Philadelphia Man Admits Role In Counterfeit SEPTA Pass Scheme

A 35-year-old Philadelphia man on Monday pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to make and sell more than 2,000 counterfeit SEPTA passes, according to United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

Charges against Mark Cooper, 35, of Philadelphia also include possession of access device making equipment. He will be sentenced on August 4.

According to Memeger, Between August 2013 and June 2015, Cooper conspired to produce and sell counterfeit SEPTA monthly TransPasses.

Once Cooper created the counterfeit passes, he gave them to a co-conspirator, Kimberly Adams, who has already pleaded guilty.

Adams met customers and sold the counterfeit passes for approximately $50, authorities say. A genuine monthly TransPass normally sells for $91. The defendants made and sold in excess of 2,000 conterfeit monthly passes and split the proceeds, Memeger said.

Cooper faces a statutory maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, four years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment. Adams will be sentenced May 18.