South Bay Man Pleads Guilty In $340K Home Depot Gift Card Scam: DOJ

SAN JOSÉ, CA — A South Bay man pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this month to charges in connection with a $340,000 gift card scam, the Department of Justice said in a news release.

Jonathan Orpilla Sinlao, 37 of San José, pled guilty Aug. 18 to conspiracy to commit access device fraud charges, the DOJ said.

In exchange for his plea the government agreed to dismiss seven counts of access device fraud.

Sinlao faces a maximum penalty of 7 ½ years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Prosecutors alleged Sinlao conspired to conduct approximately $340,164.49 in unauthorized purchases of gift cards and products at The Home Depot stores using customers’ Citibank credit card numbers.

These transactions occurred between February and July of 2019 at Home Depot stores in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, New York, and Oklahoma.