Russian woman sentenced for selling leased cars
A Russian woman was sentenced to 33 months in prison this morning for selling on Internet sites cars that she and her husband leased from area dealerships.
A Russian woman was sentenced to 33 months in prison this morning for selling on Internet sites cars that she and her husband leased from area dealerships.
Ellena Ossiptchouk, 31, of Philadelphia, and husband Evigeny Tarasenko leased high-end cars - Audis, Corvettes and Mercedez Benzes - and sold them on eBay and cars.com to buyers who traveled from as far away as Nebraska to take them home, said U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger.
The fraud scheme netted the couple at least $181,000, Memeger said.
Ossiptchouk and Tarasenko each pleaded guilty in April to charges of conspiracy to transport checks and securities taken by fraud in interstate commerce, transporting a stolen vehicle, using another person's identity to defraud, and wire fraud. Sentencing for Tarasenko is scheduled for July 19.
The couple told buyers that once their check cleared, they would receive the title to the car. The titles were never sent.
Their scheme began to unravel after selling a Toyota RAV 4 to a retired New York City police officer.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III ordered Ossiptchouk to pay $105,000 restitution.