5 Indicted in Fraud in Online Auctions

Former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Kevin McLain and four other people have been indicted on federal fraud charges of failing to deliver goods purchased from them at Internet auctions, the U.S. attorney’s office said Tuesday.

McLain, 47, of Newport Beach, began selling collectibles over EBay, the online auction site, in 1998 at low prices, earning favorable reviews from Internet customers, according to prosecutors.

His reputation established, he began posting expensive items, such as laptop computers and digital cameras, but never delivered the goods as promised, authorities said.

McLain, who played for the Rams from 1976 to 1979, was accused of cheating about 30 victims out of at least $36,000.

In a second case announced Tuesday, John Allen Nobles Jr., 31, of Whittier, was charged with cheating more 130 EBay customers out of more than $10,000 and failing to pay the auction house more than $60,000 in fees and expenses.

According to a federal grand jury indictment, Nobles used bogus names to register with EBay, offering to sell golf clubs, Beanie Babies, Pokemon paraphernalia and other items.

Winning bidders never received the goods they paid for or were sent less expensive substitutes, authorities said.

A third indictment charged three people who advertised high-end electronics and consumer goods for sale on Yahoo Auctions.

Prosecutors said they offered Rolex watches, Bose speaker systems and Sony laptop computers, directing buyers to send their money to a penthouse suite in Alhambra that turned out to be nothing more than a mail drop.

The three, Amy Liang, 22; her brother, Alan Liang, 21; and Benson Ip, 21, all of Arcadia, are fugitives. They are accused of defrauding about 20 customers out of at least $65,000.

The victims generally got nothing back, the U.S. attorney’s office said, although some received a token box of Godiva chocolates.

“These cases demonstrate that shoppers on the Internet must be careful,” said acting U.S. Atty. Consuelo S. Woodhead.