Hamburg Man Charged With Running A Used Textbook Scam

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Jeffrey Tomasik, 31, of Hamburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with mail and wire fraud. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendant ran a used textbook scheme. Tomasik rented textbooks from various companies and then sold the textbooks, primarily on eBay. The defendant did not return the textbooks when the rental contracts expired, instead ignoring the collection notices and making it difficult for the companies to find him by using aliases.  Tomasik used at least 20 online accounts and email addresses to perpetrate the alleged fraud.

In addition, Tomasik entered into a sizeable contract with two victims in California.  After receiving a $50,000 down payment for used textbooks from the victims via PayPal, the defendant allegedly sent a single textbook and removed his bank information from his PayPal account so that the victims could not recoup their money.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on his own recognizance with certain conditions.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston Division Inspector in Charge Shelly A. Binkowski.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.