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Fernando Reyes, Mail Fraud, Missouri 2019
A Florida man has been convicted of running a sweepstakes scam targeting an elderly Missouri resident.
Fernando Reyes, 38, of Florida, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud in a St. Louis, MO court today. U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry accepted his guilty plea and set sentencing for June 7, 2019.
According to court documents, the scam began in April 2016 when a Missouri resident over 80 years old received a series of phone calls claiming he had won large sums of money through a sweepstakes. To secure his winnings, the resident was instructed to mail money to individuals in New Hampshire and Florida.
Reyes, who falsely claimed to be a federal attorney, received four checks totaling $53,000 and deposited them into his personal bank accounts. He then electronically transferred a portion of the funds to an individual in Costa Rica, keeping the rest for personal use.
Reyes admitted to engaging in a similar scheme with a resident of the Northern District of Alabama, swindling the elderly individual out of $45,000. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of over $250,000 or both.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry handling the case. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP.
The U.S. Department of Justice provides resources to combat elder fraud nationwide, including information on recognizing and reporting scams at www.ovc.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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