A Texas woman has been arrested and charged with running a counterfeit coupon scheme that defrauded retail stores across the United States out of more than $18 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Janet Bernal, of San Antonio, also known by several aliases including “Rocky,” “Rocky G,” “Rocky Gee,” and “RockyG-Kruella,” was charged with three counts of wire fraud. She made her initial appearance on August 27, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer in the Western District of Texas and was released on a $15,000 secured bond.
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According to court documents and statements made during the hearing, Bernal operated the fraudulent scheme from June 2020 through June 2024.
She produced and sold counterfeit coupons that were used by customers at various retail stores, including large pharmacies and grocery chains across the country. Bernal managed a subscription-based group on a popular cloud-based messaging platform, where she provided access to the counterfeit coupons in exchange for a monthly fee.
Subscribers paid for access to an extensive library of fake coupons, which they could download and use at retail stores. Payments for the subscriptions were made directly to Bernal through mobile cash accounts. The counterfeit coupons were redeemed at 156 retail stores nationwide, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately $18 million to the retailers and manufacturers.
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If convicted, Bernal faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the amount gained or lost from the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, led by Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen of the Philadelphia Division, with leading the investigation that resulted in Bernal’s arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark is prosecuting the case.
It is important to note that the charges and allegations in the complaint are accusations, and Bernal is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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