Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Eleven individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a wire fraud conspiracy that caused millions of dollars in losses to several large online retailers, according to an April 29 announcement from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The case is significant due to the scope and impact of the fraudulent activity, which targeted companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Dell Technologies, Kate Spade, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HP Inc., and Adidas. The scheme highlights ongoing challenges faced by businesses and law enforcement in combating organized cyber-enabled retail fraud.
According to court documents, between April 2019 and October 19, 2023, a group calling itself Artemis Refund Group (ARG) carried out refund-fraud schemes that involved deceiving online retailers into issuing refunds while customers kept the purchased goods. ARG promoted its services on messaging forums and charged clients between 15% and 25% of each refunded item's price. Members also obtained goods for personal resale on online marketplaces.
Sentences handed down include prison terms ranging from one year to over four years for some defendants; others received probation or home detention. Among those sentenced were Wyatt Douglas Miller (12 months imprisonment), Tyler Dewayne Rogers (51 months), Kevin Ramses Rocha (30 months), Antonio Ernesto Munoz (37 months), Prit Patel (24 months), with additional sentences including fines or supervised release for other co-conspirators. Arrest warrants remain pending for seven defendants from Singapore and one from the United Kingdom.
The investigation was led by FBI cyber squads in Oklahoma City and Birmingham with assistance from FBI Seattle Field Office. Retailers such as Target, Amazon’s Customer Protection Team, Walmart, Wayfair, Dell Technologies, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HP Inc., Adidas—as well as Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group and eBay—also supported the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma enforces federal laws through impartial litigation and strategic partnerships to enhance community safety across eleven counties in northeastern Oklahoma—including Tulsa County—and employs more than sixty-five Assistant United States Attorneys according to its official website. The office is part of the U.S. Department of Justice as outlined on its website.
