North Attleboro Man Charged with Defrauding Computer Companies of Equipment in Extensive Warranty-Replacement Scam

BOSTON—A North Attleboro man was charged today in federal court with defrauding multiple computer companies of their equipment in an extensive warranty-replacement scam.

MATTHEW J. KUC, 31, was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, and possession and sale of stolen property in interstate commerce.

The complaint alleges that from June 1, 2005, through December 14, 2010, Kuc defrauded computer companies such as Dell, 3COM, and Hewlett Packard by using a variety of aliases to request warranty replacement parts for various items of purportedly defective computer equipment. As alleged in the complaint, the computer companies provided replacement parts, and required the persons who had requested those parts to return the faulty parts. It is alleged that Kuc did not actually own the purportedly faulty equipment, but simply provided serial numbers for equipment owned by individuals who did not even know him and whose equipment was not defective. Kuc used a variety of aliases and addresses in order to avoid detection while ordering large numbers of warranty parts. Kuc maintained an eBay “store” where he sold the fraudulently obtained equipment. The complaint states that during today’s search of Kuc's residence, law enforcement officers found over 150 boxes of computer equipment addressed to Kuc and/or his aliases.

If convicted on these charges, Kuc faces up to 20 years of imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 10 years of imprisonment on each of the stolen property charges. On each charge, he also faces a three-year term of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is highest.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Special Agent in Charge William P. Offord of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation - Boston Field Division; and North Attleboro Police Chief Michael Gould, Sr. made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Walters and Scott L. Garland of Ortiz's Economic Crimes and Computer Crimes Units.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.