PROVIDENCE – A Providence man has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a yearlong scheme involving the fraudulent use of thousands of gift cards purchased for charities, schools, and community organizations.
According to the Department of Justice, 69-year-old Esteban “Steven” Antonio Perez was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John McConnell, Jr., to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. Perez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and access device fraud.
According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, between October 2024 and October 2025, Perez and his co-conspirators compromised at least 2,591 gift cards, resulting in more than $230,000 in losses. The gift cards were purchased in bulk by more than 80 organizations including charities, churches, and schools and were intended to support individuals and families in need. Using the stolen card numbers, members of the conspiracy purchased baby formula, household goods, coffee, energy drinks, food, and other items from a major grocery store chain in Rhode Island and Massachusetts…