Post #89323 by Turbogod on Sat, May 1, 2004 7:47 PM

From Fark.com

eBay loser goes literally ballistic
By Tinoula Awopetu, Court TV

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Court TV) — Gerald Newburger really doesn't like losing. A year after getting outbid at an online auction for a collection of used band uniforms, the New Orleans native traveled to New York to confront his rival bidder with a gun.

Newburger, 44, was pretty sore over losing a 480-piece collection of second-hand matching band and dance uniforms, which he had hoped to resell for a profit. Despite his loss to Robert Malinovsky of New York, who placed the winning bid of $360, Newburger resumed bidding offline.

According to Poughkeepsie prosecutor Richard Fiorile, Newburger exchanged e-mails and phone calls with Malinovsky for several months trying to convince him to sell.

After long-distance negotiating proved unsuccessful Newburger decided to try a face-to-gun approach.

Newburger allegedly broke into Malinovsky's home and threatened his wife with a gun. Malinovsky himself was not home at the time. No one was injured during the confrontation and Malinovsky's wife called police after Newburger left sans uniforms.

Officers apprehended Newburger in a taxi 30 minutes after the incident on his way back to the train station. A handgun was found in his briefcase.

Newburger, who admits to being in the Malinvosky home, denies he ever waved a gun at anyone. He claims the gun fell out of his briefcase when he reached inside it for a piece of paper.