Just returned home from the seminar in Frankfort and found this waiting for me.... thought you would all be interested. Someone was asking about GenealogyGiants about a week ago. nt -----Original Message----- From: Richard (Isaiah) Harrison [mailto:IsaiahH@cox.net] Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 1:20 AM To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] Fwd: [Newsletter-plus-html] Genealogy Scam Artist Arrested SPECIAL EDITION: Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter The following "Special Edition" is being sent to subscribers to the Plus Edition of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter: I have written a number of times about a genealogy-related scam that operates under a variety of names, including GenSeekers.com, GenealogyGiants.com and more. In the July 7 edition of the newsletter, I identified the owner/operator of this "business" as 21-year-old Elias Abodeely of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Since then, I have had conversations with several people in Iowa about this "business." I can now report that earlier today the Cedar Rapids police department arrested Elias Abodeely for his activities with GenSeekers.com and the other Web sites he operates. KWWL television in Iowa is now reporting that Cedar Rapids Police have made an arrest after a two year Internet crime investigation. The crimes involved genealogy websites. Today police arrested Elias Abodeely II of Cedar Rapids.. He faces four charges: 1st degree theft, identity theft, money laundering, and ongoing criminal conduct. Police say they expect to file charges against more suspects. Details are still developing. Keep an eye on the newsletter Discussion Board at http://www.eogn.com for updates. I will also be writing about this in the next newsletter. You can read my earlier article at http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0327.htm. - Dick Eastman ______________________________