Former DoorDash Driver Admits to $2.5 Million Fraud Scheme
SAN FRANCISCO — A former DoorDash driver has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the popular food delivery service out of more than $2.5 million. Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri, 30, made the admission in federal court in San Jose, where he faced charges related to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Devagiri acknowledged collaborating with three other individuals between 2020 and 2021 to deceive the San Francisco-based company. According to federal prosecutors, he exploited customer accounts to place expensive orders. He then misused an employee’s credentials to access DoorDash’s software, allowing him to redirect those orders to driver accounts that he and his accomplices managed.
In a clear act of deception, Devagiri made those fraudulent accounts report that deliveries had occurred, even when they had not. Furthermore, he manipulated DoorDash’s systems to ensure these accounts were paid for the nonexistent deliveries.
Prosecutors stated that Devagiri would switch orders from “delivered” to “in process” status, continuing this cycle of fraud. The former employee involved in this scam had also confessed to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and admitted his participation in the scheme.
Devagiri is the third individual convicted in connection with this case. He now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a hefty fine of $250,000. A court date is set for September 16, where he will learn his sentence.
This case highlights the importance of accountability in gig economy jobs, as individuals seeking easy money can disrupt businesses and take advantage of honest workers.
