Arrest warrants issued for Oklahoma City couple in phone scam

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Arrest warrants have been issued for a couple accused of running a used cellular phone charity scam.<br/><br/>25 year-olds Domingo Frias-Payan and Heather Frias-Payan were scheduled

Friday, July 29th 2005, 6:58 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Arrest warrants have been issued for a couple accused of running a used cellular phone charity scam.

25 year-olds Domingo Frias-Payan and Heather Frias-Payan were scheduled to appear before Oklahoma County Special Judge Fred Doak for a preliminary hearing conference Thursday.

They were charged in April with one felony count of racketeering and 11 counts of violating the Oklahoma Solicitation of Charitable Contributions Act.

Donors from across the country thought they were giving phones to benefit battered women, but prosecutors say most of the phones were resold for more than $1-million. The proceeds allegedly were deposited into the bank accounts of the company's owners.

The couple also allegedly operated an unregistered battered women's shelter in an upscale Oklahoma City suburb and required residents to pay $125 monthly or solicit cell phones.