An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty to infiltrating a federal auction site to snap up high-ticket items like vehicles and jewelry for a sum of $1 each, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger said Wednesday.
Evan James Coker,41, pleaded guilty to hacking a government site involving the General Services Administration’s (GSA) online auctions, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Minnesota. The GSA carries out auctions to liquidate government surplus, confiscated and forfeited assets in Minnesota, the press release said. Coker’s criminal activities spanned from Feb. 25 to Mar. 6, 2019, during which he manipulated the auction process to acquire high-value items for a fraction of their worth, court documents revealed.
The 41-year-old man put in bids for vehicles in the thousands of dollars, but when it came time to pay he altered the site to show a sale price of a dollar, officials say. https://t.co/evOdDV8fs0
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 22, 2024
Coker’s strategy involved participating in auctions for vehicles and jewelry, the documents said. “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,” the press release read in part. (RELATED: Half Of Americans Are Priced Out Of The Car Market. Here’s Why)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office claimed the items purchased for $1 included a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid, which Coker acquired with an $8,327 offer; a Ford F550 pickup truck for $9,000; and a Chevrolet C4500 box truck with a $22,700 bid. Prosecutors said Coker acquired a total of nineteen items via auction.
He attempted to put multiple items on the market afterward, the indictment revealed, according to NBC. He reportedly employed eight different accounts and utilized pre-paid debit cards that held minimal funds.
Prosecutors charged Coker in March 2023 with three counts of wire fraud and pleaded guilty to one of those charges, the indictment read, the outlet reported. The court has yet to schedule a date for sentencing, according to the press release. Coker is reportedly out at present on conditions set before the trial, the documents read.