Louis Perpignan, a resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a fraudulent refund scheme. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa on May 27, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Perpignan has been ordered to pay restitution exceeding $2.6 million.
Perpignan previously admitted guilt to charges of wire fraud. His fraudulent activities spanned from May 2016 to May 2021 through an online operation known as the “Members Only Refund Service.” This scheme involved charging clients a fee for “returning” purchased items like televisions and handbags to various retailers across the country without actually returning them.
The method employed by Perpignan included posing as customers and using deceptive tactics to convince retailers that items were either not delivered or had already been returned. Consequently, customers received refunds while retaining the products, with Perpignan taking up to 25% of the item’s purchase price as his fee.
Perpignan’s fraudulent activities impacted at least 31 retailers and resulted in losses amounting to over $2.6 million. He used his share of the illicit proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle, which included acquiring at least eight vehicles such as a Lamborghini Huracan valued at $176,000.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Darknet Marketplace and Digital Currency Task Force with contributions from agencies including Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution was managed by the United States Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona.
