Aspiring politician charged with wire fraud
A Spokane candidate for the state Legislature is free on bond after being indicted on eight counts of wire fraud tied to allegations that he defrauded Internet merchandise customers out of more than $125,000.
Travis J. Sneed is accused of operating three Internet sites, offering various electronic and computer equipment for sale.
“After receiving payment for the merchandise, Sneed would fail to deliver the merchandise and also would fail to reimburse the customers for their payment,” the indictment alleges.
It identifies customers from California, Michigan and New Hampshire who claimed they were defrauded by Sneed.
The 21-year-old businessman and aspiring politician was arrested Tuesday evening by FBI agents at a residence on the South Hill, after being indicted that day by a federal grand jury.
The panel returned its indictment after listening to evidence against Sneed and concurring there was probable cause to believe crimes had been committed.
After spending a night in jail, Sneed was released Wednesday on a $25,000 bond after an initial appearance before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Justin Quackenbush.
Sneed did not return telephone calls seeking comment but has not formally withdrawn as a Republican candidate for the state House from Spokane’s Third District.
“We came to the conclusion to not run a campaign, but he didn’t withdraw as a candidate,” said Dawn Vandam, who resigned as Sneed’s campaign manager June 30.
Her resignation occurred a day after FBI agents searched the home, car and Cheney restaurant owned by Sneed. He was not arrested at that time.
Sneed announced his candidacy in April to challenge Democratic incumbent Alex Wood in this fall’s election. Sneed is a former legislative assistant to former state Sen. Jim West, who left the Legislature after being elected mayor of Spokane.
Reanna Howard, who worked with Sneed, was named in the same indictment.
Howard, also known as Reanna Jo Maher, is charged with three counts of wire fraud and a fourth count of misprision of a felony.
As Sneed’s business associate, she received a 5 percent commission on the sale of all merchandise, the indictment says.
“She was aware that Sneed was engaging in a scheme to defraud customers that ordered merchandise,” the indictment alleges. “She furthered this scheme to defraud and concealed the fraudulent scheme from customers and law enforcement authorities.”
The first count of the indictment alleges that on Dec. 17, Sneed defrauded a San Jose, Calif., man out of $11,300.
Counts 2 and 3 allege that he defrauded another California man out of $17,500 and $21,000 earlier that same month.
Count 4 says that on Feb. 2, Sneed defrauded a Michigan customer out of $1,300. Later that month, an Internet customer from New Hampshire lost $11,748 and a California man was defrauded out of $1,435.
Counts 7 and 8 accuse Sneed and Howard of defrauding a California man in May out of $61,145.
The ninth count accuses Howard of lying to authorities when they questioned her about Sneed’s operation.
A 10th count in the indictment seeks criminal forfeiture of a “sum of money” equal to $125,428, representing the amount of proceeds allegedly obtained as a result of the eight wire fraud counts.
It also seeks all the currency in a Farmers & Merchants bank account in the name of the Committee to Elect Travis Sneed. It also seeks forfeiture of his 1992 Mercedes that was seized June 29 by FBI agents.