A US couple who used an elaborate scheme to swindle a massive $US1.2 million ($1.5 million) worth of electronic goods from Amazon has pled guilty to federal mail fraud and money laundering.
The Indiana duo – 38-year-old Erin Finan and 37-year-old Leah Finan – used hundreds of fake identities to purchase items which they claimed to be damaged or not working on arrival. Because of Amazon’s generous returns policy, a replacement would often be dispatched without requiring the the return of the broken unit.
They would receive the replacement, but never return the item they reported as fucked. From there, a third party named Danijel Glumac helped the crims move the stolen items and give helpful hints on how to avoid being sprung Amazon.
Glumac would buy the goods for below market price, then mark them up for resale via an unnamed entity in New York. He also allegedly laundered the money, a portion of which went back to the Finans for their shifty dealings.
Of the $US1.2 million Glumac was paid for the goods, $US725,000 ($927,347) was given to the couple.
The Finans were charged for the crimes back in May and have now pled guilty. Their elaborate workings were uncovered by a joint investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Indiana State Police and the Internal Revenue Service.
Not only do they face up to 20 years in jail, they also have to pay back the $1,218,504 worth of stolen shit to Amazon. The pair are expected to be sentenced on the 9th of November.
