30
A Newark man is facing a felony charge following an alleged online marketplace scam involving counterfeit gold.
Authorities say Messiah A. Bethea, 27, was arrested on March 20 after an investigation by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office.
According to investigators, Bethea used a fake Facebook account to arrange a trade with a victim in Ontario County, offering gold in exchange for silver.
The transaction took place in a parking lot in the Town of Phelps. Officials allege that Bethea handed over fake gold while receiving approximately $10,000 worth of silver from the victim.
Bethea was later taken into custody at the Ontario County Jail. He was arraigned in CAP court and is currently being held without bail.
