BOSTON -- A couple from Georgia was charged in federal court last week creating a complex scheme to defraud Framingham-based Staples out of $1.4 million worth of customer loyalty rewards and product rebates.

John Douglas, 46, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Boston. His 41-year-old wife, Analyn Douglass was charged with conspiracy to ship stolen goods in interstate commerce. The husband and wife from Alpharetta, Georgia spell their last names differently.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said Douglas and one of his associates created more than 1,100 Staple rewards accounts using fake names, addresses and contact information.

"He then created a computer script to query a Staples web site and seek unclaimed customer loyalty rewards for purchases that he did not make," the news release said. "The computer script made thousands of queries a day, amassing more than $889,000 worth of rewards in small increments, often less than a dollar at a time."

The couple and others involved in the scheme used the rewards like money to buy items at Staples locations throughout the southern part of the United States and along the eastern seaboard, as far as Massachusetts, authorities said.

Analyn Douglass is accused of selling much of the fraudulently obtained Staples merchandise on eBay.

Authorities further allege the couple and their associate used a similar scheme to claim more than $527,000 in cash rebates from Staples for products that they did not purchase.

Once Staples discovered the fraud, officials at the company notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney's Office. The company has cooperated with the investigation.