eBay Scammer Avoids Jail Time

Content originally published by sportscollectorsdaily.com on 12 February 2008

It took awhile, but the sentence is in on a Lafayette, Indiana man's conviction for eBay fraud.

30 year-old Benjamin A. Laguire pleaded guilty in September to a single count of corrupt business influence, considered a Class C felony. He also had been charged with theft.

Laguire was convicted of defrauding nine people of more than $8,000 by not delivering NASCAR collectibles that he listed on eBay, but managed to avoid jail time as part of a plea agreement.

The incidents occurred in the spring of 2004 and the investigation started after a Minnesota woman informed Lafayette police that summer.

The Tippecanoe County prosecutor said Laguire was offering NASCAR collectibles - mostly sets of Dale Earnhardt Jr. die-cast cars. Most of the victims paid with credit cards using PayPal accounts, but some sent cashier's checks or money orders.

Laguire was given a four-year suspended sentence by a judge. He will have to complete full restitution to his victims.