A now-former Apple employee accused of causing the iGiant to lose more than $10m in a super-scam has been charged with conspiracy, laundering, and tax evasion.
Dhirendra Prasad, 52, of San Joaquin County, California, worked at Apple in the US from 2008 to 2018, spending most of his time as a procurer of components and services for his employer’s products. It’s claimed, among other things, he received bribes, put in orders for fake repairs, siphoned off components, and caused Apple to pay for stuff it never actually got, all while he profited on the side.
As prosecutors put it this month, Prasad allegedly exploited his position by “engaging in multiple different schemes to defraud Apple, including taking kickbacks, stealing parts, and causing Apple to pay for items and services it never received, resulting in a loss of more than $10,000,000.” He allegedly evaded tax on these ill-gotten gains, which he also laundered [PDF] and helped in the evasion of tax.
It’s alleged Prasad schemed with two men – Robert Hansen and Don Baker, of central California – who ran supply-chain companies, to swindle Apple. It’s said Hansen and Baker’s outfits did business with the iPhone titan, and “conspired with Prasad to commit fraud and money laundering.”
