PHILADELPHIA - Mark Cooper, 35, of Philadelphia, PA, entered a guilty plea today to a conspiracy involving more than 2,000 counterfeit monthly passes for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and possession of access device making equipment announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. U.S. District Court Judge Berle M. Schiller scheduled sentencing for August 4, 2016.
Between August 2013 and June 2015, Cooper conspired with Kimberly Adams to produce and sell counterfeit SEPTA monthly TransPasses, which allow passengers to board SEPTA buses, trolleys and subway trains. Once Cooper created the counterfeit passes, he gave them to Adams. Adams met customers, predominately City of Philadelphia employees inside and outside of City Hall, and sold the counterfeit passes for approximately $50. A genuine monthly TransPass normally sells for $91. The defendants counterfeited and sold in excess of 2,000 monthly passes and split the proceeds.
Cooper faces a statutory maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, four years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment. Adams pleaded guilty on Aug. 11, 2015 and is scheduled to be sentenced May 18, 2016.
The case was initiated by the City of Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, jointly investigated with the FBI and the SEPTA Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen Marston.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
