PROVIDENCE – A Michigan man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island today to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a scheme that defrauded a Rhode Island-based retail outlet of approximately $140,000, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Mattek Scott, 27, of Flint, MI, and co-conspirators, including Ariana Asberry, 26, of Flint, MI, fraudulently obtained money, pre-paid gift cards, and merchandise from at least 35 of the retailer’s outlets in at least 11 states, including in Rhode Island. The scheme spanned from June 2022 to April 3, 2024.
Scott, Ariana, and others used fraudulent debit or credit cards to purchase items and pre-paid gift cards, then directed cashiers to complete transactions without tendering actual cash. This method resulted in loaded gift cards worth anywhere between $199 and $500. The retailer’s losses were approximately $140,000.
Scott is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2025, with the sentence to be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Arianna Asberry pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, receiving time served, three years federal supervised release, and an order to pay restitution in the amount of $138,633.01.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Julianne Klein. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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