Online horse sales
An Ohio judge sentenced a known horse scammer to six years in prison Wednesday in a case of six-figure theft.
Lydia Nicole Culp, 32, sold horses and equipment to more than 20 online victims last year, including children. She failed to deliver the buyers’ purchases.
Authorities arrested Culp in a drug raid last year. They found multiple horse trailers at the location, which led to an expanded investigation and charges.
Culp faced up to eight years in prison. She accepted a deal last month to plead guilty to felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and three additional theft charges.
Culp also faced charges of telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, and having weapons while under disability, but they were dismissed.
Culp utilizes the aliases Lynda Reece, Nikki Sawart, Lydia Terry and Lydia Nicole among others. Previously, she hid in plain view as a Tennessee barrel racer offering horse training, horse hauling, and consignment sales services.
Summit County Judge Alison McCarty ordered Culp to pay $130,130 in restitution.
Culp is in custody at the Summit County Jail.
