SEATTLE, WA – The digital marketplace isn’t always what it seems. Two men have been sentenced to federal prison this month for preying on unsuspecting buyers through online car sales, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. The cases, while separate, highlight the growing threat of fraud in the increasingly popular realm of internet commerce.
JUAN CARLOS DE LA CRUZ PIOTE, 48, a citizen of Spain, received a 32-month sentence on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, after being convicted of running a sophisticated scam targeting buyers of cars, boats, and RVs. Piote and his crew used fake internet postings and bogus payment processing programs to steal over $700,000 from victims. He was initially arrested in New York on July 22, 2013, attempting to enter the U.S. from Romania. The operation centered around establishing multiple bank accounts under shell company names – GMC AUTOS, LLC, CARS CONSULTANTS, LLC, AUTO FINANCIAL, LLC, and MGA ENGINES, LLC – to funnel illicit funds. Advertisements were placed on legitimate sites like Craigslist and Autotrader.com, luring in victims with promises of vehicles that never materialized.
The scam went beyond simple deception. Piote’s group created counterfeit PayPal paperwork and web pages, and even impersonated Amazon Payments – falsely leading buyers to believe they were using a secure, legitimate service. The money was quickly siphoned out of the accounts, either wired overseas or withdrawn as cash, leaving victims empty-handed. The scheme was a carefully constructed illusion designed to exploit the trust inherent in online transactions.
In a separate case, DUC LONG TRAN VU, 26, of Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced to nine months in prison on Friday, May 30, 2014, for his role in a car theft and resale operation. Vu, a former University of Washington engineering student, stole vehicles in Oregon, forged title documents, and then advertised them for sale in Washington State, primarily through Craigslist. One particularly brazen incident involved a 2007 Volvo XC 90 stolen directly from a Portland driveway. Vu sold the vehicle to a couple in Tacoma for $15,000, despite their precautions – checking the title, VIN number, and obtaining his identification.
The couple’s diligence wasn’t enough. Upon attempting to transfer the title, they discovered the car was reported stolen, leaving them out $15,000. In another incident, Vu attempted to sell a 1998 Honda Civic stolen in Oregon. Kent police, responding to a report, conducted a felony stop, guns drawn. Fortunately, the buyers had captured a cell phone video of Vu during the sale and a photo of his identification, which, despite using a false name, allowed police to identify him. The stolen car was returned to its rightful owner.
The investigation into Piote’s scheme was a joint effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI. The Vu case was spearheaded by the FBI, the Washington State Patrol, and the Kent Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Reese Jennings prosecuted both cases, sending a clear message that online fraud will not be tolerated. These convictions serve as a stark reminder: if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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