Pair Accused Of Being Cyber Crooks

Thu., Dec. 18, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Two men are accused of running an online shopping business that swindled money from customers seeking to buy Beanie Baby toys and other items.

Franklin S. Cooper, 30, and Dale M. Cass, 25, are accused of taking money and goods for collectible objects they advertised on the Internet but never delivered to buyers.

The Eastsound residents pleaded innocent Monday in San Juan County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree theft and one count of possession of stolen property. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison and $30,000 in fines.

Sheriff Bill Cumming said an investigation began after a Seattle resident contacted a deputy and said he was the victim of a computer scam centered in the San Juans.

Similar complaints followed from across the country.

The men were arrested Dec. 8, and their shared Orcas Island residence was searched.

Authorities located the computer that county prosecutors allege was used to arrange exchanges of money for nonexistent goods over a World Wide Web site.

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Pair Accused Of Being Cyber Crooks

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