Related Federal Cases
- Glenn Lee Dobbs Jr, Wire Fraud, Texas 2024 · Texas
- Carlos Djemal, International Money Laundering and Wire Fraud, Chica… · New Mexico
- Alan Ceccarelli, Wire Fraud and Identity Theft, NY 2016 · New York
- Aleksandr Kovalev, Wire Fraud, California 2024 · New Mexico
- Carl Dean Bullock, Mail and Wire Fraud, California 2024 · Alabama
Hector Barreto Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Texas
A California man, Hector Barreto, 61, of San Juan Capistrano, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Barreto was one of two conspirators who operated the Latino Coalition Foundation and Hispanic Business Roundtable Institute, two entities organized as charitable and tax-exempt organizations.
According to court documents, Barreto and co-conspirator Miguel Gutierrez solicited donations from at least two victims for the purpose of funding nonprofit programs. However, Barreto and Gutierrez diverted between $250,000 and $550,000 of the charitable funds toward personal use credit card expenses. These payments to the co-conspirators were not reported.
Furthermore, from 2017 to 2019, Barreto co-conspired to falsify the IRS Form 990s for the foundation. This deliberate attempt to deceive the IRS is a clear indication of the extent of Barreto’s involvement in the scheme.
Barreto’s plea came four days into a jury trial that was expected to last three weeks. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 2 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge and five years in prison on the charge of defrauding the U.S. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick J. Benton of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office made the announcement. The investigation is ongoing, with IRS-CI and FBI working together to uncover the full extent of the scheme.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Blackwell and Bill Harris are prosecuting the case. The community can expect a thorough investigation and pursuit of justice in this matter.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News