Howell Man Could Face Charges After Fraudulently Ordering $160K in Computer Parts

A 53-year-old Howell man could face charges of fraud after being investigated for ordering computer parts under false pretense.

According to the police report, a warranty fraud investigator from the Hewlett Packard Company contacted police in late 2011, requesting help regarding a case involving more than $80,000 worth of fraudulent warranty replacement parts from the time period of August 2009 to August 2011.

According to the police report, the suspect is accused of knowingly ordering replacement parts for computers using serial numbers from machines he did not own and then selling some of the parts for profit.

Police said the Hewlett Packard investigator claimed that the suspect showed intent to commit fraud by using multiple names and corporations when requesting the parts.

Police said they brought the suspect in for questioning and also issued a search warrant for the suspect’s home, where, according to the report, police confiscated a truckload of computer parts from the home and a storage unit.

The suspect said he obtained some of the serial numbers from boxes shipped to his address that contained a different laptop than the one listed on the box, according to the report. He also admitted to ordering replacement parts for un-owned computers from two other computer companies, Dell and IBM.

After further investigation, Hewlett Packard discovered the total loss amount for the computer parts was more than $160,000 and more than $7,000 in shipping costs. 

The case has been forwarded to the prosecutor for review.