Two Indicted for Fraud After Returning Counterfeit iPads in WA
Two people were indicted on ten criminal counts for fraud, trafficking, and transporting stolen and counterfeit items after returning counterfeit iPads to Target stores in Washington.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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According to the Eastern Washington U.S. District Court, Zhangbo Liang (24) made his first appearance in federal court on September 30th, while Linda You (20) made her first appearance in federal court on October 24th.
The indictment alleges beginning no later than January of 2024, Liang and You were involved in a scheme where they would purchase authentic iPads from Target stores in the Eastern District of Washington and elsewhere, remove them from their boxes, place counterfeit iPads in the boxes, then reseal the boxes. Liang and You would then return the counterfeit iPads and receive a refund on a Target gift card. Liang and You would use the gift cards to allegedly purchase additional items from Target, including more iPads they would replace with counterfeit goods for subsequent returns.
Between January 2024 and June 2024, Liang and You returned 140 iPads to Target stores and received $163,000 in gift cards.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref released a video statement. (Watch below)
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley.
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