Monroe Policeman Indicted in Federal Court
For Selling $193,310 in Stolen Property on eBay

SHREVEPORT, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a police officer with the Monroe Police Department was indicted by the federal grand jury for selling stolen merchandise on eBay.

Raul X. Johnson, age 43, of Monroe, La., was named in a federal indictment charging seven counts of mail fraud and one count of false statement to a federal agent.

The indictment alleges that beginning in December 2004 and continuing until February 2009, Johnson and another caused payments to be sent to a West Monroe, La., post office box in payment for stolen merchandise sold on eBay. The defendant and another person allegedly listed 14,334 items for sale on eBay with sales prices totaling $193,310.53.

According to the indictment, Johnson personally opened the eBay, Paypal and bank accounts utilized in the scheme. The stolen merchandise sold on eBay had been obtained from a variety of national retailers with locations in Monroe. The indictment further alleges that during the course of an interview conducted by the FBI and the U. S. Postal Inspector, Johnson knowingly made fictitious and fraudulent material statements, including how much money he obtained from the scheme and whether he knew the merchandise being sold was stolen.

If convicted of mail fraud, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both on each count. False statement to a federal agent carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspector, and the Monroe Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney C. Mignonne Griffing.