Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Obtain Personal Protective Equipment and Event Tickets Through Wire Fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY – ROBERT VINNIK, 29, of Ontario, Canada, has pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On June 15, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count Superseding Indictment against Vinnik and four other co-defendants, all of Canada, charging the group with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Vinnik and co-defendant, Steven Mesrop, 32, with aggravated identity theft.

According to the Superseding Indictment, Vinnik and his associates operated a scheme to use stolen credit card and identity information to induce businesses to provide goods and services, such as event tickets and personal protective equipment, to resell for a profit. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is alleged that the conspirators began targeting U.S.-based businesses selling goods that were scarce due to the pandemic. The conspirators allegedly used stolen credit card information to purchase items such as nitrile gloves, masks, and gowns and to resell them to third parties. The Superseding Indictment alleges that the conspirators operated the scheme from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Greece, and Dubai. It further alleges that the conspirators targeted sports teams and event venues throughout the United States and Canada, including Madison Square Garden in New York City.

According to the Superseding Indictment, Vinnik and his associates used 21 different alias email accounts and information from 52 stolen credit cards to purchase over 1,800 tickets to Oklahoma State University athletic events between November 2019 and January 2020. In March 2020, the conspirators allegedly used stolen credit card information to purchase approximately $18,000 worth of toilet paper from a paper supply company in Oklahoma City.

On June 14, 2024, Vinnik pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment, and admitted that he voluntarily conspired with others to use stolen credit card and identity information to purchase goods and services such as event tickets and personal protective equipment, which he and his conspirators agreed to sell to third parties for a profit. At sentencing, Vinnik faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Other defendants in the case have been sentenced as follows:  

• Steven Mesrop has been sentenced to serve 80 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
• Dijon Cornelius Shepard, 30, has been sentenced to serve 20 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States.
• Mirna Mahrous Habib, 27, has been sentenced to serve four months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud
• Karin Treister, 27, has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,000, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations New York’s El Dorado Task Force, the New York City Police Department, and the Irvine (California) Police Department, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry is prosecuting the case.

Reference is made to public filings for further information.