Man busted in plasma TV scam

[TexasStooge]

STUART, Fla. — Television buyers are always looking for great picture.

That is exactly what online auctioneer Jeffrey Roberts claimed he was offering. Roberts, 19, allegedly hocked large-screen "plasma high- definition picture" televisions on the electronics section of auction Web site eBay.

Buyers in at least four states got a picture all right: a small color picture of a plasma TV delivered in a FedEx envelope.

Peeved purchasers, who shelled out between $800 and $5,100 for the "televisions" that retail for up to $10,000, were not amused. The alleged victims from California, Illinois, Georgia and Connecticut filed complaints with the federal Internet Fraud Complaint Center.

Palm Beach police tracked Roberts down through the complaints and arrested him. He allegedly netted $11,726 from the bogus television auctions.

Roberts reportedly defended the sales, claiming he promised a "picture" and that is what he delivered. But police weren't buying his pitch.

First, Roberts advertised the pictures in eBay's electronics section. Also, even though the sales heading described the item as a picture, the high-tech details that followed made it clear the seller was offering televisions, police said.

Roberts is charged with grand theft and is set to appear in court on Nov. 21.