Crime & Safety
H.H. Gregg Employees Arrested in Cell Phone Scam: Police
Daniel Evans and Steven Schellhorn allegedly pocketed thousands of dollars by discounting the cost of cell phones to friends who resold them, Joliet police said.
Two H.H. Gregg employees who sold phones at discounted rates to friends who resold them and kicked back a portion of the profit have been arrested on fraud charges, Joliet Police Capt. Tab Jensen said.
It's estimated that Daniel R. Evans, 31, of Silver Creek Drive, Joliet, and Steven M. Schellhorn, 21, of 21232 W. Covington Drive, Plainfield, made as much as $21,000 over the six months in which they carried out the scheme, Jensen said.
Police were contacted by H.H. Gregg's asset protection manager about the fraudulent sales, and officers arrested Evans and Schellhorn at the 3150 Tonti Drive store, near the Louis Joliet Mall, at about 7:15 p.m. Friday, he said.
Both were charged with forgery, money laundering, deceptive practices and fraud.
Jensen said the pair had been discounting the cost of cell phones they were selling to friends who, in turn, would disregard the monthly service contract, resell the phones and then cut them in on a percentage of the money they'd make.
They were also collecting commissions from the phones sold and overringing sales to collect additional cash or store gift cards, Jensen said.
Bond was set at $20,000 for both men, who were released from Will County jail Monday on $2,000 bail.
Police were contacted by H.H. Gregg's asset protection manager about the fraudulent sales, and officers arrested Evans and Schellhorn at the 3150 Tonti Drive store, near the Louis Joliet Mall, at about 7:15 p.m. Friday, he said.
Both were charged with forgery, money laundering, deceptive practices and fraud.
Jensen said the pair had been discounting the cost of cell phones they were selling to friends who, in turn, would disregard the monthly service contract, resell the phones and then cut them in on a percentage of the money they'd make.
They were also collecting commissions from the phones sold and overringing sales to collect additional cash or store gift cards, Jensen said.
Bond was set at $20,000 for both men, who were released from Will County jail Monday on $2,000 bail.
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