Local couple arrested for eBay fraud

A local man who victimized several buyers on eBay last year, even selling a nonexistent $2,000 Rolex watch, found himself being taken for a ride recently as lawmen used the Internet to get the online scammer to turn himself in.

The defendant, Brian Krause, and his former girlfriend, Heather Sanders, both face charges of theft over $1,000 for fraudulently listing a Rolex watch on eBay last summer. The watch, which sold for $2,050, reportedly never existed but instead was offered and sold to a man from Little Rock, Ark., who was the high bidder on the online auction.

The man never received his watch and reported the crime to lawmen. Investigators believe the couple simply snatched a picture of a Rolex online and put it on their listing.

According to sheriff?s investigator Jackie Matheny Jr., the incident was one of several he believes the couple was responsible for. However, the Rolex watch was the biggest.

?We think they may have scammed others, but they were for less and folks from across the country aren?t real big on coming all the way to McMinnville to prosecute,? Matheny said. ?Now the guy from Little Rock is out over $2,000 so he?s very willing.?

Matheny said the Krause account on eBay has since been canceled, as has his Paypal account given the complaints and negative feedback listed.

While lawmen were able to link the scamming to Krause and Sanders, their next problem was finding the couple. The break came recently when Matheny was given information Krause was operating an online business. After getting the Web site address, Matheny said he struck up a conversation with Krause online and then hatched a deal to buy a bumper from the suspect, who was unaware Matheny was a law enforcement officer.

It was when Krause arrived to deliver the bumper that he was arrested for the eBay scam. Lawmen learned Krause had been living in nearby Sequatchie County as had Sanders, who was taken into custody Tuesday.

Matheny said while the eBay scam crossed state lines, Warren County can adopt jurisdiction because the payment for the Rolex was sent Western Union and picked up in McMinnville.