Servers In Eagan Hacked, Used To Buy Cars For $1: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS — An Oklahoma man has admitted in U.S. court to hacking an Eagan-based government auction website and purchasing vehicles and jewelry for $1, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced.

Evan James Coker, 41, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Cooker hacked into the General Service Administration (GSA) auctions in early 2019, according to authorities.

The GSA conducts online auctions of surplus equipment and seized or forfeited assets. The auctions are conducted online through servers located in Eagan.

As part of his scheme, Coker bid on vehicles and jewelry on the GSA Auctions website.

When he won, Coker was directed to pay in the amount of his winning bid. Coker instead breached the government website and falsified the true auction price to $1, authorities said.

Coker won 19 auction items and fraudulently paid just $1 for each item, according to prosecutors.

Using this scheme, Coker obtained three vehicles, authorities said:

• A 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid (he bid $8,327)
• A Ford F550 pickup truck (he bid $9,000)
• Chevrolet C4500 Box Truck (he bid $22,700)

Editor's note: A previous version of this story was updated for clarity