Guilty Plea in DoorDash Fraud Scheme Exceeds $2.5 Million

News Summary

Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, duping DoorDash of over $2.5 million alongside co-conspirators. The fraudulent activities took place between November 2020 and February 2021, exploiting high-value orders through compromised accounts. Devagiri now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with further hearings scheduled as investigations into the case continue, highlighting security vulnerabilities in tech-driven delivery services.

California – Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri, a 30-year-old resident of Newport Beach, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme that defrauded DoorDash of over $2.5 million. The guilty plea was entered in a San Jose court on May 13, 2025, marking a significant development in a case that involved multiple individuals and complex fraud tactics.

Devagiri was part of a group that orchestrated the theft between November 2020 and February 2021. Along with three co-conspirators and a former DoorDash employee, the group exploited high-value orders placed through fraudulent customer accounts on the DoorDash app. They illegally accessed the company’s software by using credentials obtained from the former employee, allowing them to manually reassign orders.

The fraudulent operations included reporting high-value orders as delivered, even though they had not been completed. By changing the order status in DoorDash’s system from “delivered” to “in process,” the conspirators were able to receive repeated payments for the same orders. This manipulation, which took less than five minutes to execute, was conducted numerous times across hundreds of fraudulent transactions.

Devagiri’s indictment by a federal grand jury occurred in August 2024, alongside his three co-defendants: Manaswi Mandadapu, 29; Matheus Duarte, 29; and Hari Vamsi Anne, 30. All four individuals were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The group was arrested on October 4, 2024, during an investigation that uncovered their extensive fraudulent activities.

Following the arrest, co-defendant Manaswi Mandadapu pled guilty to the same charge on May 6, 2025. Another co-defendant, Tyler Thomas Bottenhorn, who worked as an employee for DoorDash, also admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in November 2023 after providing the necessary access to the group.

If convicted, Devagiri faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000. A status hearing to discuss his case is scheduled for September 16, 2025, as he awaits sentencing. The fraudulent activities occurred mainly in Northern California, particularly within Santa Clara County, where the group managed to execute hundreds of illicit transactions, significantly impacting DoorDash’s operations.

This case highlights the vulnerabilities that can exist within corporate systems, particularly in the tech-driven food delivery industry. The conspiracy and fraud scheme not only resulted in a substantial financial loss for DoorDash, but it also raised concerns about the integrity of user accounts and delivery processes utilized in such platforms.

The investigation into the fraudulent activities continues, shedding light on the need for enhanced security measures and scrutiny surrounding employee access to sensitive company systems. As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of this case may serve as a cautionary tale for other businesses operating in the digital landscape, reminding them of the risks posed by internal and external threats.

Overall, the resolution of this case may bring some closure to DoorDash and its stakeholders as they navigate the aftermath of the fraud and work to strengthen their safety protocols against similar threats in the future.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Sacramento Bee
• USA Today
• San Francisco Chronicle
• CBS News
• Wikipedia: Fraud
• Google Search: DoorDash fraud case