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Pittston to host meeting of mayors from 5 cities in NEPA

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First trial begins at Luzerne County Courthouse since COVID-19

Two Lehigh County men face fraud-related charges for allegedly stealing merchandise and selling it online to unwitting customers, some in northeastern Pennsylvania.
				Rolland Houle, 41, of Breinigsville, and Jason Brody, 42, of Allentown, are scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 2 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Scranton. The pair pleaded not guilty on Sept. 4 to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
				A grand jury recently handed up an indictment alleging the men stole high-value electronics and expensive personal care items from retail stores, sold it to third parties through eBay and other online services and mailed the stolen goods to the purchasers.
				The men advertised the stolen merchandise at prices lower than those at big box retailers Walmart and Target, according to the IRS Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office which investigated the scheme. Among the stolen merchandise were a NutriBullet Magic Bullet blender, HP Pavilion PC and RoC Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Restoring Night Cream. Upon selling the stolen goods, the men shipped them through the U.S. Postal Service and other couriers. Buyers were located in Avoca, Dunmore and Lebanon.
				The men also conspired to launder the proceeds in an attempt to conceal and promote the criminal activity, according to the IRS.
				&ldquo;All financial transactions leave a trail and we have the unique expertise to follow those leads. Mr. Houle&rsquo;s and Mr. Brody&rsquo;s actions threatened the financial health of our communities and the charges against them underscore our efforts to combat such crimes,&rdquo; said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso.

Pair to face trial in alleged fraud scheme