Ex-Apple Employee Faces Charges for Allegedly Defrauding Millions

52-year-old Dhirendra Prasad, a former buyer in Apple’s Global Service Supply Chain, faces multiple federal charges for allegedly defrauding the Cupertino, California-based tech giant out of more than $10 million USD over the course of several years — reports KPIX-TV.

According to U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds’ office, the Mountain House resident has been indicted on five charges, has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, in addition to two counts of conspiracy to launder fraud proceeds. Prasad is also accused of tax evasion and conspiring to help a co-conspirator evade taxes.

Prasad worked for Apple from December 2008 to December 2018. According to prosecutors, Prasad engaged in “multiple different schemes to defraud Apple” during his time at the company.

Prasad stands accused of taking kickbacks, stealing parts, and billing Apple for items and services the company never received. According to a court filing in the proceedings, the losses to Apple exceed $10 million in total.

The ex-Apple employee also faces charges for allegedly evading taxes and laundering the proceeds from the several schemes he allegedly took part in.

In addition, Prasad is accused of conspiring to defraud Apple and laundering money alongside two vendors who had business dealings with the company. The two co-conspirators have been identified as Robert Gary Hansen and Don M. Baker, and they have been charged in separate federal cases.

The government is currently looking to seize several of Prasad’s properties and financial accounts, which are linked to the alleged crimes, by means of a civil forfeiture action that has been filed against him. An estimated $5 million in assets owned by the accused have already been frozen pending further legal action.

Employees stealing from Apple is not unheard of, and Apple has often implemented stringent regulations to prevent instances like this. However, someone essentially scamming Apple out of $1 million for every year they’ve worked at the company is pretty rare.

Prasad is expected to appear in federal court in San Jose on Monday.