An Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to breaking into a federal auction house and selling off high-value items, including cars and jewelry, for $1 each, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Lugar announced Wednesday.
Evan James Coker, 41, pleaded guilty to hacking a government website related to the General Services Administration's (GSA) online auction. according to To the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota. According to a press release, GSA is conducting an auction to liquidate Minnesota's government surplus, forfeited and forfeited assets. Coker's criminal activity lasted from February 25 to March 6, 2019, during which he manipulated the auction process to obtain high-value items for a fraction of their value, court documents show. became.
Authorities say the 41-year-old man bid thousands of dollars for a vehicle, but when it came time to pay, he altered the website to show the sale price as $1. https://t.co/evOdDV8fs0
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 22, 2024
Coker's strategy included participating in vehicle and jewelry auctions, the documents said. “When Mr. Coker won a particular auction, he was directed to the pay.gov website to remit the winning bid amount. Instead of remitting the winning bid amount, Mr. Coker was directed to the pay.gov website and altered the true auction price to $1,” the press release reads in part. (Related article: Half of Americans are underpriced in the car market. Here's why)
The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged that the items purchased for $1 included a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid that Coker acquired with an offer of $8,327. His $9,000 Ford F550 pickup truck. A Chevrolet C4500 box truck sold for $22,700. Prosecutors said Coker acquired a total of 19 items through auctions.
He then attempted to put several products on the market, the indictment said. according to NBC. He reportedly used eight different accounts of his and utilized prepaid debit cards holding minimal funds.
According to the media report, prosecutors indicted Coker in March 2023 on three counts of wire fraud, and he pleaded guilty to one count, the indictment states. The court has not yet scheduled a sentencing date, according to a press release. According to documents, Coker is currently out based on conditions set prior to trial.
