The grim reaper of cyber scams, CESAR RAFAEL COELLO DOMINGUEZ, was yesterday meted out seven years behind bars for his role in a $12 million telemarketing fraud that ensnared over 400 victims across the United States. The Honduran national, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla after pleading guilty on May 21, 2025.
‘Cesar Rafael Coello Dominguez helped steal millions from the hard-earned savings of American citizens,’ U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton declared, his words a stark reminder of the Office’s dedication to protecting the public from such predators.
The evidence against Coello Dominguez painted a chilling picture of a years-long scheme orchestrated primarily from Costa Rica. His role was as a mastermind behind call centers that targeted unsuspecting victims with false promises of sweepstakes winnings. Once they had extracted funds, his gang would resurface in another guise—pretending to be law enforcement—to dupe their marks into paying even more.
But Coello Dominguez’s operations didn’t stop at fraud; he was also caught setting up shell bank accounts to collect and transfer stolen funds back to Costa Rica. His frequent trips to the U.S. were for one purpose: to further his criminal enterprise.
The judge’s sentence included three years of supervised release, $12 million in forfeiture, and restitution to victims. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgia V. Kostopoulos, with the General Crimes Unit at the Southern District of New York handling the case.
Clayton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s relentless pursuit of justice, along with the invaluable assistance provided by the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service during the investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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