A U Miami Student Has Been Arrested And Facing 45 Years After Funding Dubai Trips With His Smokeshow Girlfriend Through A $4 Million Fraud Scheme
SOURCE -- A University of Miami student from Darien is facing federal charges after prosecutors allege he conducted a $3.5 million fraud scheme against a multinational shipping and supply-chain management company.
Matthew Frederic Bergwall, of Coral Gables, Fla., was charged under an indictment with conspiracy to commit computer and mail fraud, and substantive mail fraud. Public records listed Bergwall's home in Darien as an address near Woodland Park.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida confirmed Bergwall, who also goes by "MXB," has "ties" to Darien.
A judge's order setting Bergwall's conditions of release stipulated he's allowed to travel to Connecticut for Thanksgiving.
Federal prosecutors charge that between December 2021 and April 2022, Bergwall was able to have "unauthorized access" to accounts belonging to a "multi-national shipping, receiving, and supply chain management company," the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release. The 21-year-old and his co-conspirators then would enter fake tracking info for goods the company was transporting all over the U.S.
"This allowed the co-conspirators to pursue full refunds from victim-retailers while maintaining physical possession of the merchandise, such as high-end electronics, jewelry, designer clothing, and accessories," the release from the U.S. attorney's office said.
Bergwall's indictment alleges he then turned around and offered the fraud for sale, marketing it as "FTID," or Fraudulent Tracking ID.
"The FTID fraud scheme caused nearly 10,000 fraudulent returns and resulted in more than $3.5 million in lost product and sales revenue to the victim-retailers," the Oct. 25 indictment states.
Among the fraudulent dealings, the indictment also charges Bergwall with buying himself a $41,000 President Day-Date Rolex, a $600 electric skateboard, a 43-inch smart TV and a pair of Reebok shoes. He then submitted fake tracking information to the company, prompting him to receive refunds, the U.S. attorney's office said.
Most Miami story ever that I wasn't even remotely surprised by, but what a Netflix movie that they could make on this kid. I just know my man was on cloud nine after pulling a girl way out of his league, and he only got a few years of partying before it caught up to him. What's that quote about greed being the root of all evil? Buddy was walking around campus with a $41,000 Rolex and decided it was time to up his shoe game with a pair of $80 Reeboks. Insane. Stupid is as stupid does.
Victim retailers is a hilarious term because no one on Earth feels bad for Amazon or whoever this kid was able to infiltrate, but it's a shame he got himself caught by being too greedy. Maybe I'd have a little sympathy for him if he was just trying to pay off that $90,000 a year crazy out of state tuition, until I found out where he's from. I've lived on the East Coast for all of 5 years and it took me a few seconds of living here to find out that area of Connecticut is the richest of the rich. And this story couldn't get more Miami either after he pivoted into DJing. Just fake life that they're living over there in Coral Gables.
His now deactivated Instagram profile says he's "busy building the future" with a flex emoji. It's safe to say the future isn't going to be built from the hands of Matthew, and his girlfriend will likely be off vacationing with the next multi-millionaire who got his wealth by sketchy Miami-esque means by the end of the month. The 305 baby!