Washington, D.C. – A 46-year-old Upper Marlboro man, Kenneth Wicks, has pleaded guilty to Receiving Stolen Property in connection with the theft and eBay sales of computers and computer equipment stolen from the law firm, Wiley Rein & Fielding (since renamed “Wiley Rein”), 1750 K Street, N.W, Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today.

Wicks entered his guilty plea today before the Honorable Richard J. Leon, U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia. Wicks faces a statutory sentence of up to 7 years in jail and a fine of $5,000. Sentencing is scheduled for November 21, 2008.

According to information provided to the court in connection with the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Schornstein, between approximately April 2004 and March 2005, a co-defendant, Stephen Richardson, stole computers and computer equipment from the law firm. He provided the property to Wicks, who sold the items through eBay auctions. Buyers did not know that they had purchased stolen property. In all, approximately 156 computers and monitors were stolen, with eBay sales proceeds of approximately $74,420.00. The crime was uncovered when an eBay buyer attempted to have the computer warranty transferred into his name, contacted Dell computer company directly, and was advised that the computer at issue had been leased to Wiley Rein & Fielding. The buyer contacted the law firm. The law firm referred the matter to law enforcement.

The co-defendant, Stephen Richardson, has also pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Taylor, commended the work of Federal Bureau of Investigation, including Special Agents Denise Farmer, Michael French, David West, and Daniel Wierbicki and the staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Lisa Robinson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Schornstein, who is prosecuting the case.