admitted that from February December 2010 he used eight separate eBay accounts to defraud 1,232 victims.

Shryock sold record album covers and sports memorabilia bearing forged autographs.

In order to evade detection and continue his scheme when his eBay and PayPal accounts were suspended, Shryock opened other accounts in the names of various persons.

Proceeds from the sales were deposited into various bank accounts controlled by those persons, who then withdrew the funds and gave the money to Shryock, minus a percentage for their assistance in the scheme.

Shryock defrauded his victims out of almost $175,000 through his scheme. EBay and PayPal lost $2,512 as the result of reimbursing customers for claims regarding fraudulent transactions and failure to provide merchandise.

The plea agreement cites one example in which Shryock sold the Van Halen album, "5150," bearing what he falsely claimed were the artists' autographs. The winning eBay bid for the album was $177.

Shryock was arrested on Dec. 15, 2010, following a police chase. According to today's plea agreement, Joplin police officers responded to a call regarding a burglary in progress at The Law Offices of Ty Gaither.

When officers arrived, the back door of the business was broken out and a Cadillac was parked behind the business. When Shryock walked out of the business and saw the police officers, he got into the Cadillac and drove off at a high rate of speed. Another officer, who had been parked in front of the business, initiated his lights and sirens but Shryock refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. Shryock drove off a cliff and ran from his vehicle, but was arrested after a brief foot chase.

Officers searched Shryock's vehicle and found a Norinco 9mm semi-automatic pistol, which Ty Gaither identified as his, and which he had been keeping at his office.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Shryock has prior felony convictions for forgery, failure to return rental property, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful merchandising practice.

Shryock is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Former National Archives employee stole Babe Ruth recordings, sold them on eBay

Rockville man pleads guilty to embezzlement of government property

by Jeremy Arias, Staff Writer

Former National Archives employee Leslie Charles Waffen pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling government property, including a recording made in 1937 of baseball legend Babe Ruth on a quail hunt that archive officials say Waffen sold on eBay last September.

Waffen, 66, of the 500 block of Saddle Ridge Lane in Rockville, pleaded guilty to one count of the embezzlement of government property of value greater than $1,000. In the agreement, Waffen forfeited all 955 sound recordings seized from his home in an October 2010 search warrant and agreed to pay full restitution to the archives, said U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman Marcia Murphy.

Waffen could face as many as 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced March 5, Murphy said.

Neither Waffen nor his defense attorney, Michael L. Fayad, returned calls for comment Tuesday.

The plea comes a little more than a year after agents in the Archival Recovery Team retrieved a copy of the Babe Ruth recording from the eBay buyer, who purchased the item for $34.74 on Sept. 28, 2010, said Inspector General of the National Archives Paul Brachfeld.

"When we recovered [that recording] we could demonstrate and prove that it had come from our possession," he said.

The recording, made Dec. 10, 1937, was stamped with a National Archives and Records Administration item number that was traced back to a donation made to NARA by a radio engineer at CBS, NBC and the Mutual Radio Networks in 1975 and 76, Murphy said.

"Once we had determined that it had come from our records we were able to sit down and determine who had access to those records and eventually develop Mr. Waffen as a suspect," Brachfeld said.

An additional three items sold on eBay from Sept. 17 through Oct. 13, 2010, were also identified as archival records stolen by Waffen. A total of 6,153 sound recordings were recovered in the search of Waffen's home Oct. 26, 2010, at least 955 of which belonged to the National Archives, Murphy said.

"The government's position is that [the items recovered] were worth at least $70,000, but the defendant thinks that the value is between $30,000 and $70,000," Murphy said of the 955 items linked to the National Archives. "That [amount] will be discussed further at sentencing."

Brachfeld said all of the items stolen from the archives have been recovered at this time, even as special agents under his office continue to investigate the scope of Waffen's scheme, which prosecutors believe lasted at least eight years.

"We're not done; today is a very good day and whenever we can get the evidence that we need to get a suspect to make a guilty plea that's a good day, but we're not done," he said. "We're continuing to develop the evidence that we need for sentencing [later this year]."

According to his plea agreement, Waffen was employed at the National Archives from 1968 until he retired in June 2010. He last served as chief of the Motion Picture, Sounds and Video Recording branch of the archive's Special Media Archives Services Division, the agreement states.

While Brachfeld would not discuss how officials believe Waffen was able to carry out the crimes, the archives have made "significant," improvements to physical security measures since last year, he said.

"It's impossible to say whether, in the future, someone won't be able to find some way around those measures, [but] I'm confident that the manner in which Mr. Waffen was able to remove these items from the National Archives will never happen again," he said.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Ex-ICE Agent Admits to Stealing Govt. Property and Selling on eBay

By Allan Lengel

ticklethewire.com

A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who was based in New York admitted Tuesday in fed court in Newark that he stole tens of thousands of dollars in government property while working for the agency and sold it on eBay.

Steven Kucan, 48, of Wood Ridge, N.J. pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property. Kucan supervised an administrative group at ICE's offices in New York since the 1990s, and was responsible for obtaining, storing and controlling ICE equipment.

In May, authorities charged, that between December 2004 and February 2011, he regularly stole ICE property including printing cartridges, film, batteries, camera lenses, combat lights for ICE's M-4 rifles and an immersion suit designed to prevent hypothermia in cold water.

Authorities alleged that Kucan had an eBay account under a relative's name and sold $37,000 in ICE property.

ICE employees reported seeing Kucan wheel ICE property out of the offices on carts, including on a Saturday.

A raid at his home turned up about $40,000 in ICE property including personal computers, printers, keyboards, police batons, flashlights, work gloves, safety glasses, lifejackets, helmets, handcuffs, gun holsters, camera lenses, emergency lights and sirens, and two-way radio systems, authorities said.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Police bust theft ring, arrest 2, seize Lexus and 91K in cash

Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2011 12:26 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, October 13, 2011 12:26 PM EST

By Jennifer Banks

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

Cherokee investigators say they have arrested two men in connection to an identity theft ring.

Robert A. Smith, 46, and Robert A. Hill, 49, were arrested after investigators discovered the duo had been stealing identities and opening credit cards at several stores.

Cherokee investigators said they seized high end retail property, a 1999 Lexus, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and over $91,000.00 in cash from Hill and Smith's home.

Police say the men would order high price items then sell the items on eBay.

Investigators suspect Hill has been conducting this operation for over 15 years with approximately $9 million in loss to various victims.

Hill is charged with conspiracy to commit retail property fencing and violation of the Georgia RICO Act.

Smith is charged with five counts of identity fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit retail property fencing and violation of the Georgia RICO Act.

Police say arrested and additional arrests are anticipated.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Boulder car dealer arrested for theft, check fraud

BOULDER, Colo. -- The owner of Go Motors in Boulder is under arrest for allegedly taking money from potential customers, but failing to deliver the cars.

Gregory Kotsaftis, 45, faces charges of Theft of $20,000 or more and Check Fraud. He surrendered to authorities on Sunday, police said.

The investigation into Kotsaftis's business practices began in August when police say they received a complaint from a car dealership in Canada which had purchased a 2011 BMW from Go Motors for $65,000.00.

"The dealership never received the vehicle," said Boulder Police spokeswoman Kim Kobel. "The Canadian dealership... contacted Kotsaftis numerous times and demanded a full refund. The refund check was returned for non-sufficient funds."

When the Canadian dealership threatened to call police, Kotsaftis allegedly told them that police involvement would delay repayment, Kobel said.

Police say seven other alleged victims have come forward, many of whom tried to purchase cars from Go Motors on eBay.

Anyone with information on Kotsaftis is asked to call Det. Traci Cravitz at 303-441-3345.

budnonymous · Top Poster

another day, another multi-million dollar scam on ebaY...

Authorities Break Up Alleged Shoplifting Ring

Group Allegedly Stole $6M Worth Of Merchandise During Spree

POSTED: 7:45 pm PST January 19, 2012

UPDATED: 8:47 pm PST January 19, 2012

SAN DIEGO --

Five people are in custody and two others are being sought in what authorities described as an interstate shoplifting ring that netted as much as $6 million.

In November 2008, police began investigating a crew that would enter a store like Target and head for the electronics department.

According to documents obtained by 10News, once in the electronics area the group would employ a box-stuffing technique -- removing an item from a large box and then refilling it with thousands of dollars worth of electronic items.

The group would then reseal the box and either pay for the original item or somehow take the box out of the store. Once removed from the store, the documents said the group would sell the items on eBay or to people who would frequently buy from them.

Arrest warrants indicated surveillance video captured the crew in the act at dozens of stores a day across several states.

Among those were arrested was John Driscoll, who according to police in Maryland has a long record of arrests ranging from burglary to impersonating a police officer.

Driscoll's name was also found as the CEO of Driscoll Exports in Chula Vista. Two other people arrested in connection with the spree were listed on the company's website, 10News learned.

A preliminary hearing is set for next month.

No word on what ebaY and Paypal did with their share.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Coraopolis Woman Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud

Judge said woman's actions ultimately closed 119-year-old institution.

A Coraopolis woman has been sentenced to 150 months in prision for defrauding the now-defunct Dwelling House Savings & Loan.

Elexa Manos-Becton, 42, was convicted of bank fraud and money laundering after federal prosecutors said she defrauded the former Hill District-based bank of more than $2,466,018.86.

The charges carried a maximum of 500 years in prison, a fine of more than $14 million or both.

Manos-Benton opened a PayPal account associated with her Dwelling House Savings & Loan accounts, according to a statement from prosecutors. Using the PayPal account to initiate automated clearing house transactions, she significantly overdrew her Dwelling House account.

Manos-Becton taught others about the glitch in Dwelling House's bank procedures, allowing other non-sufficient automated clearing house transactions to be processed.

Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch said that Manos-Becton spent her lifetime "stealing" and said her effort to tell others about the banking glitch led to the demise of the 119-year-old institution.

In 2009, the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision closed Dwelling House Savings & Loan after determining that the institution could not recoup substantial financial losses. The venerable institution earned a reputation for serving low-income and minority clients in the Pittsburgh region.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Woman pleads guilty to running fraudulent online eBay scheme

Submitted by Cameron Easley, Community Web Producer

Friday, February 3rd, 2012, 1:07pm

39-year-old woman admitted to conducting an internet auction fraud scheme on eBay selling knock-off jewelry as genuine and also sometimes failing to deliver any jewelry to paying customers between January 2006 and February 2009.

According to court documents. She operated her eBay auction business out of her downtown Charleston home. From this location, she connected to the Internet, created online auctions, posted digital photographs of merchandise, responded to customer inquiries, monitored online auctions, and corresponded with auction winners. Shipments to auction winners were also packaged at this location.

Court documents state that in order to make the scheme work, she established an online merchant account with eBay using false information, including the name "Connie Samo," a Georgia address, and a Georgia phone number.

She used "mailto:samoconnie@gmail.com", several User IDs to host her online auctions, several email addresses in relation to the User IDs and for the purpose of finalizing sales of items on eBay, the ccounts "mailto:samoconnie@gmail.com","mailto:friendbentley@yahoo.com", "mailto: sarahyar6@gmail.com", and used several names in relation to the User IDs and for the purpose of finalizing sales of items on eBay, including, but not limited to, "Connie Samo" and "Sarah Yarmie."

Furthermore, documents state she used several different company names for her online auction business, including, but not limited to, the following names: "Solidity," Solidity, Inc.," Solidarity, Inc.," "Jevani," Wentworth Enterprizes," and "Solas, Inc."

To further hide from her customers, she established an account for "Solidity" with a commercial mail receiving agency with locations across the country, including locations in Beaverton, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, investigators said. She used the remote addresses to give the appearance that her business "Solidity" was located in Beaverton and/or Seattle when in fact she resided/operated in downtown Charleston.

Her preferred payment method was for the auction winners to mail her money orders as payment for the jewelry, officials say.

Investigators say the actual charge of mail fraud come from a case involving a Charleston victim. According to the investigation, that victim won an eBay auction on April 23, 2008 for a new David Yurman bracelet for $255.00. The seller was this woman, who was representing herself as "Sarah Yarmie."

The victim emailed "Sarah Yarmie" and said she wanted to pay for the bracelet using PayPal, but "Sarah Yarmie" said no and told the victim to mail the payment to the Beaverton, Oregon address.

On April 29, 2008, the victim mailed a Postal Money Order via USPS in the amount of $255 to the Beaverton, Oregon address. She then mailed a knock-off or cheap imitation bracelet to the victim. A representative of Yurman Design, Inc. later confirmed that the bracelet was not an authentic piece of David Yurman jewelry.

The United States Postal Inspection Service identified 103 complaints filed against this woman and the various company names she used in her scheme. As part of her plea agreement, she stipulated that she stole $21,203.61 from her victims.

The maximum penalty she could receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for 20 years, a special assessment of $100, and supervised release of 3 years. The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Man stole back car he bought on eBay

Published on Monday 20 February 2012 10:35

A WIGAN con artist sold his car on eBay then immediately had it stolen back again, a court heard.

Kenneth Mitchinson said he panicked after hitting money problems, so he "ringed" his £5,500 Vauxhall Astra with the identity of a scrapped, but similar model, before selling it on the internet.

The hearing was told that he staked out his victim's wife, then followed her to the Trafford Centre, then took the vehicle using a spare set of keys while she was shopping.

When suspicious police called at his home in Tipping Street, Poolstock, they found the car parked on the drive, but now wearing its genuine plates, chasis and VIN numbers.

But Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told the fraud was discovered when his victim Richard Davies - who had spent "all his savings" on the car - was able to positively identify Mitchinson's Astra as the one he bought, because of a faulty wing mirror.

The 53-year-old, who served a three-year prison sentence in the 1990s for conspiring to steal vehicles, was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He must also undertake 150 hours' unpaid community service.

Judge Jonathan Geake told Mitchinson he had committed a "very mean and unpleasant" act against young butcher Mr Davies and his family.

But said he was giving him full credit in sentencing for pleading guilty to theft and fraud at the first opportunity, and having co-operated with police throughout.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Clerk Charged With Stealing $200K in Williams-Sonoma Merchandise, Selling It on eBay

Police say the suspect would hide the stolen merchandise in trash, track the trash to his car and sell the products on eBay.

Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 | Updated 8:51 AM EST

A Long Island man has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 in merchandise from the Williams-Sonoma store where he worked.

David Muscat, 22, has been charged with grand larceny in connection with the theft, which police say occurred over a period of five months.

Detectives say Muscat, a stock room clerk at the Garden City store, would hide stolen merchandise in the trash, then take the trash out and put it in his car in the store parking lot.

Muscat also opened an eBay account to sell the items and ended up with a cash return of $200,798.95 in his PayPal account from the proceeds, detectives say.

Authorities say stolen merchandise was also recovered from the suspect's car and home.

Williams-Sonoma is claiming a loss of $453,444.46 worth of merchandise over a three-year period.

Muscat is charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. It wasn't known if he had an attorney.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in First District Court, Hempstead.

budnonymous · Top Poster

From the Wilton Daily:

Wilton Police charged 58-year-old Edward Cribari, of Bridgeport, with the theft of around $9,000 worth of golf clubs from Golf Digest, headquartered at 20 Westport Road in Wilton. Cribari works for Golf Digests parent company, Conde Nast, in the same building. He was arrested when the company discovered a driver not yet released to the public being sold on eBay for $1,000. The club is valued at $400.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Video at link. "Career criminal/ebay seller"

Man wanted in vacuum cleaner thefts

Police: Ross wanted on 7 arrest warrants

Published On: Feb 15 2012 06:41:49 PM CST Updated On: Feb 16 2012 09:15:43 AM CST

HOUSTON -

Police are looking for a man who they said is stealing vacuum cleaners from various Houston-area stores.

Houston police said surveillance cameras at a Target store in downtown Houston show Jeremy Ross, 30, stealing a $600 vacuum cleaner.

Ross is wanted on seven arrest warrants, said police.

"I can't even imagine how he could even get out of the store," said Sue White, a Target shopper.

White was surprised to see how easy the suspect made it look.

Police said Ross was caught on camera in the Target off of Shearn Street about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 23.

In the video, the man is seen pushing his cart in the vacuum section. Police said he then quickly deactivated the wire on an electronic security device before placing the Dyson vacuum in his cart.

Police said Ross then got in line at a cash register, but told the cashier he is looking to return the item. She pointed him to the front of store and Ross then walked out with the vacuum, said police.

"I just can't understand. Why a vacuum cleaner of all things," said White.

Detectives believe Ross is stealing vacuum cleaners from various Target stores and selling them on eBay.

Police said he has hit the same store three times in a few weeks and stolen Dysons from three other stores.

"He's just making a game out of it," said White.

Police are working to figure out how he was able to disarm the security device without it going off. Detectives said a special key is needed to disarm the device. They are looking into the possibility that he may be working with someone at the store.

Houston police are also working with officers in Montgomery County because they believe Ross stole from stores there as well.

Anyone with information regarding Ross' whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Monday, February 20, 2012

Man accused of theft

Published: Saturday, February 18, 2012

EUSTIS

Staff Report

A 25-year-old Eustis man, fired from Champion Power Sports on U.S. Highway 441, is accused of hijacking the company's Paypal account to divert cash for his personal use, police said.

Joshua Butler, Apt. J2, 1799 N. County Road 19A, was charged Wednesday with grand theft.

Company owner Robert Mealy told police Butler was hired to set up an eBay and a PayPal account last June so the company could sell parts online. Butler was the only person who had access to the account, Mealy said.

Shortly after Butler was terminated for undisclosed reasons, Mealy said he tried to access the PayPal account but was unable to do so because the password had been changed. A review of eBay records showed Champion Motor Sports had numerous online sales with payments made to PayPal, but the Eustis company never received any money.

Police got involved last November but eBay and PayPal would not open its records without a subpoena, reports said. Once that was forwarded, the eBay fraud investigations division said it would take 45 days to process the request.

In January, police obtained some records and noticed a $950 payment sent from a Champion Power Sports business account to Butler's personal PayPal account, with the subject line for the transaction titled "Josh's cash," reports said.

When confronted by police Wednesday, Butler envoked his right to remain silent, an arrest affidavit said.

-------------

Note the bolded area... ^

So it looks like ebay/paypal were too busy stealing, freezing, and linking accounts of people who sell their own household possesions, (contrary to every known States' Money Transmitter license terms) but when real law enforcement asks for cooperation regarding real crime, they drag their feet and/or throw up roadblocks.

budnonymous · Top Poster

Man Accused of Hiding $250,000 in eBay Income

U.S. Attorney says man didn't claim the income when filing for bankruptcy

Catherine Galioto - February 28, 2012

A former Toms River resident is accused of omitting $1.5 million in assets - including hiding $250,000 in income from sales on eBay - after applying for bankruptcy protection, the U.S. District Attorney's office announced today.

Bryan Young, 39, formerly of Toms River, and now living in Venice, Fla., turned himself in to agents of the FBI in Newark. He is charged by complaint with two counts of bankruptcy fraud and was scheduled to make his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

The charges stem from alleged fraud in a Nov. 2008 personal bankruptcy petition, where Young omitted the eBay income as well as assets such as a vehicle.

According to the federal complaint unsealed today, Young is accused of omitting $1.5 million dollars in personal assets, "failing to disclose the existence of four financial accounts - or that any of these accounts were closed as of the date of the filing of his petition - with total balances of more than $650,000."

In addition to the four financial accounts and $250,000 in assets from eBay transactions, Young bought $13,000 worth of furniture and a 2003 Ford truck, worth approximately $10,000, within months of the filing, which he also failed to disclose, said U.S. District Attorney Paul S. Fishman.

The allegedly fraudulent bankruptcy filing also listed no stocks and bond assets, but Fishman said one of Young's financial account investment statements showed investments in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds that were worth approximately $100,000 within months of the filing.

The bankruptcy fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation leading to today's arrest included the work of special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge JoAnn Zuniga, and Region 3 U.S. Trustee Roberta DeAngelis and the Newark office of the U.S. Trustee.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Mendelsohn of the U.S. Attorney's Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. Representing Young is Keith Hirschorn Esq., of Hoboken

budnonymous · Top Poster

29 February 2012 Last updated at 14:32 GMT

eBay fake make-up sales: James Jones and David Foster sentenced

Two men have been sentenced for selling counterfeit make-up including mascara with 20 times the safe level of lead.

James Jones, 32, and David Foster, 26, from Merthyr Tydfil, sold fake cosmetics and toothbrushes online, which they bought from a wholesaler.

Foster was given a community order and Jones a 16-week suspended sentence at Merthyr Crown Court for selling goods via the eBay website.

Powys County Council's trading standards led the investigation.

After the hearing, Clive Jones, the council's principal trading standards officer, said: "We have noticed that there's a tendency for some people to be tempted to import large quantities of products from wholesale auction sites in the Far East, and our investigations have highlighted that some of these supply chains involve counterfeit goods.

"What we encounter is individuals solely looking at profit, with no experience in the product they are importing, no knowledge of legitimate supply chains or the original product or concern about the safety of the product they are selling, and who don't care about what effect it has on legitimate trade."

Mr Jones said surveillance on illegal activity regarding counterfeiting was increasing in Powys.

"We will stamp these practices out through education and enforcement," he said.

James Jones pleaded guilty to three charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Product Safety Regulations for selling counterfeit make-up with safety breaches and for running a fraudulent business under The Fraud Act 2006.

He was given a 16-week suspended sentence, ordered to pay £1,500 in costs and given a 200-hour community order.

David Foster pleaded guilty to two charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and for running a fraudulent business under The Fraud Act 2006.

Foster was given a 120-hour community order and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs.

'Little regard'

continues...

budnonymous · Top Poster

Jail warning for iPads conman in ebay fraud

(photo at link: old, fat ebay scammin' guy)

Thursday 8th March 2012, 2:24PM GMT.

Gregory Homer, aged 41, ran a "sophisticated" operation from his house in Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton. He was warned to expect jail after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday.

District Judge Mr Michael Wheeler told him the off-ences were potentially so serious that "all options" would be open to the court which will sentence him next week.

"I warn you now that you must expect a custodial sentence when you return, although that is not binding upon the court which sentences you," he said.

He said the case had been aggravated by the "sophistication" of the set-up and by Homer's record, which sho-wed he received a suspended sentence in April 2010 for running a similar scam selling iPhones via ebay.

He was released on unc-onditional bail for reports to be prepared, and will be sentenced on March 15.

Two victims of the con have been found so far.

Mr Roger Blazzard, prosecuting, said the operation had only been uncovered when disgruntled customer Craig Jones, who paid £450 for his intended purchase, had headed round to Hom-er's house to confront him and caused a scene which was attended by police.

Officers were already investigating a similar claim by barrister Richard Nall-Cain, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who had paid Homer £350 for an iPad 2 for his daughter Claire.

He said Homer's computer hard drive had been seized and investigations were ongoing as to whether any more people had fallen victim to the scam.

Sgt Sid James, from the East Park neighbourhood policing team, said it had been "excellent" work by officers. "It sends a signal out that computer crime does not pay."

budnonymous · Top Poster

4 men arrest for fraud at AZ stores

Posted: Friday, March 9, 2012 8:14 PM EST

Updated: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:05 PM EST

By Julianne Logan

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (CBS5) -

Four California men have been charged for allegedly stealing from cell phone stores across Arizona, California and New Mexico.

In May 2011, Joshua Feldman, 31, Jeffrey Contella, 27, Joseph Cohen, 25, and Amir Meir Levi, 35, allegedly went to Sprint stores impersonating customers and got free phones by having the clerks bill the customers' accounts for the new phones, according to the indictment. The men then sold the phones at a California store owned by Cohen as well as on eBay.

They were charged Thursday in Albuquerque's U.S. District Court.

If convicted, the men could face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.