A former Apple employee has been charged after defrauding the company of $10 million through taking kickbacks, committing theft, and money laundering.
Included the charges the employee has been indicted for are conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud as well as conspiracy to launder fraud proceeds. Two vendors have also been accused in relation to the crimes committed by the former Apple employee.
Should he be convicted, the forfeiture of properties and financial accounts connected to the crime will be sought by the United States Attorney.
Former Apple Employee Charged with Fraud
Apple’s supply of devices might be disrupted due to the lockdowns in China's manufacturing headquarters.
A former Apple employee named Dhirendra Prasad has been charged after committing fraud against the tech giant.
According to a report by CNET, Prasad was able to defraud the company by committing "theft, taking kickbacks and money laundering." Prasad was an Apple employee from 2008 to 2018 and was a part of the Global Service Supply Chain department.
The accused is facing five charges, including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to launder fraud proceeds, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defaud the United States government.
Per the court filing filled by prosecutors, Apple lost around $10 million thanks to Prasad. The filing has specifically accused Prasad of faking repair orders and stealing parts as well as asking the tech giant to pay for services and items it never even received.
What Will Happen if Prasad is Convicted?
Per the CNET report, the fortfeiture of properties as well as accounts lined to Prasad is being sought should he be convicted. It is said that these properties and financial accounts are worth around $5 million.
It should also likewise be noted that two vendors have also been charged in separate cases in connection to the fraud Prasad committed. Specifically, they have been accused of conspiring with Prasad to commit money laundering as well as fraud.
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Money Laundering, Wire Fraud, and Other Terms You Should Know
To fully undertsnad the charges against Prasad, let us define some of the important terms in connection to the alleged crimes.
According to Investopedia, money laundering is defined as "the illegal process of making large amounts of money generated by a criminal activity, such as drug trafficking or terrorist funding, appear to have come from a legitimate source."
Investopedia notes that the money earned through this process is considered dirty money and the process "launders" it to make it look clean, hence the term used for it.
As previously mentioned, Prasad has also been charged with mail and wire fraud. Investopedia defines wire fraud as a type of fraud that typically involves the internet or a form of telecommunications, such as an email, phone call or even a text message.
Mail fraud, on the other hand, has been defined by the Cornell Law School as the use of United States mail when committing a criminal act of defrauding someone.
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