Prosecutors say Craig Stevens, 55, started sending out emails in January 2014, telling people that franchises of the popular West Coast burger chain were available at $150,000 per location, with royalties costing $250,000 a year, the Los Angeles Times reports. This scheme brought in $4.27 million, charging documents say, and Stevens allegedly committed wire fraud last June by sending a counterfeit In-N-Out licensing agreement via email to an investor in Lebanon. He pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud on Monday, and is free on $10,000 bond. [Source]
I wonder if he sold the franchise to anybody in Kuwait as well?
Thanks Susan and Angel
8 replies on “Man charged with selling fake In-N-Out franchises in the Middle East”
I wouldn’t be surprised.In n Out would be a cash making gold mine in Kuwait. Too bad they will never leave the west coast/Texas.
He’s smart, but not smart enough. He should have been in Mexico or South America or even Canada when he sent the fake documents. Since he was in the US and the email crossed his state’s borders, it becomes a federal felony. A smarter man would have done the whole thing from the Cayman’s (with very easy access to his bank account of $4.27MN).
You scare me.
point noted
True dat!
Interestingly enough I have interacted with a couple of people in the past couple of years claiming to have had contact with In-and-Out and explaining to me that they are willing to franchise to the MENA region; I hope they weren’t fooled by this guy!
nope
well at least a lebanese 9eyda got caught