Related Federal Cases
- Evan James Coker Guilty of Wire Fraud, Minneapolis MN, 2019 · New York
- Abdelhamid Al-Madioum, ISIS Support, Minnesota 2024 · Washington
- John Doe, Fentanyl Trafficking, Minnesota 2024 · New York
- Ricky Ellis Lamb Sentenced for Multi-State Check Fraud, Omaha NE, 2024 · New York
- 23andMe, Data Auction Without Consent, New York NY, 2023 · New Mexico
Defendant Bids $1, Wins Luxury Items in Government Auction Scheme
MINNEAPOLIS – In a brazen scheme to defraud the government, Oklahoma man Evan James Coker, 41, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after hacking a government auction website and purchasing luxury items for the low price of just $1.
According to court documents, Coker participated in a scheme to defraud the General Service Administration’s (“GSA”) auctions between February 25 and March 6, 2019. The GSA conducts online auctions through which it sells excess equipment, including surplus, seized, and forfeited assets, as well as equipment that is no longer needed by government agencies.
The auctions are conducted online through servers located in Eagan, Minnesota. Coker bid in multiple auctions for vehicles and jewelry on the GSA Auctions website. When Coker won a particular auction, he was directed to the pay.gov website to remit payment in the amount of his winning bid. Instead of remitting payment in the amount of his winning bid, Coker breached the pay.gov website and falsified the true auction price to $1.
In total, Coker bid on and won 19 auction items and fraudulently paid just $1 for each item. As a result of his scheme, Coker obtained three vehicles, including a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid, for which he bid $8,327; a Ford F550 pickup truck, for which he bid $9,000; and a Chevrolet C4500 Box Truck, for which he bid $22,700.
Coker pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Matthew D. Forbes are prosecuting the case. Coker’s scheme highlights the vulnerabilities of online government auctions and the importance of monitoring these sites for suspicious activity.
The GSA conducts online auctions to sell excess equipment and assets, and these auctions are open to the public. However, it appears that Coker was able to exploit a vulnerability in the system to defraud the government.
Coker’s guilty plea is a significant victory for the government, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of holding individuals accountable for their crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Cybercrime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News