A federal grand jury has charged four Minnesota residents with defrauding Cisco of over $1 million computer networking equipment

March 15, 2007

1 Min Read

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A federal grand jury in San Jose has charged four Minnesota residents with defrauding Cisco Systems, Inc. of over $1 million computer networking equipment, United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced. The indictment was unsealed today.

Under the SMARTnet service contract program, Cisco agrees to provide customers with technical support, including advance hardware replacement. Advance hardware replacement allows customers to obtain replacement equipment from Cisco immediately, without having first to return the broken part.

The grand jury indicted the following Minnesota residents:

  • Mark B. Faris, 49, of Minnetonka, Minnesota;

  • Stephen D. Chicoine, 56, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota;

  • Charles L. Lytle, 35, of Shakopee, Minnesota; and

  • Amy M. Ihrke, 39, of Jordan, Minnesota

    According to the indictment, all four Minnesota defendants worked for Interlink Communications Corporation, a company based in Edina, Minnesota, that bought and sold new and used Cisco networking equipment. Faris was Vice President of Interlink, Chicoine was President, Lytle was a Sales Representative, and Ihrke was Senior Sales Support Representative. According to public records, Interlink is now operating as Zykco USA LLC.

    Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)

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