Horse scammer faces 48 months in federal prison
It’s sickening how familiar this sounds. We can only hope that the authorities in Ohio get a clue and replicate this success story…hmmmm, might be time for another call to the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Dept … :yes:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/04/060.shtml
Horse scammer Trina Lee Kenney faces 48 months in a US federal prison following her admission of one count of mail fraud.
The fraud by Kenney, 32, of Wrightwood, California, centred around claiming the horses she was selling were well-bred pedigree animals registered with breed organisations. She made claims about their abilities and temperament and health that were proved untrue.
She was undone in an FBI and US Postal Service undercover operation.
Authorities said Kenney’s internet ads made false claims, including that horses were specific breeds or had specific pedigrees, that the horses were registered with national or international organisations, and that the horses had specific physical characteristics, abilities, and temperaments.
Kenney also made false claims over the horses’ health and that buyers would be protected by a “money back” guarantee.
Kenney encouraged interested buyers to place deposits or pay for horses in full by falsely representing that others were interested in buying the animal, or that a particular horse was being sold at a discount because it needed to be sold quickly.
When victims complained or sought to exercise the promised guarantee, Kenney refused to return phone calls or emails, falsely claimed the victims had themselves breached sales contracts, and threatened to sue them for “defaming” her.
After Kenney’s victims posted complaints about her fraudulent scheme on internet bulletin boards and in horse-related chat rooms, Kenney began using a series of aliases to conceal her identity and continue the fraudulent scheme.
Kenney admitted to authorities that she had lied when she made claims that horses she sold were safe for children and beginner riders.
Kenney also admitted that she drugged a horse to make it appear docile during a victim’s examination of the horse, and that she had painted at least two horses to make them appear black, rather than brown.
She admitted that various horses she delivered were starved or otherwise in poor condition.