Published: July 10, 2009 10:29 pm      

Attorneys seek delay in online fencing trial

PORTAGE — Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys are asking for a postponement of an Aug. 24 trial for a Portage man accused of using an online auction Web site to sell stolen goods.

Gary Vaughn, 35, was arrested in late May on the federal charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and released on $50,000 bond after an arraignment in Harrisburg before a U.S. magistrate judge.

His trial has been set for Aug. 24 in the Middle District’s Federal Courthouse in Scranton in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Thomas Vanaskie.

But this week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Fisanick filed a motion saying he and defense attorney Steve Rice of Gettysburg are seeking a delay of at least 30 days “due to on-going plea negotiations and scheduling conflicts.’’

Neither Rice nor Fisanick could be reached for comment Friday.

In a federal indictment, Vaughn was accused of obtaining “Merchandise for sale by soliciting and enlisting ‘runners’ to steal merchandise from other retail establishments so that he could fraudulently sell the stolen merchandise to the public from his brick-and-mortar stores as well as online.”

He has operated various businesses known as Gary’s Steals and Deals in Cambria and Somerset counties, including a shop at 631 Main St. in Portage Borough.

Vaughn is accused of conspiring with unindicted co-conspirators – both known and unknown – in the fencing operation from June 2004 until this year.