Robins man indicted in return-fraud scheme causing $8 million loss to retailers

A Robins man has been indicted in a federal court in Florida, accused in a large return-fraud scam where retailers across the country lost more than $8 million.

Brock David Fischer, 27, also known as “iFruit,” was indicted by federal prosecutors in the Middle District of Florida and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Fischer had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Roberts released Fischer with conditions and ordered him to appear in Tampa, Fla., on July 12, where Fischer and four others are being prosecuted.

According to the indictment, Fischer and the four others — Miguel Angel Fortier Jr., also known as “Destined,” of Milwaukee, Wis., Matthew Frederic Bergwall of Florida, and two others identified as “conspirator No. 1 and No. 2” — were involved in the conspiracy.

In December 2021 and continuing through April 14, 2022, the defendants gained access to a “major shipping company’s tracking system” and entered false information to cause retailers to issue refunds for items never returned.

The items included high-end electronics, jewelry and designer clothing and accessories, the indictment stated.

Fischer and others, identified as the “service” in the indictment, acted as a “chat room/marketplace,” which used an encrypted messaging platform to provide illegal access to the shipping company’s system. The service sold access to this system.

In five months, the system caused nearly 10,000 fraudulent returns, according to the indictment.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security investigators in Tampa, Fla., with assistance from Homeland Security investigators in Cedar Rapids and Milwaukee, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark office.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com