Henry Adrian Milla Campuzano, Immigration Scam, Florida 2024

WASHINGTON – A Peruvian citizen, Henry Adrian Milla Campuzano, 37, of Lima, Peru, has been sentenced to 110 months in prison for operating a series of phone scams in Peru that defrauded thousands of US residents of Hispanic descent, threatening them falsely with arrest, deportation, and other consequences.

Campuzano, who was the owner and operator of two Peruvian call centers, admitted to his role in the conspiracy to commit mail fraud and electronic fraud. Along with his accomplices, he used false statements and threats to obtain money from Hispanic US residents nationwide, falsely telling them they had to accept and pay for English language courses and other educational products, or face legal consequences.

The scam, which operated from April 2011 to July 2019, targeted residents in the southern Florida region and nationwide, with the scammers threatening falsely to arrest and deport victims if they did not pay millions of dollars. With the recent sentencing in Miami, five accused individuals were sentenced to serve significant prison terms in this case.

"The Consumer Protection Division will continue to pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who defraud vulnerable American consumers," said Brian M. Boynton, Acting Assistant Attorney General. "The accused in this case brazenly defrauded newly arrived immigrants by promising them free products to improve their English language skills. In reality, the accused trapped their victims in a web of intimidation and fear, leaving them much worse off, with significant financial losses and often emotional scars."

"This case demonstrates that the long arm of justice has no limits when it comes to reaching out to scammers who prey on the most vulnerable populations of our nation," said Juan Antonio González, Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. "We will continue to bring American justice to transnational criminals who use fear and intimidation tactics to steal money from immigrants, seniors, and other individuals living in this country."

"The US Postal Inspection Service constantly strives to protect our communities from predator criminals who seek to abuse and exploit the most vulnerable members of our society," said Joseph W. Cronin, USPIS Division Chief in Miami. "This particular case is an example of how postal inspectors will vigorously pursue these types of crimes and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions."

Campuzano admitted to falsely claiming to be lawyers, judges, federal agents, and representatives of a fake "minor offenses tribunal" when he called victims, threatening them with fake court proceedings, negative credit reports, imprisonment, and immigration consequences if they did not pay immediately for the supposedly delivered and billing products.

As co-owner of the call centers Latinos en Acción and Acción Latino in Lima, Peru, Campuzano and his accomplices called victims, as well as family members and friends of the victims, and falsely threatened them with legal consequences if they did not pay for the supposedly delivered and billing products for English language courses.

Peruvian authorities arrested Campuzano in January 2020, based on a US extradition request. He was extradited to the United States and entered a guilty plea in this case.

The USPIS and the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Peruvian National Police.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Henry Adrian Milla Campuzano
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and Electronic Fraud
City, State: Lima, Peru; Miami, Florida
Date: July 2019 (crime start date); January 2020 (arrest date); 2024 (sentencing date)
Sentence: 110 months in prison
Dollar Amounts: Millions of dollars

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