Former Apple employee pleads guilty to defrauding the tech giant

A former Apple employee has pled guilty to mail and wire fraud charges related to schemes that defrauded the tech giant of more than US$17 million, the US Attorney’s Office for Northern California said Tuesday.

As noted by CNET, Dhirendra Prasad, 52, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to defraud the US, the US Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

The charges against him were issued in March. Prasad worked for Apple for over 10 years before being canned in December 2018. He’s also been charged with evading taxes and is facing charges of wire and mail fraud and money laundering. 

CNET says that Prasad has agreed to forfeit $5 million in unspecified assets bought with the money. He faces up to 20 years in jail for mail fraud and wire fraud, plus potentially five years for defrauding the U.S. Prasad’s sentencing hearing will take place on March 14, 2023.