Scammer Illegally Bought TVs He Sold on eBay
A former employee of Olympus in Lehigh County pleaded guilty to a scam by which he used company purchase orders to buy TV sets that he then sold online.
A former Olympus employee pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding Olympus Corporation of over $374,000.
Benjamin Wilson, 35, formerly of Jim Thorpe pleaded to one count felony theft by deception before of Judge James Anthony in Lehigh County Court.
Wilson admitted to Anthony that he purchased televisions through Olympus, where he was employed with the Scientific Equipment Group. According to the original criminal complaint,Wilson purchased large quantities of Vizio LCD HD televisions, selling them on eBay under the name "benandem98".
According to defense attorney Michael P. Gough, Wilson would then intercept the purchase orders and alter them to reflect the purchase of a Dell workstation or a piece of scientific equipment. Some of the televisions were delivered to Wilson's home, but a large quantity were delivered directly to purchasers.
Two weeks before Olympus began an internal audit of the department, Wilson abruptly quit, relocating with his family to Katy, Texas. Wilson was arrested and extradited in April 2012. Wilson has been in Lehigh County Prison since his extradition. Gough told the court in April that Wilson would rather make restitution than bail.
Under the terms of the plea, Anthony will have complete discretion over sentencing, with no mandatory maximum for the prison sentence.
"My client plans on being as cooperative as possible," said Gough outside the Lehigh County courtroom in April.
Wilson's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 5. Gough and Assistant District Attorney Paul Bernardino said Olympus representatives and Wilson's wife are expected to speak at the sentencing.