A 22-year-old Grand Haven man, Nicholas Mui, was sentenced on Thursday in Kent County Circuit Court to 5-20 years in prison for stealing and selling customer information from Meijer’s mPerks loyalty program. The court’s decision follows Mui’s guilty plea in July to charges of conducting a criminal enterprise.
The Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, reported the sentencing, which stemmed from an investigation launched after Mui allegedly acquired mPerks account information from the dark web and sold it to individuals who used the stolen points for unauthorized purchases. The investigation revealed that Mui received payment in cryptocurrency for his illicit transactions.
As part of the plea agreement, Mui forfeited approximately $630,000 in cryptocurrency and cash, along with his computer tower. In exchange, multiple charges, including using a computer to commit a crime and seven counts of identity theft, were dropped.
The investigation, initiated by Meijer officials in cooperation with Michigan State Police and the Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement (FORCE) team, began earlier in the year after multiple customers reported having their mPerks points wiped from their accounts. The retailer confirmed that the thefts cost them over $1 million to resolve the complaints and restore affected customers’ accounts.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commended the investigative teams for their efforts in securing a significant sentence for the crime, emphasizing how the case highlighted the ongoing issue of organized retail crime. “The tireless efforts of the FORCE team, Michigan State Police, and Meijer have not only secured a significant sentence and restitution but may have also prevented further harm to businesses and consumers across our state,” Nessel stated.
The case underscores the importance of continued vigilance against online criminal enterprises targeting retail programs, and Nessel’s FORCE team remains dedicated to combating such crimes and enhancing security for consumers across Michigan.