Nilton Rossoni Sentenced To 68 Months In Federal Prison For Colossal eBay Fraud; Elaborate Scheme Featured 59 Mail Drops, 260 Bogus Auction Accounts

It was a case that was all about the numbers. In the end, the number with the most meaning to Nilton Rossoni was 68 — the number of months he’ll be spending in federal prison.

Rossoni conducted more than 5,500 fraudulent auctions on eBay. He pulled off his scheme by using at least 260 bogus accounts, at least 59 mail drops, six names, four bogus passports and three banks.

Rossoni, 50, formerly of Sunny Isles and Hallandale Beach, Fla., collected $717,000 in the scheme between October 2003 and June 2008. The bizarre fraud was smashed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Winning bidders were notified via e-mail to send a check or money order payable either to Celso Ferreira, Jorge Carlos, Joao Santos, Lourival Philipps, Prime Hill Inc. or Primo Hill Inc. Buyers were instructed to send payments via U.S. Mail to specific addresses, all of which proved to be mail drops.

“Elaborate” barely described the scheme.

“Rossoni rented at least 59 separate private mail boxes at various Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRA), including The UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc., and Pak-Mail, using fraudulent Brazilian passports in the names of Celso Ferreira, Jorge Carlos, Joao Santos, or Lourival Philipps as identification,” prosecutors said. “After receiving payment, Rossoni deposited the money into various bank accounts he opened at Bank of America, Citibank, and SunTrust Bank, under these aliases.”

As part of the scheme, “Rossoni registered and established hundreds of eBay accounts and used various names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses on those accounts to post items for auction,” prosecutors said.

He then purchased inexpensive items from himself and posted positive “feedback” on the transaction, prosecutors said.

Confident that Rossoni was an honest broker because of his positive feedback, buyers lined up to be fleeced, prosecutors said. Rossoni sold them textbooks, computer flash drives, rotisserie grills, tools, sporting equipment, DVD collections, airline tickets, saddles, saddlebags, designer luggage, appliances, metal detectors and more.

Rather than shipping items, he kept the money.

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6 Responses to “Nilton Rossoni Sentenced To 68 Months In Federal Prison For Colossal eBay Fraud; Elaborate Scheme Featured 59 Mail Drops, 260 Bogus Auction Accounts”

  1. For some reason he has already been released from prison – go to bop.gov and do an inmate search. It says released. Why has he already been released?

  2. Anonymous: For some reason he has already been released from prison – go to bop.gov and do an inmate search.It says released.Why has he already been released?  

    The date of release shown is January 27 2010.

    Rossoni was sentenced on these latest charges in February 2010.

  3. It is interesting to note that the fraud was brought to the attention of the “authorities” as much as FOUR YEARS ago, and was being actively investigated for at least 3 of those years before prosecutors felt they had sufficient evidence to ensure a conviction.

    Just a tiny bit longer than the forty minutes plus ad breaks it takes a Jack McCoy or Horatio Caine.

  4. regarding case #09-60209-cr-hurley.. As a victim that has losses, how do i find out if i am intitled to restitution. thanks for your help. charles

  5. he got me…. here’s an email I got today…. he’s convicted ….

    U.S. Department of Justice
    Federal Bureau of Prisons
    Adams County Correctional Center
    20 Hobo Fork Road
    Natchez, MS 39120
    Phone: (601) 304-2500
    Fax: (601) 446-5224

    April 29, 2010

    RE: Initial Designation
    NILTON ROSSONI
    Register Number: 73491-004
    Docket Number: 09-CR-60209

    Dear Chris:

    NILTON ROSSONI is currently incarcerated at Adams County Correctional Center and is scheduled for release on July 26, 2014. The inmate is not eligible for parole.

    Please be assured that, unless otherwise requested, we will keep you informed of all significant release-related activities pertaining to this inmate during the period of incarceration.

    If at any time you have any questions or concerns regarding this program or the offender’s status, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above address or you may telephone the VNS Call Center.

    Sincerely,

    Warden
    Correctional Programs Branch

  6. Hi Chris, I got the same letter. He got my money on e-bay. I got him for mail fraud with the FBI. So is he out or not? If he is out, I am sure he’s up to no good and has lots of money left of the $717,000! E-bay should be safer. I don’t buy from people that don’t have much feedback anymore. People sill do this and get away with it. E-bay needs to step up.
    To all, have a good day make the best of life and smile, there are still good, honest people out there!
    I will check for updates on this page later,
    Thank you all, Honest Anonymous