Press Release
HALLANDALE BEACH RESIDENT CONVICTED OF eBAY FRAUD
October 16, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division, announced today the conviction of Nilton Rossoni, 50, of Hallandale Beach, Florida for his role in a scheme to defraud thousands of eBay customers out of $717,000. Sentencing will be held at a later date in front of United States District Court Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley. Rossoni faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, between October 2003 and June 2008, Rossoni listed, sold, received payment for, but never shipped over 5500 items on eBay using more than 260 different eBay accounts. He opened the accounts using alias or the real names and address of unsuspecting individuals.
The Indictment alleges, after establishing positive “feedback” indicating a good online reputation, the defendant posted and listed various items, including textbooks, computer flash drives, rotisserie grills, tools, sporting equipment, DVD collections, airline tickets, saddles, saddlebags, designer luggage, appliances, metal detectors, and other various items for auction on eBay.
According to court documents, when the auction ended, the winning bidders were notified to send payment to the defendant at a private mail box. Customers of eBay sent payment to the defendant at 59 different private mailboxes opened in names of multiple aliases during the course of the scheme. Once the defendant received payment from the eBay auction winner, the funds were deposited in bank accounts under the control of the defendant, but in the name of a nominee entity or person. The auction items were never shipped.
Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Marc Anton.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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