An Indiana couple admitted to fleecing Amazon of $1.2 million in goods by using stolen IDs.
Erin Joseph Finan, 38, and Leah Jeanette Finan, 37, pleaded guilty to charges of mail fraud and money laundering, USA Today noted.
Both charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and, under terms of the plea agreement, the couple could pay up to $1,218,504 in restitution to Amazon. Furthermore, their right to appeal could be waivered should they face less than seven years and three months jail time.
Fox 59 reported that the Finans were accused of using false online identities to purchase various electronic items from Amazon and then falsely claiming the items were not working to receive replacement devices from the e-commerce giant.
These stolen items were then allegedly sold out of their van to co-defendant Danijel Glumac, who allegedly sold them to an entity in New York.
According to court documents, The Finans went to great lengths to conceal their fraud, going so far as to create hundreds of false online identities, a Department of Justice news release said.
They allegedly stole over $1.2 million in consumer electronics from Amazon, including GoPro digital cameras, Microsoft Xboxes, Samsung smartwatches, and Microsoft Surface tablets.
Charges against the couple were filed following investigations by the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Indiana State Police earlier this year.
The Finans recently pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis and their sentencing hearings have been set for Nov. 9 by Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said in the news release that consumer fraud was something absorbed by everyone through higher retail prices.
"Buying and selling black market items across state lines is against federal law and those who choose to ignore that will be held accountable," he said.
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