San Antonio, Texas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Selling Thousands of Counterfeit Coupons Causing Losses to Retailers Across the United States in Excess of $17 Million

Press Release

NEWARK, N.J. - A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned a six-count indictment against a San Antonio, Texas woman for fraudulently creating and selling over $17 million worth of counterfeit retail coupons used at various retail stores across the United States for the purchase of household items, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Janet Bernal, 48, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. According to the Indictment:

From June 2020 through August 2024, Bernal orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to produce and sell fraudulent, counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores. In furtherance of her scheme, Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly used Internet cloud-based messaging application. Members subscribed to the group, paid the monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download.

Members paid the monthly fee via mobile cash accounts that Bernal directly controlled. Over the span of the scheme, members downloaded thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at retail stores throughout New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States. In total, the loss to the retail stores and to the manufacturers whose products were covered by the counterfeit coupons was in excess of $17 million.

The conspiracy and wire fraud counts carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, per count.

United States Attorney Alina Habba credited postal inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, in Newark, with the investigation leading to the indictment.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the U.S. Attorney's Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel:

Carol Dominguez, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender

Updated April 15, 2025