Two telemarketers charged with fraud

The former bassist of the rock band The Ataris awaits arraignment after he and a woman were indicted on federal conspiracy and fraud charges.

Michael Sean Davenport was arrested last month at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field in Little Rock on a warrant issued by a southern Illinois federal court accusing him of running a telemarketing business in Santa Barbara, Calif., for eight years. The indictment alleges the business advertised houses and apartments it didn't own at low prices.

Davenport, 49, is accused of defrauding more than 100,000 people of $27 million.

He and Cynthia Rawlinson, his sales manager, are charged with wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

[DOCUMENT: Read full indictment filed in case]

Davenport's attorney, Alan Karow, said in an email Wednesday night that he will "assert a vigorous defense" and that he believes Davenport is innocent. Rawlinson has no attorney listed in court records.

Metro on 01/19/2018

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