Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States – A Virginia Beach couple was sentenced on Tuesday for what the Virginian-Pilot newspaper described as one of the “largest counterfeit coupon schemes in history.”
Lori Ann Talens, 41, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after officials said she and her husband defrauded companies of more than $ 31 million.
Court documents show that as of 2017, Talens used social media sites like Facebook and Telegram to find groups of coupon fans and sell them fake coupons.
He used an account called MasterChef and created and designed fake coupons from his home, officials said.
“These counterfeit coupons were virtually indistinguishable from genuine coupons and were often created with inflated values, far in excess of what an authentic coupon would offer, to receive items from retail for free or for a very discounted price,” according to United States Attorney General’s Office. of the Eastern District of Virginia.
He created 13,000 different coupon designs, according to officials, and the Virginian-Pilot reports that he earned about $ 400,000.
One of Talens’ customers reported counterfeit coupons at the Coupon Information Center.
In a separate fraud scheme, Talens defrauded Medicaid and the $ 43,000 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, officials said in a statement. He applied for benefits and did not disclose his income and the funds he received for the sale of fake coupons.
Her husband, Pacifico Talens, 43, benefited and helped with the coupon scheme, officials said in a statement. The couple pleaded guilty to mail fraud. Lori Talens also pleaded guilty to cable fraud and health fraud.
“Counterfeiting coupons harms the entire retail industry and causes financial losses for consumers, businesses and the economy. As this case demonstrates, those who use illegal schemes to get rich to deceive others will be brought to justice, ”said Raj Parekh, a U.S. attorney serving in the eastern district of Virginia.
To learn more about this story, visit the Virginia-Pilot website.