A Michigan woman faces multiple fraud charges in connection with a scheme to steal more than $800,000 in clothing and luxury goods from rental sites for resale online, federal prosecutors said. Announce Wednesday.
Brandalyn Horn, 42, was arrested Wednesday in Freeland, Michigan, and faces mail fraud, wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property charges, the Justice Department said.
“As alleged, Brandalyn Horn perpetrated a lucrative scheme in which she defrauded at least three victim companies, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of luxury and designer goods, and then sold those stolen items online. This is thanks to the work of prosecutors and police. This is thanks to the work of prosecutors and police,” said US Attorney Damien Williams. “Following my office’s investigators, Horne now faces federal criminal charges for her alleged deceptive conduct and fraudulent activity.”
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More than 1,000 items valued at more than $800,000
Federal prosecutors accused Horn of opening hundreds of accounts with and defrauding at least three subscription-based clothing rental companies.
according to federal complaint, From April 2022 until at least February 2024, Horn did not return the pieces, sometimes worth thousands of dollars, from companies and then sell them on the e-commerce marketplace.
Horn allegedly stole more than 1,000 items worth more than $823,000 from businesses and sold more than $750,000 in stolen items.
“Horn’s listings of stolen items in the e-commerce marketplace often use photographs owned by the victim businesses and descriptions of the items that closely match the descriptions used by the victim businesses,” the complaint said.
Despite attempts to charge Horne for the items, she avoided bills by disputing the charges with her credit union or canceling the credit and debit cards she used to rent the items, the complaint said.
When the companies reported or closed one of their accounts, they “opened new accounts so they could continue to steal and sell luxury and designer goods,” the complaint said.
Conviction can result in several years in prison
If convicted, Horn could spend several years in federal prison. According to the Department of Justice, mail and wire fraud carry a maximum penalty of 20 years, and interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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