Eugene Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling More Than 5,000 Illegally Obtained Sprint Cell Phones Through the Internet

EUGENE, OR—On January 8, 2013, Tamara Diane Brown, 41, of Eugene, Oregon, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Eugene, admitting her involvement in a scheme to sell illegally obtained cell phones through the Internet.

In court papers, Brown admitted that while working as an employee of The Pape Group Inc. in Eugene, she used her corporate authority to order large quantities of Sprint cell phones, which she then diverted and had delivered to her home and the home of her friend. Brown then sold the devices on eBay. The scheme to defraud The Pape Group Inc. and Sprint took place between February 2010 and October 2011. Brown admitted that during the scheme, she improperly ordered 5,107 cell phones and obtained more than $305,000 from selling them. Brown admitted that she deposited the profits into her personal bank account and spent the proceeds by making a down payment on a residence, for vehicles, and for other expenses. The Pape Group Inc. and Sprint were unaware of the fraud during the time it was occurring.

Brown pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, which is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Brown also agreed to pay restitution and forfeit all of the money she made from her scheme.

Chief U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken presided over the case and will sentence Brown on March 20, 2013. The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Cardani.