A Round Lake man is facing a string of felony charges for allegedly running a heartless online puppy scam, according to Chicago's top prosecutor. Attorney General Kwame Raoul has slapped Mondum Hycenth, 41, with one count of theft and one count of wire fraud, both Class 3 felonies with a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, Hycenth faces seven counts each of burglary and forgery, which could tack on a further seven years per count if convicted.
The Attorney General's office alleges this scammer was craftier than to just lie about selling pups on the internet. Hycenth is accused of using fake ID and forged signatures to cruelly pocket the cash from unsuspecting victims seeking furry companions, all without ever delivering a pooch. Victims, deceived by online ads, transferred their hard-earned money only to be left empty-handed and unable to reclaim their funds after using money transfer services, the Attorney General's office reported.
While Hycenth has pleaded not guilty to the charges, he'll have to convince a court of that on his March 12 appearance. Raoul urged consumers to thoroughly vet online sellers and cautioned against nontraditional payment methods, such as money transfers and peer-to-peer payment services, in a statement obtained by the office's news release.
These types of scams exploit the love and companionship that prospective pet owners seek, HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald explained in the official release. "As with any business transaction, I urge consumers to thoroughly research the seller, request recommendations and to refrain from purchasing a pet without seeing it in person. Conducting this type of research, before sending a payment, can help save consumers from experiencing a significant financial loss."
Raoul's Statewide Grand Jury Bureau, which hosts Assistant Attorney General Steven Knight as the hard-nosed prosecutor of this case, regularly collaborates with state and federal agencies to take down operations involving drugs, money laundering, guns, or electronics. Should anyone believe they've fallen prey to a similar scam, the Attorney General encourages filing a complaint via their website. For immediate assistance, the public can also ring up the Consumer Fraud Hotlines listed on the AG's site.
