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Coupon Counterfeiters Arrested
Statement of Angie Saavedra
Chair, CIC Education Committee

We applaud the arrest of Glenn and Joanna Schwartz who are charged with numerous felonies for allegedly creating and selling "homemade" counterfeit coupons on the e-Bay Internet Auction Web Site. This case, documenting the sale of "thousands of the fraudulent coupons to persons across the nation" underscores the many risks consumers face when they purchase coupons on the Internet. The seizure of computers and electronic records will also greatly assist law enforcement in identifying additional persons engaged in illegal coupon activities.

These events are the result of an intense investigation by the Scottdale (PA) Police Department, Westmoreland County (PA) DA’s Office, Allegheny County (PA) DA’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Huntington County (IN) Sheriffs Department and the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Task Force.
We greatly appreciate the work of law enforcement authorities and will continue to work with them until the successful
completion of this case.

Download Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Release Report (JPG File)

CONTACTS:
ANGIE SAAVEDRA (770) 587-7238
BUD MILLER, CPP (703) 684-5307

[1] Defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty by a Court of Law.

March 9, 2004
DCJ MOST WANTED FUGITIVES:

Abdellatif Yasin Aljuneidi Photo, Fugitive
Abdellatif Yasin Aljuneidi
AKA: Sammy; Sammy Juneidy; Yasseen Aljonaidy

Last Known Address: 19 Ladwik Lane, Clifton, NJ
Ht: 5'' 7", Wt: 155, Hair: Black,
Eyes: Hazel, Age: 38, Sex: M, Skin Tone: Dark,
DOB: 08/16/1965, Birthplace: Jordan
Charges: Wanted for Money Laundering (1st degree); Theft by Deception( 2nd degree).





See Below:

Peter C. Harvey, Attorney General
Vaughn L. McKoy, Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
John R. Hagerty
(609) 984-1936

DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHARGES INTERNATIONAL SCAM ARTIST WITH MASTERMINDING $800,000 COUPON FRAUD

Jordanian-Born Immigrant Listed As DCJ Most Wanted Fugitive... National Search Underway

Report Confidential Information To Division Of Criminal Justice Fugitive TipLine 1-866-TIPS-4CJ

TRENTON - Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice, announced that the Division of Criminal Justice has charged a Jordanian-born citizen and former Passaic County, NJ resident with masterminding a multi-state coupon redemption fraud scheme that netted more than $800,000 in illegally obtained manufacturers payments. The ongoing Financial Crimes Bureau - Money Laundering Section investigation, in conjunction with the Washington D.C.- based Coupon Information Corporation, uncovered what may be the largest coupon fraud scheme yet investigated by New Jersey law enforcement authorities.

"This investigation, along with the allegations outlined in the criminal indictment, uncovered an elaborate scheme wherein store owners along the East Coast were solicited by the defendant to participate in what turned out to be a fraudulent coupon redemption program. Incredibly, the defendant was able to convincingly pull-off the scam and intercept hundreds of thousands of dollars from national manufacturer coupon programs. The prosecution of this defendant demonstrates the resolve and forward thinking by the Division of Criminal Justice in attacking all forms of financial crime," Attorney General Harvey said.

According to Criminal Justice Director McKoy, a State Grand Jury indictment obtained by the Financial Crimes Bureau - Money Laundering Section charged Abdellatif Yasin Aljuneidi, 38, 19 Ladwik Lane (last known address), Clifton, Passaic County, with first degree money laundering and theft by deception. Aljuneidi faces up to 30 years in state prison and a fine of up to $650,000 if convicted on both counts of the criminal indictment.

Aljuneidi, a Jordanian-born citizen who emigrated to the United States in 1989 and married a naturalized U.S. citizen, is listed as fugitive from justice and has been placed on the Division of Criminal Justice’s "Most Wanted Fugitive List." Aljuneidi is identified as a dark-skinned male, 5' 7" tall and weighing approximately 155 pounds. Aljuneidi has black hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Abdellatif Yasin Aljuneidi, aka "Sammy," "Sammy Juneidy," and "Yasseen Aljonaidy," is encouraged to contact the Division of Criminal Justice Fugitive TipLine at: 1-866-TIPS-4CJ (1-866-847-7425) or State Investigator Robert Walker of the Financial Crimes Bureau - Money laundering Section at (856) 486-2373. All information will remain confidential.

Director McKoy said the State Grand Jury indictment alleges that from April, 2000 through October, 2003, Aljuneidi contacted dozens of stores and retail outlets in New Jersey, New York, PA, and South Carolina soliciting participation in a coupon redemption promotion which would enable store owners to receive cash payments by redeeming manufacturer coupons. Upon agreeing to participate in the purported "promotion," Aljuneidi would prepare a store participation application and send the form to a coupon clearing house which sorts coupons for reimbursement by manufacturers. It is alleged that the applications grossly inflated both the size of the store and the amount of coupon-related sales. Based on Aljuneidi’s submission of coupons from at least 17 separate stores, the clearing house issued and mailed checks totaling more than $800,000. It is charged that Aljuneidi demanded fifty percent or more of the monies received by store owners. Additionally, it is charged that Aljuneidi did not work for a coupon company and that the stores he purportedly represented were not entitled to redemption funds.

On Oct. 2, 2003, state investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice executed search warrants at Aljuneidi’s Clifton residence and seized more than $300,000 from six bank accounts and a $50,000 BMW SUV automobile. Aljuneidi was arrested and held on $400,000 bail set by Clifton Municipal Court Judge Scott Bennion. Aljuneidi posted bail through a bail bondsman and subsequently failed to appear at a pre-indictment conference in Passaic County Superior Court. As a result, a bench warrant was issued for Aljuneidi’s arrest. Aljuneidi’s fugitive status has been listed in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data base.

The investigation was coordinated by the Division of Criminal Justice - Financial Crimes Bureau’s Money Laundering Section and the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) - a not-for-profit corporation formed by manufacturers who issue cents-off coupons in the United States. The CIC is committed to maintaining integrity in connection with the redemption of manufacturers' coupons and participation in related promotional programs. The CIC cooperates with appropriate public authorities in the investigation and prosecution of persons and/or entities engaged in suspected coupon fraud activities.

Supervising State Investigator James Macinnes and State Investigators Richard Watson and Robert Walker assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice - Financial Crimes Bureau’s Money Laundering Section conducted the investigation. Deputy Attorney General William T. McGovern presented the case to the State Grand Jury. The indictment was handed up to Mercer County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg. The case is assigned to the Passaic County Superior Court for trial.

"On behalf of the Coupon Information Corporation, I want to express our deep appreciation to State Investigator Richard Watson and Deputy Attorney General William McGovern of the Division of Criminal Justice - Financial Crimes Bureau’s Money Laundering Section for pursuing the investigation of this case," said Angie Saavedra, Chair, CIC Education Committee.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Additional information, including a the Fugitive Identification Report, a copy of the State Grand Jury indictment and a link to the Coupon Information Center is available via the Division of Criminal Justice web page at www.njdcj.org.

Indictment - Aljuneid

Indictment Alleges Massive Fraud, Industry Insiders
Click here for a copy of the Indictment
(45 page PDF File)

Can you help fight Counterfeit Coupons? CIC is Seeking Solutions
Counterfeit Coupons Flood the Internet
Retailers Concerned about Counterfeit Coupons Can:
Product Specific Announcements:
The CIC published a white paper on the security risks of Print-at-Home Internet Coupons in March 2001. Get a copy of it!
 Read what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has to say about coupon certificate booklets and other illicit coupon related Internet activities.
The CIC is a Not-For-Profit association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting counterfeit coupons, misredemption, and fraud.
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