San Diego Man Indicted In $6M Counterfeit Postage Stamp Scheme

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego man was indicted by a federal grand jury for running a counterfeit U.S. postage stamp scheme that generated more than $6 million, federal prosecutors said.

Wayne Fister, 38, also known as Wayne Wong, was charged with mail fraud, selling counterfeit stamps and money laundering, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.

Since July 2024, Fister used his account on an online marketplace to sell millions of counterfeit stamps, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Officials said the stamps were manufactured in China and shipped to the U.S. as part of the scheme.

Fister used "a significant portion" of the proceeds to purchase his home in San Diego, prosecutors said.

Fister pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday, according to court records.

If convicted, Fister faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the mail fraud charges, 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the counterfeit stamp sales count.

City News Service contributed to this report.