BOSTON – A Manchester, New Hampshire man is headed to federal prison after being sentenced yesterday for his part in a sophisticated scheme to traffic in over $350,000 worth of stolen retail gift cards. Khoa Doan, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Mark L. Wolf to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He’ll also be on the hook for roughly $180,000 in restitution to the defrauded retailers.
Doan pleaded guilty in December 2016 to a charge of access device fraud conspiracy, admitting his involvement in a sprawling operation that stretched from the U.S. to Vietnam. The scheme ran from May 2013 to October 2014 and specifically targeted major online retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Apple. It wasn’t a smash-and-grab; it was a calculated digital heist.
The brains of the operation were based in Vietnam, where co-conspirators allegedly obtained stolen account credentials, gaining unauthorized access to customer accounts on the retailers’ websites. Once inside, they pilfered existing online gift cards or used stored payment information to purchase even more, along with other consumer goods. But they needed a way to convert those digital assets into cash, and that’s where Doan came in.
Doan acted as a key link in the money laundering chain, recruiting “runners” across the United States. These individuals were tasked with “clearing” the stolen e-gift cards by purchasing consumer goods. Doan then took possession of these goods and resold them, effectively washing the illicit funds. The entire scheme generated approximately $368,000 in fraudulent orders, with Doan and his co-conspirators pocketing around $180,000 in illegal proceeds.
The case was a joint effort, spearheaded by Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb, along with Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, from Weinreb’s Cybercrime Unit, prosecuted the case, meticulously building the case against Doan.
While Doan’s sentence offers a measure of justice, the case underscores the growing sophistication of online fraud and the international networks fueling it. Authorities warn that these schemes are becoming increasingly common, and consumers need to remain vigilant about protecting their online accounts. The Secret Service, despite its historical focus, continues to adapt to the evolving threat of cybercrime and financial fraud, proving it’s not just about protecting presidents anymore.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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