6 Caught In `Cyber-Sting'

HOUSTON - The Secret Service's first "cyber-sting" has netted six suspects accused of conspiring to break into the computer system of a cellular-phone company in Portland, Ore.

An eight-month undercover operation called "Operation Cybersnare" led to the arrests last week of two men in the Houston area and four others from Huntington Beach, Calif., New York and Detroit.

An undercover agent established a private bulletin-board system called "Celco 51," catering to computer users dealing in stolen cellular-phone and credit-card information.

Richard Lacap of Katy, Texas, and Kevin Watkins of Houston made initial court appearances Monday and were released on $40,000 bail.

Lacap, who uses the computer alias "Chillin," and Watkins, also known as "Led," could get five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.