Two Local Men Admit To $5.8M Green Dot Card Scheme

Two Philadelphia men have admitted their roles in a $5.8M prepaid debit card conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Tuesday.

Alpeshkumar Patel, 31, and Vijaykumar Patel, 40, each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court charges related to the conspiracy.

According to information from the U.S. Attorney, Alpeshkumar Patel and Vijaykumar Patel admitted that from September 2013 through March 2014, they were part of a conspiracy to steal money using reloadable debit cards.

They would purchase reloadable Green Dot Cards and register them in names other than their own. Then, they contacted victims by phone and used threats or deceit to induce them to put money on MoneyPak cards, which are used along with assigned PIN codes to add funds to Green Dot Cards, authorities said.

Alpeshkumar Patel and Vijaykumar Patel admitted that they obtained the Green Dot Cards and used them to purchase money orders. Afterwards, they deposited the funds into bank accounts associated with the scheme.

Phone numbers and IP addresses connected with the conspiracy were tied to approximately 2,500 Green Dot Cards that were funded in excess of $5.8 million, authorities said.

The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge to which Alpeshkumar Patel and Vijaykumar Patel pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2016.