A Lincoln couple was arrested following a fraud investigation that involved victims in four states and two law enforcement agencies.
Michael Sanders, 37, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony theft of property and contempt of court. He remained Thursday in the Washington County Detention Center on $103,915 bond, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
His wife, Mindee Sanders, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of felony theft of property. She was released the same day without bond after being cited, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office and Prairie Grove Police Department began a joint investigation last week into fraud and theft allegations against the couple. The investigation stems from an April incident, in which a rare sports car dealer from Ohio told Prairie Grove police that Michael Sanders sold him a Maserati and Ferrari without supplying the cars, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged victim told police he wired $40,000 to Sanders as a down payment for the cars.
Authorities interviewed the couple and arrested both after the investigation revealed the Sanders had been stealing money by pocketing money after advertising items between $100,000 and $500,000 in magazines and online, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation revealed alleged victims in Illinois, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Hawaii. The couple is accused of stealing at least $91,200, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing.
