Second Defendant Sentenced in $3.5 Million Distribution Scheme

CINCINNATI – Suraj Patel, 38, of Long Beach, Calif., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today for his role in a $3.5 million scheme involving distribution for Macy’s. As part of his sentence, Patel was ordered to pay approximately $925,000 in restitution to the company.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

Rudy Rampertab, 46, of Ocoee, Fla., was sentenced in July to six months in prison for one count each of mail fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Rampertab was an employee of Macy’s from 1988 until 2010. Beginning in 1998, Rampertab managed Macy’s distribution center in Carson, Calif. and supervised the transport of merchandise to centers throughout the country.

Starting in July 2010, Rampertab began diverting the shipment of goods to Patel, who established several shipping companies. Ramptertab obtained approval for Patel’s companies to become third party vendors for Macy’s; however, Rampertab did not disclose his personal connection to the companies, which he helped operate. Rampertab also did not disclose to Macy’s that he personally profited from the operations of these vendors.

Between July and December 2010, Patel’s companies received more than $3.5 million in Macy’s shipping and packaging jobs. After paying expenses, Rampertab and Patel generated more than $900,000 in net profits from the diverted business.

Rampertab and Patel used the proceeds to purchase real estate and vehicles, including a 2010 Aston Martin costing $199,000.

Patel was sentenced to serve one day in prison, followed by six months of home confinement as part of his three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in September 2016 to mail fraud and money laundering.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Tim Mangan, who is representing the United States in this case.

# # #