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Ai Inthavong Lopez, Mail Fraud, Texas 2017
AMARILLO, Texas — Ai Inthavong Lopez, 37, of Amarillo, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud in federal court this morning before U.S. District Court Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater and announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for July 11, 2017.
According to plea documents, Lopez participated in a scheme involving the sale of fictitious vouchers for future airline travel from May 2014, and continuing through November 2015. Lopez claimed to customers that she received discounts on airline tickets through her employment. Lopez would persuade some customers to telephonically contact other customers to purchase airline vouchers for future travel.
Customers who purchased vouchers would provide personal information, such as name, email address, phone number, and credit card information to Lopez. Lopez would receive money from customers via the United States Postal Service, PayPal, wire transfers, bank transfers, and credit card payments.
Lopez would often have the customers purchase their airline tickets when they were stranded and Lopez would promise to reimburse the customer for the amount they spent. Several times during the course of this scheme, Lopez provided a check to customers to reimburse them for their loss, but the check would be returned to the customer by the bank due to insufficient funds. Lopez would then stop communication with the customer.
As a result of the scheme, Lopez’s false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises fraudulently induced customers to issue monetary payments to Lopez, and for the benefit of Lopez, resulting in a total loss of approximately $401,955. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Amarillo Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto is in charge of the prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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