Man convicted of selling stolen goods online
Published: Mon, Sep. 15, 2008 01:26PM
Modified Mon, Sep. 15, 2008 01:41PM
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closeRALEIGH -- A Raleigh man accused of selling stolen CDs and DVDs on the Internet has been convicted of federal charges and ordered to forfeit his home, cars and bank accounts.
Somsak Saeku, 45, was convicted last week by a jury in U.S. District Court of one count of wire fraud and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to a news release issued by federal prosecutors.
Authorities seized more than 10,000 CDs and DVDs from Saeku's home at 3901 Quail Hollow Drive in July 2006.
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Last year, police seized a computer from the North Regional Library after they saw him using the machine to access Half. com and eBay. Police said he was using the sites to sell stolen DVDs, CDs and other merchandise.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Saeku had amassed $500,000 in assets in addition to his home, valued at $214,000. He was ordered to forfeit all but one investment account to the government.
A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. The maximum sentence for wire fraud is 20 years in prison. Interstate transportation of stolen property is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Saeku has been arrested at least nine times in the past 15 years on larceny charges and has been accused in 22 shoplifting incidents, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
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