Recidivist Defendant Charged In Connection With Fraudulent Eyewear Website For The Third Time
summary
Vitaly Borker, a repeat offender previously convicted twice for eyewear fraud, was arrested for operating EyeglassesDepot.com, falsely advertising new authentic designer glasses while shipping used or counterfeit items and failing to repair prescriptions, using stolen identities to conceal his role, and now faces charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft with a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence.
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Vitaly Borker was charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft for operating EyeglassesDepot.com, which falsely claimed to sell brand-new, authentic designer eyewear but instead shipped used or counterfeit glasses purchased from third-party marketplaces. He also deceived customers by promising prescription repair services but often failed to repair eyewear or delivered substandard work. To evade detection, Borker used the identities of two other individuals, and he now faces up to 20 years in prison for each fraud count and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for identity theft, marking his third federal prosecution for similar schemes.
narrative
Vitaly Borker, a serial fraudster previously convicted twice in the Southern District of New York for operating fraudulent eyewear websites, was arrested on February 18, 2022, for running EyeglassesDepot.com after his release from federal prison. The website falsely advertised 'brand new and 100% authentic designer eyeglasses' and claimed to have thousands of pairs ready for immediate shipping, but in reality, Borker sourced used or counterfeit glasses from third-party online marketplaces and passed them off as genuine. Customers who sent in eyewear for repair either received no service or unsatisfactory work, despite the site’s claims of being a 'leader in the repair of sunglasses and eyeglasses.' To conceal his involvement, Borker assumed the identities of two other individuals, constituting aggravated identity theft. He is charged with mail fraud and wire fraud, each carrying a maximum 20-year sentence, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which mandates a consecutive two-year sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized that Borker’s reoffending after prior prison terms demonstrates a pattern of recidivism, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service vowed to continue holding him accountable. This marks Borker’s third federal prosecution for fraudulent eyewear schemes, underscoring his persistent exploitation of online consumers.
Classified corporate-fraud(confidence 80%). EDGAR detection: forms 10-K/10-Q/8-K· recall 56% / precision 8%. detection rule →
Statutes
Parties
United States of AmericaVitaly Borker
Keywords
eyeweareyeglassesdepotcomborkerwebsitenewvitaly borkerlinkrecidivist connectionconnection fraudulentfraudulent eyeweareyewear websitewebsite timegovernment non-governmentnon-government sites
Extracted insights
Entities 7
- person aggravated identity theft
- person damian williams
- person darnell d. edwards
- person illegal conduct
- scheme_term mail fraud and wire fraud
- person sells authentic designer eyeglasses
- person vitaly borker
Triples 9
- Damian Williams announced Arrest of Vitaly Borker
- Darnell D. Edwards announced Arrest of Vitaly Borker
- Vitaly Borker operated EyeglassesDepot.com
- Vitaly Borker is charged with Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud
- Vitaly Borker is charged with Aggravated Identity Theft
- Vitaly Borker assumed Identities of Two Other Individuals
- EyeglassesDepot.com claims Sells Authentic Designer Eyeglasses
- EyeglassesDepot.com passed off Counterfeit Glasses as New
- Vitaly Borker reverted to Illegal Conduct
Extracted body text (4,936c)
Press Release Recidivist Defendant Charged In Connection With Fraudulent Eyewear Website For The Third Time Friday, February 18, 2022 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Darnell D. Edwards, Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the arrest of VITALY BORKER, the operator of “EyeglassesDepot.com,” an online retailer of purported designer eyewear. BORKER was arrested pursuant to a complaint charging him with mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud customers by misrepresenting the authenticity and condition of eyeglasses sold through the website. BORKER was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Upon Vitaly Borker’s second conviction by this Office for fraud-related offenses, my predecessor posed the rhetorical question of whether ‘federal prison will impress upon this shady businessman that seeking to make money by fraud and intimidation is a path to prison...’ Apparently, it has not. As alleged, just after his release from federal prison, serial fraudster Vitaly Borker reverted back to his illegal conduct connected to online eyewear businesses.” USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Edwards said: “Mr. Borker is allegedly up to his old tricks of bilking those looking for online eyewear. Make no mistake, each time Mr. Borker breaks the law, Postal Inspectors have no problem with bringing him to justice for his continued criminal activity.” As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today[1]: Beginning in at least June 2020, after being released from federal custody and entering a Residential Reentry Center, VITALY BORKER operated an eyewear sales and repair services website called EyeglassesDepot.com. EyeglassesDepot.com claims, among other things, that it sells “brand new and 100% authentic designer eyeglasses and sunglasses” and that it has “thousands of pairs of glasses in stock…ready for shipping as early as TODAY.” In truth, however, the eyewear sold to customers of EyeglassesDepot.com was often used and/or counterfeit. Rather than carrying a large inventory of “brand new and 100% authentic eyewear,” EyeglassesDepot.com filled its customers’ orders by purchasing comparable items on a third-party online marketplace (the “Marketplace”). The eyewear purchased by EyeglassesDepot.com from the Marketplace was often used and/or counterfeit, but EyeglassesDepot.com passed off the glasses as new and authentic. In addition, while EyeglassesDepot.com claims to be a “leader in the repair of sunglasses and eyeglasses” and able to “fit any eyeglasses or sunglasses with your custom prescriptions,” customers who sent eyewear to EyeglassesDepot.com either did not have their eyewear repaired at all and/or otherwise received unsatisfactory work. In order to conceal his role in operating EyeglassesDepot.com, BORKER – who has twice previously been convicted in this District of crimes relating to his operation of eyewear websites – assumed the identities of two other individuals in connection with the operation of EyeglassesDepot.com. * * * BORKER, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with mail fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a additional mandatory consecutive two year sentence. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of these defendants would be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Weinberg is in charge of the prosecution. As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated February 18, 2022 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 22-053
OCR text (4,936c · plain-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Recidivist Defendant Charged In Connection With Fraudulent Eyewear Website For The Third Time Friday, February 18, 2022 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Darnell D. Edwards, Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the arrest of VITALY BORKER, the operator of “EyeglassesDepot.com,” an online retailer of purported designer eyewear. BORKER was arrested pursuant to a complaint charging him with mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud customers by misrepresenting the authenticity and condition of eyeglasses sold through the website. BORKER was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Upon Vitaly Borker’s second conviction by this Office for fraud-related offenses, my predecessor posed the rhetorical question of whether ‘federal prison will impress upon this shady businessman that seeking to make money by fraud and intimidation is a path to prison...’ Apparently, it has not. As alleged, just after his release from federal prison, serial fraudster Vitaly Borker reverted back to his illegal conduct connected to online eyewear businesses.” USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Edwards said: “Mr. Borker is allegedly up to his old tricks of bilking those looking for online eyewear. Make no mistake, each time Mr. Borker breaks the law, Postal Inspectors have no problem with bringing him to justice for his continued criminal activity.” As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today[1]: Beginning in at least June 2020, after being released from federal custody and entering a Residential Reentry Center, VITALY BORKER operated an eyewear sales and repair services website called EyeglassesDepot.com. EyeglassesDepot.com claims, among other things, that it sells “brand new and 100% authentic designer eyeglasses and sunglasses” and that it has “thousands of pairs of glasses in stock…ready for shipping as early as TODAY.” In truth, however, the eyewear sold to customers of EyeglassesDepot.com was often used and/or counterfeit. Rather than carrying a large inventory of “brand new and 100% authentic eyewear,” EyeglassesDepot.com filled its customers’ orders by purchasing comparable items on a third-party online marketplace (the “Marketplace”). The eyewear purchased by EyeglassesDepot.com from the Marketplace was often used and/or counterfeit, but EyeglassesDepot.com passed off the glasses as new and authentic. In addition, while EyeglassesDepot.com claims to be a “leader in the repair of sunglasses and eyeglasses” and able to “fit any eyeglasses or sunglasses with your custom prescriptions,” customers who sent eyewear to EyeglassesDepot.com either did not have their eyewear repaired at all and/or otherwise received unsatisfactory work. In order to conceal his role in operating EyeglassesDepot.com, BORKER – who has twice previously been convicted in this District of crimes relating to his operation of eyewear websites – assumed the identities of two other individuals in connection with the operation of EyeglassesDepot.com. * * * BORKER, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with mail fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a additional mandatory consecutive two year sentence. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of these defendants would be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Weinberg is in charge of the prosecution. As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated February 18, 2022 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 22-053