Texas woman sentenced for $17M counterfeit coupon scheme

Janet Bernal, a 49-year-old woman from San Antonio, Texas, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for her role in a massive counterfeit coupon conspiracy. The scheme, which operated from June 2020 through August 2024, resulted in over $17 million in losses for retailers and manufacturers across the United States, including significant impacts in New Jersey.

Bernal orchestrated the operation through a subscription-based group on a cloud-based messaging app. Members paid a monthly fee to gain unlimited access to various types of counterfeit coupons, which they then redeemed at grocery stores and large pharmacies. In addition to her prison term and two years of supervised release, Bernal was ordered to pay $17,865,614 in restitution and forfeit $67,290.68.