Massachusetts Staples sales manager sentenced to 1 month in jail in store credit scheme

BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced Monday on fraud conspiracy charges in connection with the processing of fraudulent applications for store credit accounts using stolen identities.

Ricardo Voltaire, 35, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to one month in prison and 18 months of supervised release. Voltaire was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $81,550 and forfeiture of $8,000. On Oct. 26, 2021, Voltaire pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Voltaire was a sales manager at Staples locations in Dedham and Braintree. In this role, Voltaire was responsible for processing store credit card applications, among other things. On at least 60 occasions, Voltaire processed fraudulent Staples’ store credit account applications that were submitted by co-conspirator Wagner Sozi and his accomplice – each of which contained stolen personal identifying information of another individual. Voltaire knew that his co-conspirators were not in fact the individuals named on the applications and opened store credit accounts under the stolen identities, which were then used to purchase more than $81,000 in Visa gift cards. Voltaire accepted approximately $8,000 in kickbacks from Sozi and his co-conspirator.

In May 2021, Sozi pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of making a false claim. On Dec. 8, 2021, Sozi was sentenced to 39 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Sozi was also ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution in the approximate amount of $110,000.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Mark Comorosky, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Braintree Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely II, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.