Department of Justice
United States Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart
Southern District of Ohio
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Fred Alverson
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Allegedly stole parts from employer and sold them online; also sold satellite piracy devices
DAYTON – A federal grand jury here has indicted auto parts store manager Geraldine A. Oldfield, age 49, of West Carrolton with fraud for selling satellite television piracy devices and auto parts she stole from the company through an Internet auction site.
Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. Mark Batts, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Field Division, and Centerville Police Chief Stephen E. Welker, announced the 22-count indictment which was returned yesterday.
The indictment contains two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of possession of piracy equipment and 17 counts of satellite TV piracy.
The indictment alleges that Oldfield stole auto parts, collectibles, and other promotional items from her employer, Main Auto Parts in Centerville, took the stolen items home, then offered them for sale over eBay. The indictment alleges that Oldfield began this in 2001 and continued until about January 20, 2004. She is accused of selling at least $12,360 worth of stolen auto parts on eBay. Oldfield is also accused of illegally programming satellite TV access cards to defeat the encryption of satellite TV programs and provide unlimited access without a valid subscription; and selling the pirated cards, many on eBay.
“This indictment is the result of an investigation that began with the Centerville Police investigating a theft reported by Main Auto Parts,” Lockhart said. “This is a classic example of an investigation into a single crime leading to charges for a series of crimes.”
Mail fraud and wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment on each count. Possession of piracy equipment carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and each of the counts of satellite television piracy carries a maximum punishment of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 assessment for the Victims of Crime Fund.
Senior United States District Judge Walter Herbert Rice will preside over the case. He will set a date for Oldfield to appear for arraignment on the charges.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Those named as defendants in an indictment should be presumed innocent. The government has the burden to prove the defendant guilty in a court of law.
Lockhart also commended the cooperative investigation by FBI agents and Centerville Police detectives, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne L. Fehrman, who is prosecuting the case.
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Additional contact information:
William Cox, General Manager, Mid-Atlantic Warehouse Distribution, Inc. which is the parent company of Main Auto Parts. 317 897-4499.
Robert Mercer, DirectTV. 310 964-4683.