Erick Jason Victoria-Brito, Bank Fraud, New York, 2025

Manhattan, NY – Erick Jason Victoria-Brito is in U.S. custody today, extradited from the Dominican Republic to answer to charges in a brazen international bank fraud and money laundering operation that bled businesses, nonprofits, and even municipalities out of over $60 million. The scheme, which ran from December 2017 through November 2022, relied on a network of over 1,000 fake businesses to funnel stolen funds, according to federal prosecutors.

Victoria-Brito is charged in a two-count Indictment with conspiring to commit bank fraud and money laundering. The operation targeted victims across the country and internationally, leveraging the increasingly common “business email compromise” (BEC) scam. In these scams, fraudsters manipulate companies into wiring funds to accounts they control, often posing as legitimate vendors or executives. The scale of this ring is staggering, with attempts to steal over $150 million, and actual losses exceeding $60 million.

“As we allege, Erick Jason Victoria-Brito and his co-conspirators ran an international bank fraud and money laundering scheme designed to help carry out business email compromise scams,” stated U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon. “These scams cause significant harm to businesses, nonprofits, and even local governments. As the successful extradition of Erick Jason Victoria-Brito shows, this Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible is held accountable.”

The indictment details a sophisticated operation that preyed on a diverse range of targets. Between 2020 and 2021 alone, the scheme stole tens of millions from a major American sports organization, a publicly traded healthcare company, a prominent international nonprofit, multiple city governments, law firms, construction companies, and investment funds. Once funds were deposited into accounts opened under the guise of these fake businesses, the co-conspirators moved quickly to withdraw the cash or wire it to overseas banks, effectively cutting off any chance of recovery for the victims.

“This alleged scheme rained down financial ruin upon unwitting businesses and individuals,” said Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS New York Field Office. “While the suspects operated with impunity across the nation and beyond, the U.S. Secret Service and its partners remained steadfast in building a strong case — no matter where the evidence took them. I commend the investigators and prosecutors for their commitment to disrupting this type of insidious fraud on behalf of all those victimized by it.”

Victoria-Brito’s appearance in a Manhattan federal courtroom will mark the next step in a case that highlights the growing threat of international financial crime. Authorities are expected to pursue further indictments and asset forfeiture as the investigation continues. The USSS, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, vows to relentlessly pursue those who exploit the financial system for illicit gain, ensuring that those responsible face justice and victims have a chance at restitution.

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