Bat Scam

MrRookie

According to an Associated Press report, authorities have arrested a man in California and charged him with impersonating baseball stars Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra in e-mails to obtain and then sell bats emblazoned with their names.

Herbert John Derungs of San Francisco received the bats from the Original Maple Bat Co. of Ottawa, Canada, and then sold them for thousands of dollars to unsuspecting collectors on eBay, federal prosecutors alleged Tuesday. Derungs has been indicted on six counts of mail and wire fraud and one count of sending threatening e-mails, which could collectively get him up to 32 years in prison. He was being held without bail pending a court hearing Wednesday.

According to an affidavit filed by a postal inspector, Derungs wrote the following email to the bat company, claiming to be Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and using the address "derekjeter222@hotmail.com":

"I am interested in your product, due to the fact that Jose Canseco let me use it last year, and I liked it, although it was too heavy.

"I will place an order for 50-60 for the 2001 season, because my contract with Louisville Slugger is up, and I am trying to get a feel of what's out there before I decide what bats to use next year. The sooner the better. Thanks Derek."

Derungs apparently followed up with phone calls to the bat company, impersonating representatives of both Jeter and Garciaparra. Original Maple then sent 60 of the bats -- referred to as "Sam Bats" and used by many major leaguers --worth $3,319 US to addresses in Lakewood, Wash., and Brisbane, California, but was never paid.

Using multiple screen names, Derungs then turned around and sold the bats on eBay, claiming they were game-used by the players, prosecutors said. One victim allegedly traded $6,000, a Mark McGwire bat and a Rogers Hornsby bat for 15 of the Jeter and Garciaparra bats.

Derungs also allegedly sent threatening e-mails to a San Francisco Giants employee who turned down his application to be a tour guide at Pacific Bell Park because the position had already been filled.

sad to know you can get over $3,000 worth of Sam bats for free with just a hotmail account

maybe I'll write Nike with my michaelAIRjordan23@yahoo.com account and get some free kicks

CON40

I remember this scam... it's long in the tooth now, but does anyone know if this guy was convicted and sent up the river?