Rochester woman charged with defrauding Rochester area businesses and charities out of thousands of dollars

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jessica Stadt, 43, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud and access device fraud, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that in March of 2023, law enforcement began investigating Stadt as a suspect in a gift card fraud scheme, which involved Stadt fraudulently acquiring physical and electronic gift cards from and on behalf of Rochester area companies under the guise that they would be used for disadvantaged children and communities. However, instead of using the gift cards for charity, Stadt sold the gift cards to several different individuals using Facebook Messenger. She sold the gift cards under their actual value and indicated to buyers that the money paid be used for charity. Buyers would send money to Stadt’s personal Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App accounts.

In total, Stadt acquired and sold approximately 607 gift cards on Facebook Messenger, with a total combined loss of approximately $88,882.60 to Wegmans, Youth Advocate Programs, and other not for profit organizations.

Stadt made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was released on conditions.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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