United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Donghui Liao, 32, of China, pleaded guilty to possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, specifically gift cards, as part of an ongoing organized fraud scheme. Liao faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, Liao participated in a large-scale fraud operation targeting a retail store chain. The scheme involved stealing gift cards from the store, copying the account information from the back, resealing the cards in their original packaging, and then returning the altered cards to store shelves at different locations. Customers unknowingly purchased the gift cards, and the fraudsters accessed the loaded funds once activated.
On October 17, 2023, Liao was spotted by an Ocala Police Department officer placing stolen gift cards on a retailer’s display and concealing others in his bag. Seventy-one of the cards showed signs of tampering. A search of Liao’s vehicle revealed 6,032 additional stolen gift cards, valued at $1.886 million if activated. Investigators also linked Liao to similar fraudulent activities across Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
This investigation was led by the Ocala Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, with the case being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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