A former Apple employee was charged with defrauding the company with an estimated loss of $10 million through several fraudulent schemes.
Dhirendra Prasad, 52, faces five criminal charges after abusing his "position of trust" while serving as a buyer in Apple's Global Service Supply Chain division to defraud the company, according to documents filed in a San Jose, California, federal court.
Prosecutors said, as a buyer, Apple Prasad negotiated with the vendor and made an order, which was then paid by Apple based on the invoice amount that he entered into the purchasing system.
Prasad is suspected of defrauding Apple by accepting bribes, stealing parts using fake repair orders, and causing Apple to pay for goods and services they never received.
Prosecutors also said that Prasad evaded taxes and carried out money laundering. Prasad worked at Apple for 10 years before being fired in December 2018.
Two owners of vendors who do business with Apple and are suspected of conspiring with Prasad to carry out a similar fraud scheme pleaded guilty in December.
The charges facing Prasad include conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering and defrauding the United States, and tax evasion.
Apart from the threat of imprisonment if found guilty, prosecutors also plan to confiscate some of Prasad's property and bank accounts worth around USD 5 million related to his alleged crimes. Prasad is scheduled to appear in court on March 24, 2022.