By Associated Press, 6/9/2003

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Call it the case of the K-9 that couldn't sniff the C-4.

Kennel owner Russell Lee Ebersole is accused of providing bomb dogs that couldn't find bombs. He is charged with defrauding the government of more than $700,000 and putting at risk the lives of thousands of federal workers whose workplaces his dogs guarded.

Calls to anti-fraud hot lines tipped the government of alleged problems with Ebersole's dogs.

On April l4, 2002, private detectives hired by the Federal Reserve posed as contractors and drove vehicles up to three Federal Reserve building entrances. The vehicles carried 50 pounds of dynamite, 50 pounds of TNT, and 15 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive hidden inside.

The indictment says Ebersole's canine teams "failed to detect the explosives, and the vehicles were permitted to enter Federal Reserve parking facilities."

Ebersole, 43, is scheduled to go on trial Monday in U.S. District Court. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison on each of the 28 counts and fined up to $1.4 million. Ebersole has pleaded innocent to all counts.

"I believe that we'll be able to demonstrate the dogs are quite capable and are still working for government agencies," said Ebersole's attorney, Spencer Ault.

The court has refused a defense request to let the jury see the dogs at work.

Ault said he looks forward to the trial to "discuss how these tests were administered and what transpired there." He said the case is largely the result of professional jealousy among rival dog trainers envious of Ebersole's methods.