Former Bronx hospital clerk Wilkins Estrella has pleaded guilty to a massive fraud scheme that defrauded the government of nearly $1 million in pandemic relief funds. Accompanied by his partner, Charlene Marte, Estrella and Marte used stolen social security numbers and personally identifiable information from hundreds of victims to open fraudulent debit cards.
According to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, ‘Wilkins Estrella stole the personal data of thousands of people, including hospital patients, and used this data along with his partner Charlene Marte to claim money that was intended to assist struggling Americans during the pandemic.’ The scheme resulted in actual losses of nearly $1 million.
Estrella, 40, from Hackensack, New Jersey, and Marte, 31, from the Bronx, New York, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Both defendants face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for their roles in the scheme.
The data was obtained primarily from a hospital where Estrella worked as a business clerk for nearly a decade before being terminated following an internal systems audit that revealed his improper access to protected health information of at least 4,005 patients.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized that defrauding federal programs harms all New Yorkers and that the Office is committed to stopping such schemes. FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia reinforced that the FBI remains committed to pursuing individuals who target confidential medical information for personal enrichment.
Wilkins Estrella is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2025, while Charlene Marte will be sentenced on November 5, 2025. Their guilty pleas highlight the gravity of the crime and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to protect the integrity of government programs.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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