Texas Woman Sentenced for Counterfeit Coupons Used in NJ

NEWARK, N.J. – A Texas woman is headed to prison for her role in a counterfeit coupon conspiracy that resulted in more than $17 million in losses at stores in New Jersey and across the country.

49-year-old Janet Bernal of San Antonio was arrested in August 2024 and later pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On Wednesday, she was sentenced to 15 months behind bars.

How the Counterfeit Coupon Scheme Worked

According to federal authorities, from June 2020 through August 2024, Bernal orchestrated a scheme to produce and sell counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores.

Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly used Internet cloud-based messaging app. Members subscribed to the group, paid the monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download.

Millions of Dollars in Losses

Over the span of the scheme, members downloaded thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at stores throughout the Garden State and beyond. In total, the loss to the stores and to the manufacturers whose products were purchased with the counterfeit coupons was in excess of $17 million.

Bernal Sentenced in Federal Court

In addition to the prison term, Bernal was also sentenced to two years of supervised release. She was ordered to forfeit $67,290.68 and pay $17,865,614.70 in restitution.

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Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com