Kevin Allan Peters, Tracy, CA

[ZX11]

Kevin Peters sent me an email stating he had several animals to get rid because his wife is pregnant. I wired the money. This 2-16-03. The next day, he said he was shipping via Airborne. The were venomous reptiles. He sent email says Airborne had them. I wrote back saying that was illegal. He sent over 80 emails saying they had been shipped, were being shipped, he sent them through Delta Dash and FedEx, too. Two weeks go by. He then says he does not have them and never did. They were a buddies' and it was his wife that was pregnant.
I wanted a refund. He said no, because the snakes belong to his buddy and he was responsible.
I called the police in Tracy, Ca and they went to talk with him about it. He then said he sent the money back via registered mail. That was 10 days ago. No animals, no money, no check.
He will not respond to emails or phone calls. The Tracy police have been back to his house. He will not open the door or talk to them again.
He is a liar and thief. I have stated facts and have saved all emails to prove it. He also tried selling the animals to several other people and I can prove that as they have sent me emails that he sent them even AFTER I paid for them.
Ifyou do not want your money, send it to him.
He also claims to be in Navy, he is not. He lives in Tracy, Ca not in Nevada, as he sometimes tells. He is a 23 year old child that does NOT have a venomous permit in ANY state.
DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS CROOK AND THIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS CROOK AND THIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS CROOK AND THIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Email for full [email protected]

Michael Parkinson

 

[Darin Chappell]

Michael,

Rather than answering several email requests, why not just post the full account (including emails) right here? That way we can not only see it now, but it will still be here in case anyone else ever does a search on this guy's name.

Sorry you got ripped off, though. That totally stinks, and I'm sorry the police haven't been able to be more helpful to your efforts. Why are they stopping their attempts to talk to him just because he won't open the door??? That doesn't sound right, does it?

Anyway, I'd like to see all of the info right here, if you could post it. Thanks.

 

[Wilomn]

Get a hold of the Dept. of Animal Regulation in Tracy and tell them this guy had or has venomous reptiles in his house. They have to respond by law to every complaint recieved. They will most likely verify whether or not he has/had them and if he doesn't have permits they will procede legally.

Good luck,
wes pollock

 

[ZX11]

I would love to post all the emails between Kevin Allan Peters and mtyself, however due to size, and his language content, I cannot.

As for the Dept. of Animal Regs, I did not have to notify them.
When I called Peters on his scam, he called the DNR telling them he had sent the animals to me and I did not have a permit.

{ Allow me to state, I do have a FL permit. This is where the animals were to be shipped and housed}.

This past Monday, I had eight DNR vehicles, numerous officers, Two county police cars, two cops, And Dept. of Family and Children Services show up, serach warrant in hand. They ravaged my house, my vehicles, and utility buildings. They found nothing.
The animals I do have are legal and properly housed.
The DNR said they received a call from a man in California saying he had sent them to me in Ga.
I told them I did buy them and allowed them to read the emails showing they were to go to Fl. Everything was ok.
But, since this is a scam related to highly venomous animals, they notified the authorities in Ca.
Kevin Peters hung himself. He sent the email selling the snakes. he accepted the money { I have that receipt }, he stated several times he was shipping the snakes, he said several times he was returning my money. He told Ga DNR, he sent the snakes.
He has no permit in any state. He told Ca he didn't know anything about this deal and he never had any snakes. All the while, he was trying to sell them to other people and I have the forwards from those people, too.
So, if he did not have them, what did he sell me? If he did not know anything about this deal, why did he sign for the money? why did he talk to the cops? If he did have the snakes, why not ship? Simply put, he got caught in a scam.
I am pushing for prosecution. I am sueing. It will cost more to fly out there, than the amount I sent him. He will have to pay fines, restitution, and court costs. So, I will get my flight money back.
The Dept of Family and Children were here to take my wife's kids because they were in "grave danger" from the animals never recieved. He WILL pay.

 

[MSL]

I can't even begin to imagine how horrible it must have been for you and your family to go through that ordeal.

This guy should/must be punished. Please keep us informed as you go forward with the prosecution.

Meryl Lechner

 

[ZX11]

Worse than that!!!!!!!!
All of our neighbors honed in on the action and word was spread that I was fined thousands of dollars, kids were taken, animals removed, I was jailed. Alot of crap got started and I'm mad as hell. He just don't know where he is headed!!!!!!!!!!
Michael Parkinson

 

[KNOBTAIL]

You probably could have saved

yourself alot of trouble by just taking it to an attorney. The police are not going to interfere in civil matters. Secondly, you can sue for substanially more than this thief bargained for. Including alot of pain and suffering you and your family may have gone through by this thoughtless person. I would hurt him where it hurts the most, in his pocket book. JERRY TRESSER

 

[Wilomn]

Just be sure to keep your cool. Don't do anything in the heat of the moment you might regret later. Buttwads like this guy really make me mad as well.

The only problem with trying to sue this loser is he may not have anything to get from him for the damages he's caused you. It's one thing to get a judgement and quite another to collect.

I hope you don't lose out completely on this but it doesn't sound good. Might want to give some consideration to a private investigator to see what he's worth of got that may be worth something.

Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll actually come across somthing really venomous and become another statistic. We can hope.

 

[KNOBTAIL]

contrary to the previous post

even if he has nothing, getting a judgement would certainly affect him in the future and be a scarlet letter until he makes good. Even if he never makes good, a judgement will follow him in every facet of his life when credit situations arrise. Granted that the consolation in the short term is limited, but in the long terms it does have its rewards. JERRY TRESSER

 

[flammingcat]

This really doesn't have anything to do with you getting ripped off by him, but maybe you should be thankfull he didn't send them, what would you have done, if the people who came to take the children away, would have found them reptiles? I don't know the laws, there, and if you can have them if they are secure where they can't get out, I have 3 children of my own so I guess that's why that stuck in my mind. I really hope you get your money back. It is really sad that people do other people like that, any online sell is really just a trust thing, and here lately, ther has been an awfull lot of "bad guy" post. I'am really glad this forum is here, I'm sure it really helps a lot of people. Good-Luck.
Shannon Hall

 

[flammingcat]

Hello again,
Sorry if I read that wrong and the snakes weren't going to your home around the children...I guess I just read the part about them coming to take the kids, and I just thought, boy I would be glad I didn't get them!! Sorry if I read it wrong.
Shannon Hall

 

[ZX11]

No worries, Shannon. I'm really ticked about dork doing all this to someone he doesn't even know and for other reason than dollars.
I am a man of princible. Even if I lose money to recover what was sent to him, it was worth it.
I told up front "don't jerk me around. I'll lose a grand. You'll lose much more".
But, no, the snakes were to go to Fl legally and be housed with a friend with no kids. Never here.
To all--------------- Thanks for the support!!!!!!!!!
Michael Parkinson

 

[ZX11]

UPDATE

Kevin Peters was finally trcked down and he told them he was sending me a cashiers check by ceritfied mail

Has not been received as of 4-10-03. He also sent me an email in German that I had translated. It said he does not have the money to return. When I wrote back, I told him of the translation and not to write back in German. He wrote back saying he owes the debt and cannot pay. He went on to say, he doesn't know where to get the money.
I contacted the court in Tracy, Ca and they sent me a small claims packet with all the required papers to file suit, which I did.
A detective from the Tracy police is attempting to bring internet theft charges against him as well.
Will post as this develops...........
Michael Parkinson

 

[ms_terese]

Glad to hear you have the determination to see this one through. I'm doubtless that you are saving multiple other people the same heartache.

I'm curious as to how much money was involved...I didn't see it mentioned in the previous posts. I'd be interested to know if it's petty theft or felony theft. I'm not sure the dollar amount is the only criteria in making that determination, though.

Good luck getting this resolved!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Twice Bitten...

Suppose this is the same guy?

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/threadid=16428

 

[jefjen]

It is the same guy

You are correct Lizard Lady,,,,this is the same Kevin Peters as in the other thread... He IS a thief...

 

[ZX11]

Glad to hear you have the determination to see this one through. I'm doubtless that you are saving multiple other people the same heartache.

I'm curious as to how much money was involved...I didn't see it mentioned in the previous posts. I'd be interested to know if it's petty theft or felony theft. I'm not sure the dollar amount is the only criteria in making that determination, though.

Good luck getting this resolved!

Any amount stolen through any telecommunication devise constitutes felony theft, use of telecommunication to commit theftand falls under Federal and FCC rules.
Charges can be brought about by either local, state or federal authorities.

The amount was $250.00. But, add in Western Union charges, $40.00, cash advance charge of $10.00 and long distance charges I incurred, $40.00{ trying to run him down}. $340.00 total.
The amount I am suing for is far more than that, due to humiliation brought about by him sending the DNR and cops and stress because of The constant raids and Dept of Family and Children Services threatening to take the kids, thinking I had the animals. Plus the humiliation of my house getting ripped apart in front of the neighbors, being handcuffed and made to stand in the yard in front of neighbors, wife and kids thrown from the house while they carried out the search warrant.
Also, I neglected to mention, in my original post, this guy had also told them that I deal in illegal weapons and they dismantled my house and vehicles, as well as my workshop looking for those, too.
Since this all started, I have now been raided a total of four times by the DNR and police. I have had to allow Dept of Family and Children Services in for inspections about four or five times.
Everone is still looking for the animals and weapons.
All above staments true and correct. If neeeded, I can email copies of all email and instant messenger contacts I've had with this bum. Over 80 in all.
Michael Parkinson

 

[ms_terese]

Michael,

Thanks for clearing up the criteria for the charges. I hope you manage to win a generous settlement. I can't even imagine the horror you've gone through!

How long are they going to wait for you to receive the supposed cashier's check? If it never comes, isn't he risking another charge of giving false information to a police officer? What a piece of work this guy is!

Good luck!

 

[Rick Staub]

FYI

In California it is only legal to possess native venomous snake species and subspecies. Also it is not legal to sell any venomous species that is native. Therefore, regardless of which species this guy tried to sell you it was illegal. Just call the California Dept of Fish and Game enforcement branch (CDFG website) and let them know this guy is selling venomous snakes. They will take care of him pronto. Probably in concert with animal control. It does not even matter that he never finished the deal or if he doesn't currently possess the snakes. Intent is all they need to bust him.

 

[ZX11]

Fish and Game have been notified and are working on it at this time{ so they say}.
The detective working the case has been on vacation the past two weeks and I have left two messages on his voicemail and another tonight.
I also sent Kevin Peters another email and got back the following reply:
" Life isn't all beer and skittles"
I really wish I lived about 2000 miles closer, but am glad I do not.
Thanks for the support. You are a great bunch and I'll keep you informed as things progress.
Michael Parkinson