Trial is now set for September for a former student at Western Illinois University accused of cheating Amtrak. Federal prosecutors say 23 year old Ryan Minter from Calumet City, Illinois used stolen credit card information to buy Amtrak tickets online, sold them to students at a discount, and then kept the money.
A federal grand jury in Peoria returned an indictment against Minter last month, but it was sealed until after he could be arrested. He was taken into custody in Chicago on July 1st, and made his first court appearance in Davenport this week (7/16). He's free on bond, and trial is now scheduled for September 23rd.
Federal prosecutors say the scam began in September 2016, continued for two years, and involved Amtrak tickets for travel between Macomb and Chicago.
The government wants to confiscate the money allegedly earned by Minter, totaling 15,500 dollars.
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