Guilty Pleas In RICO eBay Fraud Case

>MOBILE, AL-- United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown announced today that Jason Christopher Spellen, Raymond Spellen and Andrew Valentino Wilson, III, all pleaded guilty today to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d), in federal district court. Trial for the remaining defendants named in the Superseding Indictment is currently set for June 2013.

Jason Christopher Spellen agreed to forfeit the items seized from his residence and storage unit and agreed to the entry of a $6,000,000.00 money judgment. Raymond Spellen and Andrew Valentino Wilson III also agreed to the entry of money judgments as well. The defendants face a maximum possible penalty of 20 years.

The RICO count alleges the Spellen Enterprise fraudulently purchased electronics from retail stores using counterfeited credit cards and drivers’ licenses provided them by other members of the conspiracy, and by the use of lines-of-credit from retail stores. It also alleges the Enterprise sold both fraudulently-procured electronics and stolen electronics on eBay and by other means. A total of ten individuals have previously entered guilty pleas in connection with the same eBay fraud investigation. Those individuals are all awaiting sentencing.

Kenyen Brown, United States Attorney, said: “The sophistication and magnitude of the fraud scheme engaged in in this case is startling. While technological advances may present new avenues for thieves to sell their stolen goods, law enforcement will continue to use every tool at its disposal to bring law breakers to justice.”

The case arose from an investigation by the United States Secret Service, who were assisted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The eBayProAct team also assisted the Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah Griffin.