Tuesday, March 27, 2007

FBI: Member Of Transnational Crime Ring Arrested For eBay Fraud

Sharon Gaudin writes on InformationWeek:

A woman, described by the FBI as a Bulgarian member of a transnational criminal ring, has been arrested in connection with what the government is calling an "elaborate scheme" to defraud eBay users of more than $350,000.

Mariyana Feliksova Lozanova is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The woman, who also goes by the names Gentiane La France and Naomi Elizabeth DeBont, allegedly tricked prospective buyers on eBay to wire her money for major purchases, like motor vehicles and boats, that were never delivered, according to a release from the FBI, which investigated the case.

If convicted, the woman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and 10 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy. In addition, she also could be required to pay fines totaling more than $500,000, as well as forfeitures and restitution to the victims of the scheme.

A grand jury in the District of Columbia returned the indictment on March 1, but the indictment remained sealed until Lozanova was arrested in Budapest on March 22. She has waived extradition to stand trial in the United States.

More here.

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