2 charged in multi-state scheme to ‘return’ 140 counterfeit iPads to WA Target stores

Two suspects are accused of obtaining refunds of $163,000 in a multi-state scheme to buy iPads and then return counterfeits in their boxes to Target stores in Eastern Washington.

They used stores in Kennewick, Richland and Yakima, among other places.

Zhangbo Liang was arrested in Mount Vernon, Wash., on Sept. 30 and Linda You was arrested Oct. 10 in Queens, N.Y., according to documents in Eastern Washington District U.S. Court.

Both are scheduled to make their first appearances in U.S. Court on Thursday, with You in the Spokane courthouse and Liang in Richland.

They are accused of obtaining refunds for about 140 counterfeit iPads at Target stores between January and June 2024.

According to court documents:

▪ On June 14, Liang returned two counterfeit iPads to a Target in Yakima. Their boxes were from iPads purchased two hours earlier at the Richland Target with gift cards. The Yakima Target gave him two gift cards totaling nearly $2,400.

▪ On June 19, Liang returned two counterfeit iPads to the Kennewick Target in boxes that had held iPads bought two days earlier using gift cards in Los Angeles, according to court documents. He received gift cards for more than $2,600.

▪ On June 21, he went to the Target store in Richland to return two more counterfeit iPads in boxes that had held an iPad purchased the same day in Bozeman, Mont., and another one bought three days earlier in Huntington Park, Calif.

Both had been purchased using gift cards, and Liang received gift cards from the Richland store worth more than $2,400.

Liang and You are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, transportation of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit access device fraud and conspiracy to counterfeit goods. Liang also is accused of wire fraud.

Each of the crimes carry penalties of five to 20 years in prison.