Aspiring politician held for Internet fraud

A former legislative candidate was taken into custody Wednesday in a federal courtroom in Spokane after he fired his defense attorney at the outset of a sentencing hearing for Internet fraud.

Travis J. Sneed was ordered held in jail and his sentencing postponed indefinitely after Assistant U.S. Attorney Aine Ahmed told the court Sneed continues to victimize potential customers.

The 22-year-old businessman pleaded guilty in November to 14 federal counts of wire fraud associated with stealing $214,000 from customers in at least seven states and Canada. They forwarded money to Sneed for purchases of computers and other consumer goods, but got nothing.

“Now, he’s still trying to swindle customers out there by using the Internet,” Ahmed told U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle.

In his written plea bargain, Sneed promised to come to court Wednesday with $50,000 to begin restitution payments to his victims before sentencing by the judge.

But instead Sneed showed up with no money and immediately moved to fire his attorney, Assistant Federal Defender Kathleen Moran.

By firing her, he automatically earned the right to a new court-appointed defense attorney and a new sentencing date. Sneed has been freed on a $25,000 bond.

The federal prosecutor suggested the developments were stall tactics and asked the judge to immediately order Sneed to be taken into custody as a danger to the community.

The prosecution is expected to ask that Sneed serve at least 30 months in prison.

“Mr. Sneed continues to do business on the Internet,” Ahmed told the court, reading an e-mail the defendant sent to a prospective customer in January while awaiting sentencing. Sneed asked in the e-mail that his name not be used, but the customer forwarded it to the FBI after learning about Sneed’s crimes in an Internet news posting.

“By his own statement – ‘don’t use my name’ – he knows what he’s doing is wrong,” Ahmed told the court.

Sneed, working from Spokane and Cheney, set up three Internet sites, EXNC.com, E-Xpress-Notebooks.com and Exporters.com. The Web sites offered plasma televisions, computers, other electronic equipment and diet pills.

He was arrested last July by the FBI, shortly after announcing his intentions to become a Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives from Spokane’s 3rd District. He did not file for the post. Sneed earlier served as a legislative intern for former state Sen. Jim West, who is now Spokane’s mayor.

In pleading guilty, Sneed admitted that he took customers’ money through Internet sales and never delivered the merchandise.

“He still’s doing business but he has no inventory,” Ahmed told the judge.

“There’s really no way to stop him,” the prosecutor said, “and more victims are going to be created. That’s why we’re asking the court to place him in custody.”

The judge said Sneed had contacted one of his victims, a violation of release conditions.

“In view of the circumstances,” Van Sickle said from the bench, “Mr. Sneed will be detained.”