Woman arrested for fraudulently selling $18M worth of counterfeit retail store coupons
NEW JERSEY – A San Antonio, Texas, woman was arrested and charged with fraudulently selling over $18 million worth of counterfeit coupons used at various retail stores across the United States for the purchase of household items, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Janet Bernal, aka “Rocky,” aka “Rocky G,” aka “Rocky Gee,” aka “RockyG-Kruella,” was charged with three counts of wire fraud. She appeared on Aug. 27 in the Western District of Texas, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer in San Antonio federal court, and was released on $15,000 secured bond, Sellinger said.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from June 2020 through June 2024, Bernal allegedly orchestrated a scheme to produce and sell fraudulent, counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores. Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly used Internet cloud-based messaging application.
Purchasers subscribed to the group, paid a monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download on the application. Members paid the monthly fee to mobile cash accounts associated directly with Bernal. Members downloaded tens of thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at retail stores throughout New Jersey and elsewhere. The loss to 156 retail stores and to the manufacturers whose products were covered by the counterfeit coupons was approximately $18 million.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
