posted on August 20, 2002 08:34:54 PM
Fort Bend teen gets 5 years for online fraud
A Fort Bend County (TX) teenager who cheated 41 people out of about $53,000 through Internet fraud was sentenced Monday to five years in prison.
Dipam Patel, 19, of Sugar Land pleaded guilty to third-degree felony theft and was sentenced by state District Judge Jeannine Barr.
Prosecutor Russel Turbeville said Patel told unsuccessful bidders for electronic merchandise on the Internet auction site eBay that he could get the items for them.
They wired money to him at Houston supermarkets but received no products. Turbeville said Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Gary Spurger received more than 30 complaints.
