Couple Arrested for Allegedly Scamming Cisco
Authorities have arrested a couple who allegedly swindled Cisco out of a massive $23 million.
Mario Easevoli and his wife, Jennifer Leigh Harmon Easevoli had set up a business called Synergy Communications. PC World reports that an investigation by the FBI, the IRS and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service supposedly found that the couple, along with an accomplice who is still at large, took advantage of Cisco's SMARTnet tech support program that ships replacement parts to companies.
According to the indictment, which was unsealed this week, the group used more than 21 fake companies and 80 fake names to obtain spare parts from Cisco. The parts were shipped to private mailboxes in eight states and then sold on to others.
The two are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, aiding and abetting mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted the North Carolina-based couple face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for the charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aiding and abetting mail fraud. Conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in jail and fines of up to $500,000.
Read the full story here.
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
-
coldmast $23 Million and they thought what Cisco is not going to wonder who the 21 fake companies are?Reply -
pbrigido So they get 20 years in jail and have to pay up to $500,000. Seems like they will pocket $22.5 million in the end.Reply
Did they publish an how-to tutorial? -
jellico Fraud is very big business. In fact, it's pretty much ubiquitous. Most fraudsters are never caught. When they are caught, they are seldomly prosecuted. When they are prosecuted, they serve relatively little jail time. It's the whole risk-vs-reward issue. You can rob banks or sell drugs and risk harsh jail terms at maximum security, pound-you-in-the-ass prison, or you can commit fraud and maybe serve a few months at a minimum-security detention center (not that I'm advocating crime, I just wanted to share some of the stuff I learned from my graduate coursework in fraud investigation and forensic accounting).Reply -
kelfen lol spaming cisco is asking for death. wounder how many geeks they have that are good with networks hmm.... tracking should be peice of cakeReply -
strange1889 @ kelfen: the majority of Cisco personnel are less equipped than say a CS major whose taken 2+ networking/info classes from a top school. i've seen it quite a few timesReply -
lamorpa outacontrolpimpwhose synergy communications? i dont know but lets send them parts!English please?Reply -
lamorpa jellicoFraud is very big business. In fact, it's pretty much ubiquitous. Most fraudsters are never caught. When they are caught, they are seldomly prosecuted. When they are prosecuted, they serve relatively little jail time.In order of sentences quoted: True, False, False, False, False. Not a good average.Reply