Former Retailer Employee Pleads Guilty in $3.5 Million Scheme

CINCINNATI – Rudy Rampertab, 46, of Ocoee, Fla., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count each of mail fraud and money laundering.

Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Division, announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

According to court documents, Rampertab was an employee of Macy’s from 1988 until 2010. Beginning in 1998, Rampertab managed Macy’s distribution center in Carson, Calif. and supervised the transport of merchandise to centers throughout the country.

Starting in July 2010, Rampertab began diverting the shipment of goods to a co-conspirator who established several shipping companies. Ramptertab obtained approval for those companies to become third party vendors for Macy’s; however, Rampertab did not disclose his personal connection to the companies, which he helped operate. Rampertab also did not disclose to Macy’s that he personally profited from the operations of these vendors.

Between July and December 2010, the companies received more than $3.5 million in Macy’s shipping and packaging jobs. After paying expenses, they generated more than $900,000 in net profits from the diverted business.

Rampertab and his co-conspirator used the proceeds to purchase real estate and vehicles, including a 2010 Aston Martin costing $199,000.

Mail fraud is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and money laundering carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Tim Mangan, who is representing the United States in this case.