Couple Arrested for Allegedly Scamming Cisco

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Authorities have arrested a couple who allegedly swindled Cisco out of a massive $23 million.

Mario Easevoli and his wife, Jennifer Leigh Harmon Easevoli had set up a business called Synergy Communications. PC World reports that an investigation by the FBI, the IRS and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service supposedly found that the couple, along with an accomplice who is still at large, took advantage of Cisco's SMARTnet tech support program that ships replacement parts to companies.

The two are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, aiding and abetting mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted the North Carolina-based couple face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for the charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aiding and abetting mail fraud. Conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in jail and fines of up to $500,000.

Read the full story here.

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Jane McEntegart
Jane McEntegart
Contributor

Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.

25 Comments Comment from the forums
  • outacontrolpimp
    whose synergy communications?
    i dont know but lets send them parts!
    Reply
  • ssalim
    Alright! Put them in jail. They deserve that! There is no easy way in life!
    Reply
  • coldmast
    $23 Million and they thought what Cisco is not going to wonder who the 21 fake companies are?
    Reply
  • pbrigido
    So they get 20 years in jail and have to pay up to $500,000. Seems like they will pocket $22.5 million in the end.

    Did they publish an how-to tutorial?
    Reply
  • jellico
    Fraud is very big business. In fact, it's pretty much ubiquitous. Most fraudsters are never caught. When they are caught, they are seldomly prosecuted. When they are prosecuted, they serve relatively little jail time. It's the whole risk-vs-reward issue. You can rob banks or sell drugs and risk harsh jail terms at maximum security, pound-you-in-the-ass prison, or you can commit fraud and maybe serve a few months at a minimum-security detention center (not that I'm advocating crime, I just wanted to share some of the stuff I learned from my graduate coursework in fraud investigation and forensic accounting).
    Reply
  • Tech news? On my THG? What happened to the balloon boy and the rocket launcher guy?
    Reply
  • kelfen
    lol spaming cisco is asking for death. wounder how many geeks they have that are good with networks hmm.... tracking should be peice of cake
    Reply
  • strange1889
    @ kelfen: the majority of Cisco personnel are less equipped than say a CS major whose taken 2+ networking/info classes from a top school. i've seen it quite a few times
    Reply
  • lamorpa
    outacontrolpimpwhose synergy communications? i dont know but lets send them parts!English please?
    Reply
  • lamorpa
    jellicoFraud is very big business. In fact, it's pretty much ubiquitous. Most fraudsters are never caught. When they are caught, they are seldomly prosecuted. When they are prosecuted, they serve relatively little jail time.In order of sentences quoted: True, False, False, False, False. Not a good average.
    Reply