California Man Pleads Guilty to DoorDash Fraud Scheme

News Summary

Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri has pleaded guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy that stole over $2.5 million from DoorDash. The 30-year-old Newport Beach resident exploited customer accounts to manipulate orders while working as a driver between 2020 and 2021. Devagiri’s actions resulted in fraudulent payments for deliveries that never occurred, marking a significant internal fraud case against the delivery platform. He faces a potential 20-year prison sentence and a court hearing scheduled for September 2025, reflecting the ongoing threats companies face from internal fraud.

California: Former DoorDash Driver Pleads Guilty to $2.5 Million Fraud Scheme

Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri, a 30-year-old man from Newport Beach, California, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal court located in San Jose. This guilty plea, submitted on Tuesday, stems from a fraudulent scheme that aimed to steal more than $2.5 million from DoorDash, a prominent food delivery service headquartered in San Francisco.

Devagiri’s fraudulent activities took place between 2020 and 2021 while he was employed as a driver for DoorDash. His actions involved exploiting customer accounts to place high-priced orders, which he then manipulated through the company’s software. Utilizing an employee’s credentials, he accessed DoorDash’s system to manually reassign these orders to driver accounts that he controlled.

Once the orders were reassigned, Devagiri falsely marked them as completed, triggering payments for deliveries that never actually occurred. He further perpetuated the scheme by reporting fake deliveries and subsequently changing the order status back to “in process.” This process allowed him to execute fraudulent payments in less than five minutes for each order, leading to a staggering total that exceeded $2.5 million.

Background and Legal Proceedings

Devagiri was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024, along with three other individuals involved in the scheme. His conviction marks him as the third defendant to plead guilty in connection with this case. Investigations indicate that Devagiri utilized the fraudulent process repeatedly, affecting hundreds of orders over the duration of his scheme.

The defendants include Manaswi Mandadapu, who pleaded guilty to the same wire fraud conspiracy charge on May 6, 2025, and Tyler Thomas Bottenhorn, who, despite briefly working for DoorDash in 2020, pleaded guilty to a separate charge in November 2023. The collaboration among these individuals highlights a broader issue regarding internal vulnerabilities that can be exploited within tech-based delivery platforms.

Consequences and Future Proceedings

As a result of his guilty plea, Devagiri now faces significant legal consequences. He is subject to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, alongside the potential for a fine amounting to $250,000. These penalties reflect the serious nature of the fraud committed against a major corporation. Furthermore, a court status hearing involving Devagiri has been scheduled for September 16, 2025, which will address the next steps in his legal proceedings.

The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing threats that companies face from internal fraud and the importance of maintaining stringent security measures to protect against unauthorized access to sensitive information. As large companies like DoorDash continue to grow, ensuring the integrity of their operations and safeguarding customer information remains paramount.

In summary, Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri’s actions highlight the risks faced by companies in the gig economy and the potential for significant financial losses due to fraud. With multiple defendants tied to this case, it raises important questions about how employers can better protect themselves against similar schemes in the future.

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