The Outcue: The actual price of buying a pet from the web

The Outcue: The actual price of buying a pet from the web

Have you ever seen adorable pictures of puppies for sale on social media and thought about buying one?

Today's 21 News Outcue podcast features a report from Watchdog Brands…in this case Watch Puppy… an investigation into an alleged puppy scam that started right here in the Valley and left people across North America without puppies or refunds. contained.

In a previous report, we told you about a Goshen County woman who was facing multiple civil lawsuits over her dachshund and English bulldog puppies, who were allegedly never released even after she paid for them. .

Today, Senior Digital Content Manager Robert McFerren and WFMJ Weekend Anchor and Reporter Corey McCray share additional information and how a social media post led to dozens of people committing criminal acts. Let's take a look at the story behind this search for evidence. claims.

A little digital digging revealed multiple civil lawsuits and judgments against April Weidman, also known as April Simon, and an investigation by the Goshen County Police Department into her dealings with clients. I found people in Florida, California, and right here in the Valley with very similar stories, but most of them didn't have the puppies they paid Weidman to buy.

Weidman had social media accounts where she shared updates and posted photos of puppies for sale.

On Thursday, a Mahoning County grand jury indicted Weidman on 32 counts of felony theft from people who paid for puppies but did not pick them up.

Mahoning prosecutors told 21 News that the total amount paid by the would-be dog owners was about $50,000, and that amount could increase if additional claims are made.