Projo Biz Blog

A suspect in an Internet fraud scheme that bilked customers of $13 million this afternoon waived his right to a preliminary hearing, clearing the way for the case to be presented to a federal grand jury.

The suspect, 33-year-old David Whitaker, faces federal fraud charges in connection with his actions as one of the founders of Mixitforme.com, a Providence Internet company that sold consumer electronics.

Whitaker was arrested March 20 at Los Angeles International Airport by U.S. Secret Service agents and other federal authorities after he disembarked from a flight originating in Mexico. He had been living in Acapulco until Mexican authorities expelled him. He was taken to Rhode Island last week by federal authorities.

In a hearing this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond in U.S. District Court in Providence, Whitaker waived his right to challenge whether federal authorities have enough evidence to charge him in the case. Whitaker faces 10 fraud charges, each of which holds a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Lawyers from the U.S. Attorney's office now have 30 days to present their case to a grand jury, which could choose to hand up an indictment against Whitaker.

Whitaker was returned to the federal Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls this afternoon to await the outcome of the grand jury proceedings.

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