BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Former football...

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

Former football player sentenced

A 47-year-old Newport Beach resident and former Los Angeles Rams

football player was sentenced Monday to a federal prison term for

committing Internet fraud.

A federal judge gave Kevin McLain 30 months, or 2 1/2 years, in

federal prison on Monday for two separate Internet schemes stemming

from fraud he committed at an online EBay auction site, said

Assistant U.S. Atty. Elena J. Duarte in a press release.

In January, McLain admitted his guilt on eight counts of mail

fraud from his use of the site in 1998 and 1999 in Los Angeles. In

April, he admitted guilt on two more charges from Colorado, Duarte

said.

McLain, who was indicted of the crimes July 31, could have faced

up to 40 years in prison had he been found guilty.

The indictments said McLain posted items on EBay’s auction site

and collected payment from bidders but never delivered the goods.

McLain also refused to give refunds, Duarte said.

McLain defrauded more than 30 victims out of at least $36,000, she

said.

The Colorado charges stemmed from complaints that McLain auctioned

items on the site in 2000 and accepted payment but never shipped the

goods to the buyers, Duarte said. McLain pulled in more than $60,000

from buyers in both cases, she said. The Colorado case was

transferred to Los Angeles.

Federal Judge Dean D. Pregerson issued the sentence to McLain on

Monday.

McLain played linebacker for the Rams from 1976 to 1979.

-- Paul Clinton