Man gets 12 years for internet fraud

An American who defrauded Internet auction shoppers out of more than €93,000 has been jailed for 12 years in what prosecutors said was the stiffest penalty ever for such an offence.

Prosecutors in Norfolk, Virginia, said Thomas Houser defrauded 268 eBay and Yahoo! Shoppers.

He offered electronics, watches, paintball guns and other goods on both Web sites through the Houser Family Store. The items did not exist, prosecutors said.

Houser, who would operate out of motel rooms and move around to avoid capture, had cheques sent to a private postal box.

Police have seized from Houser nearly €46,500 in cash and a sports car worth about €5,600. The money will be used to repay those defrauded.