Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
Louis Perpignan, a 33-year-old resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent refund scheme. The sentencing took place on May 27, 2025, under United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa. Following his prison term, Perpignan will be subject to three years of supervised release and must pay over $2.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
The scheme, known as the "Members Only Refund Service," operated from May 2016 to May 2021. Perpignan charged individuals a fee to facilitate refunds for purchased items like televisions and handbags from various retailers nationwide. By impersonating customers and employing deceptive tactics, he secured refunds without returning the products. Customers retained the items while receiving full refunds; Perpignan collected up to 25% of the purchase price as his fee.
Perpignan acknowledged defrauding at least 31 retailers out of more than $2.6 million through this operation. He used his earnings to fund an extravagant lifestyle, which included acquiring at least eight vehicles such as a $176,000 Lamborghini Huracan.
The investigation was conducted by the Darknet Marketplace and Digital Currency Task Force with contributions from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution was managed by the United States Attorney’s Office in Phoenix within the District of Arizona.
For further details about this case or other information related to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, visit their website or follow them on Twitter @USAO_AZ.
