The vulnerabilities of online delivery platforms are spotlighted by recent fraud cases.
Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri, a former DoorDash delivery driver, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after defrauding the company of over $2.5 million. The fraudulent activities involved manipulating DoorDash’s systems to falsely report high-value orders as delivered, which he and his accomplices controlled. Following a federal investigation, Devagiri faces a potential prison sentence of 20 years. This case underscores the vulnerabilities within food delivery platforms and the importance of robust security measures against fraud.
San Jose, California – Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri, a 30-year-old former DoorDash delivery driver from Newport Beach, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The plea was entered in federal court on May 13, 2025, following a scheme that defrauded DoorDash of more than $2.5 million from 2020 to 2021.
Devagiri was part of a group that exploited the DoorDash platform by using customer accounts to place high-value orders that were never delivered. By accessing DoorDash’s internal software with stolen employee credentials, he could manually reassign these orders to driver accounts that he and his co-conspirators controlled.
The fraudulent operations included using fake driver accounts to falsely report deliveries as completed. Devagiri manipulated DoorDash’s computer systems to ensure that these accounts received payment for non-existent deliveries. He would quickly change the status of the orders from “delivered” back to “in process,” enabling him to repeat this process in a matter of minutes.
This fraudulent scheme took place over several months, from November 2020 to February 2021. The payments made by DoorDash flowed into bank accounts controlled by Devagiri and his associates. The scheme was uncovered when DoorDash detected suspicious activities in 2021 and promptly referred the case to federal law enforcement. The company stressed its ongoing commitment to preventing fraud within its platform.
Devagiri’s plea is significant, as he is the third individual to be convicted in this case. Two of his co-defendants, identified as Manaswi Mandadapu and Tyler Thomas Bottenhorn, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the fraud. The entire group was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024, leading to their arrests in October of the same year.
Devagiri now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, alongside a potential fine of $250,000. A status hearing for his sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2025. The ongoing judicial proceedings illustrate the serious ramifications of committing fraud in today’s digital economy, particularly for businesses that rely on technology for day-to-day operations.
This case not only highlights the vulnerabilities within popular delivery platforms like DoorDash but also emphasizes the importance of robust security measures to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, companies must remain vigilant to safeguard against such schemes that can threaten their business integrity and financial stability.
Additionally, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences individuals may face when engaging in fraudulent activities, particularly in a landscape where federal law enforcement agencies are increasingly adept at tracking and prosecuting such crimes. The legal outcomes for Devagiri and his co-defendants may set a precedent for future cases involving similar fraudulent schemes across various platforms.
As investigations continue and legal proceedings unfold, the impact of this case may resonate within the industry, prompting companies to implement stricter controls to prevent exploitation of their services by malicious actors.
DoorDash Fraud Scheme Leads to Guilty Plea in California
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