PROVIDENCE – A Michigan man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a scheme that defrauded a Rhode Island-based retail outlet of approximately $140,000, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
From at least June 2022, and continuing to April 3, 2024, Mattek Scott, 27, of Flint, MI, and co-conspirators, to include Ariana Asberry, 26, of Flint, MI, fraudulently obtained money, pre-paid gift cards, and merchandise from at least 35 of the retailer’s outlets in at least 11 states, including in Rhode Island.
As part of the scheme, Scott, Arianna, and others would use fraudulent debit or credit cards to purchase merchandise and pre-paid gift cards. When the fraudulent payment cards were declined, they directed the cashier to complete the transaction by pushing the “Cash tendered” button; however, no cash was tendered. As a result of this scheme, the gift cards were loaded with U.S. Currency, ranging from $199 to $500…