Home Cincinnati Press Releases 2010 Germantown Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud for Phony Sales on Internet Auction Website
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Germantown Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud for Phony Sales on Internet Auction Website

U.S. Attorney’s Office April 08, 2010
  • Southern District of Ohio (937) 225-2910

DAYTON, OH—Ramona Burns, 38, of Germantown, pleaded guilty in United States District Court here to one count of wire fraud for offering items for sale on eBay that she didn’t have.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Germantown Police Chief Roy McGill announced the plea entered yesterday before United States District Judge Thomas M. Rose.

Burns admitted to defrauding more than 50 people nationwide who sent her a total of more than $21,000 responding to online ads she posted offering Apple iPhones, Ganz Webkinz, or Nintendo Wii game consoles for sale. According to court documents, Burns, using the online user identification of “rmiller959," marketed these products for sale to victims throughout the United States and Canada in June and July 2007. 

As part of her plea agreement, Burns agreed to make full restitution to victims in the amount of $21,818.40. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Judge Rose will set a date for sentencing.

Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by FBI agents and Germantown Police officers who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheila Lafferty who is prosecuting the case.

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