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Strategies & Market Trends : Anthony @ Equity Investigations, Dear Anthony, -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scion who wrote (92158)	8/16/2005 9:28:00 AM
From: StockDung	Respond to of 122087

Couple face diploma mill investigation THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tuesday, August 16, 2005 SPOKANE -- Law enforcement officers have raided alleged diploma mills in Spokane and Post Falls, Idaho. The search warrants were issued as part of an eight-month investigation against Dixie and Steve Randock of Colbert, according to documents filed Thursday in U.S. District Court. The documents say the Randocks and others are under investigation for possible mail and wire fraud and money laundering. No criminal charges had been filed, but a civil suit filed Thursday sought forfeiture of a Colbert home and adjoining property owned by the Randocks. The criminal investigation centers on the Randocks' involvement "in a number of Internet-based virtual 'schools' that offered fraudulent high school and college degrees for purchase over the Internet," the court documents say. "Steve and Dixie Randock and others are involved in manufacturing and selling fraudulent 'degrees' to consumers throughout the United States and world over the Internet, using various entities, including Saint Regis University, James Monroe University, Robertstown University, Trinity Christian School and others," according to court documents. The Randocks also sell "accreditation" and "transcript verification" to other bogus online diploma mills, the documents stated. The Randocks couldn't be reached for comment. Some of the various business names used by the Randocks and others include "A+ Institute; Advanced Education Institute Trust; Kaching Kaching and When Pigs Fly," the court documents said. "Depending on the type of 'degree' a consumer wants to obtain, the suspects charge fees ranging from $399 to $2,454," documents allege. "The 'degrees' are then shipped or mailed via interstate carrier or the U.S. Postal Service to the purchasers." The investigation includes the Washington state Attorney General's Office, numerous federal agencies and the Spokane Police Department.