Federal prosecutors say a San Diego man turned a stash of fake postage stamps into a multimillion-dollar windfall, then funneled a big chunk of the money into a local home purchase.
Wayne Fister, 38, who also went by the name Wayne Wong, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that include mail fraud, selling counterfeit stamps and money laundering. According to court documents, the alleged scheme kicked off in July 2024, when Fister began obtaining counterfeit U.S. postage stamps from a manufacturer in China and listing them for sale on an online marketplace.
In one instance, postal inspectors intercepted five packages addressed to Fister that contained more than one million counterfeit stamps, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Prosecutors say the operation generated more than $6 million, with a significant portion of the proceeds allegedly used to buy a home in San Diego. The case is listed as Case No. 26cr0723.
Fister pleaded not guilty on Monday, according to court records. The indictment was unsealed earlier this week, as reported by KESQ.
What He Faces
If convicted, Fister faces some hefty federal time. The indictment outlines statutory maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for mail fraud, up to five years and a $250,000 fine for selling counterfeit stamps, and up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine for money laundering. Those potential sentences are detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Why Counterfeit Stamps Are A Growing Problem
Counterfeit postage has become a recurring headache for the U.S. Postal Service, cutting into revenue and drawing more aggressive federal enforcement. Recent large cases have shown just how big the problem can get. In 2024, a Southern California prosecution involved tens of millions of bogus postage labels and alleged losses topping $150 million, highlighting how online marketplaces and commercial shippers can be exploited, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
How To Protect Yourself
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service urges customers to be skeptical of stamp deals that seem too good to be true, particularly offers priced well below face value. Their advice is simple: buy postage only from the Postal Service itself or from Approved Postal Providers.
The agency also operates a Counterfeit Postage Reporting System on its website, where consumers can find tools and tips for flagging suspicious sellers and bogus stamps. Shoppers who think they have been duped are encouraged to use the reporting resources posted on the Postal Inspection Service site.
The case against Fister remains pending in federal court. An indictment is only a formal accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial.
