Jackson, MS-A former Mississippian, who is now an Arkansas resident, has pled guilty for his role in an eBay scam, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. 

On Monday, June 9th, Ricky Earl Coleman , age 46, pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud in Tishomingo Co. Circuit Court before Circuit Judge Jim Roberts. The investigation showed that, between May and June of 2004, Coleman sold bidders a Porsche and a motorcycle, although he did not own either.  He accepted certified checks from victims in Wyoming and Virginia but never provided the vehicles to the buyers.  Coleman moved from Tishomingo County to Conway, Arkansas, where he is now convicted of the same type crimes in unrelated cases.

Coleman was sentenced by Judge Roberts to five years suspended and also to five years supervised probation.  In addition, Coleman was ordered to pay full restitution to two victims of his eBay fraud scheme in a total amount of $16, 499 and to pay fines to crime victim’s compensation, Tishomingo Co, and the Cyber Crime Center of the Attorney General’s Office.

?Judge Roberts told Coleman that should he fail to pay restitution and fines, he should expect to serve the five year sentence,? said Attorney General Jim Hood.  ?He also, very rightfully, chastised him for the gravity of the crime.? 

The case was prosecuted by the Cyber Crime Division of the Mississippi Attorney General?s Office.