Couple charged with fraud
RICHMOND, Va. A couple from Bedford County is charged with federal counts of fraud and money laundering related to Internet computer supply sales.
Federal prosecutors say 40-year-old James Cox and 36-year-old Stephanie Cox of Forest were involved in a wire fraud scheme that began when James Cox was employed at Sonoco Products Company’s packaging facility in Chester.
Cox is accused of stealing Hewlett Packard ink cartridges and selling them to Triangles, an online retailer of computer equipment based in North Carolina.
Prosecutors say Triangles wired Cox payments of nearly 700-thousand dollars for the stolen cartridges from December 2001 to March 2004.
Governor prosecutors say James and Stephanie Cox laundered the money by purchasing vehicles, expensive vacations and an educational savings plan.