Utah has seen yet another case of individuals scheming to profit off the COVID-19 pandemic. Two brothers from California, Dino A. Rende and Francis J. Rende II, have been sentenced for their involvement in a scheme to steal and sell Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards.
The crime, which took place between March 2021 and August 2021, involved the brothers conspiring to defraud the CDC. They agreed to sell stolen CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards to others for $50 each. In their plea agreement, both defendants admitted to stealing the cards and conspiring to sell them to several buyers.
Francis J. Rende II, 29, of La Mesa, California, stole at least 20 CDC Vaccination Record Cards in March of 2021. He then sent some of the stolen cards to his brother, Defendant Dino Rende, 19, of Los Angeles, California. The brothers agreed to use the cards and sell them to others for $50.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bouton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. Special Agents from the Utah Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
The brothers were both sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $500 in restitution. This outcome serves as a reminder of the consequences of attempting to profit off the pandemic.
It is essential to note that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in various schemes and scams. These crimes not only harm individuals but also undermine the efforts of healthcare professionals and organizations working tirelessly to combat the pandemic.
The case of the Rende brothers serves as a warning to those who would seek to profit off the pandemic. It highlights the importance of working together to prevent such schemes and protect the public.
Related Federal Cases
- Cook, Mortgage Fraud Scheme, Utah 2023 · Utah
- Jason Oler Kettler, Credit Card Theft, Utah 2023 · Idaho
- Eight Charged in $273K Scheme to Scam 80-Year-Old Widow, Utah 2023 · California
- Sergio Sosa Sentenced for Tax Scheme, Utah 2024 · California
- Nicholas Frank Sciotto, Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccination Cards, Utah 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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