MILWAUKEE (AP) - A New Jersey couple accused of defrauding a Kohl’s department store customer rewards program of $600,000 has pleaded guilty to federal charges in Milwaukee.
Prosecutors say Pavan Gurram and Vanaja Gattupalli used a computer program to steal cash certificate numbers belonging to customers. The Kohl’s Cash program gives customers $10 certificates for every $50 they spend.
Authorities say Gurram is a computer programmer and the mastermind of the fraud. A plea agreement says prosecutors will recommend a sentence below the guidelines of about 10 years in prison in exchange for his cooperation. That includes helping the government locate stolen money in overseas accounts.
The Journal Sentinel (https://bit.ly/1RCNvU0 ) reports the FBI opened an investigation after some Kohl’s customers complained they weren’t able to redeem their rewards certificates. Kohl’s is headquartered in Menomonee Falls.
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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, https://www.jsonline.com
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