CHICAGO, April 26 (UPI) -- An Illinois man accused of about 90 burglaries made false allegations online against his accusers, police and former employers, prosecutors said.
Jicheng "Kevin" Liu, a 32-year-old Chinese national who authorities say has been living illegally in the United States for a decade, is accused of stealing more than $500,000 in merchandise in Cook County, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Along with theft, he also faces counts of cyberstalking and damaging victims' businesses and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges.
Prosecutors said Liu retaliated for his arrest in the theft of a stroller by posting online ads claiming his accuser performed acts of prostitution from her home. She and her husband woke to men appearing at their door who thought they had appointments for sex, the Tribune said.
Related
A couple who sold merchandise on eBay became the target of Liu's online attacks after they moved to stop an online auction because they suspected Liu of selling stolen merchandise, authorities said.
Liu allegedly inundated consumer Web sites, complaining about the couple's lack of honesty and sent them text messages containing veiled threats about their young child. The online attacks cost them their online business, the couple said.
In another case, prosecutors said, Liu targeted online a woman he wrongly believed caused his arrest, alleging the nurse at a children's hospital had routinely mistreated patients and accusing her Realtor husband of rape.
Liu, who is in jail awaiting trial, is likely to be deported to China after the criminal charges against him are resolved, the Tribune said.
