Federal Court in Louisiana Sentences California Man for Scheme Involving Over $300,000 in Fraudulent Purchases from Home Depot
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Federal Court in Louisiana Sentences California Man for Scheme Involving Over $300,000 in Fraudulent Purchases from Home Depot
Louisiana – A California man has been sentenced in a federal court in Louisiana in connection with a Home Depot fraud scheme for over $300,000. On November 18, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Jonathan or Pilla Sinlao, age 38, a resident of San Jose, California, was sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2).
According to court records, Sinlao and others plotted to make $340,164.49 in fraudulent purchases of gift cards and items at Home Depot locations using other people’s Citibank credit card numbers. Sinlao used temporary charge passes with his own name and 16-digit credit card information from other consumers throughout these transactions. These purchases took place at Home Depot locations in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, New York, and Oklahoma between February and July of 2019. Sinlao was caught on video and photographed doing around 78 fraudulent purchases at Home Depot stores.
Sinlao was captured on video in April 2019 executing two unlawful transactions in Harahan, one of which involved the purchase of a Home Depot gift card. Sinlao then sold the gift card to a Metairie pawn shop. Then, in July 2019, law officials got a warrant to search Sinlao’s U-Haul truck after he attempted to make two fraudulent purchases using two separate Home Depot credit card numbers that were not provided to him. Sinlao had counterfeit Home Depot receipts, cartons of Home Depot products, and temporary charge passes with Sinlao’s name and 16-digit credit card information provided to others.
Sinlao was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe. Judge Ashe also ordered Sinlao to pay $341,164.49 in restitution and a $100 obligatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the Department of Homeland Security, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for their efforts in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni is in charge of the prosecution in this case.
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