MIAMI – In a shocking case of transnational mail and wire fraud, Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, a 40-year-old Peruvian national, has pleaded guilty to his participation in a massive scheme that defrauded thousands of Spanish-speaking U.S. residents.
Zuñiga was the operator of a Peruvian call center that placed unsolicited calls to Spanish-speaking consumers in the United States, falsely claiming that they had won or qualified for free products, including computer tablets and English language courses. The scheme, which was responsible for defrauding over 30,000 U.S. residents, was part of a $15 million transnational fraud operation that used fear tactics and intimidation to steal money from its victims.
Zuñiga was extradited from Peru in March to face charges related to the scheme. He is the 12th defendant to be convicted in connection with the case, which includes eight Peruvian call center owner-operators and four distribution center owner-operators who processed payments, distributed products, and facilitated the fraud in the United States.
According to court documents, Zuñiga and his co-conspirators impersonated lawyers, court officials, police officers, and representatives of a supposed “minor crimes court” to intimidate victims and force them to send payments. They threatened victims with court proceedings, arrest, and immigration consequences if they did not pay.
The victims who paid were later re-victimized by Zuñiga and his co-conspirators with a related restitution scheme. The defendants placed additional calls to victims who had already paid, posing as lawyers for a U.S. court, and falsely represented that victims were entitled to restitution payments and would receive their money back if they paid the lawyer who purportedly brought the case on their behalf.
“The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly and recent immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to use fear tactics and intimidation to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to protecting U.S. consumers from transnational crime.
The case is a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance when receiving unsolicited calls or emails, and the need to be cautious of scams that use fear and intimidation to steal money from vulnerable populations.
Zuñiga’s guilty plea brings the total number of convictions in the case to 12, and serves as a warning to others who would seek to defraud U.S. consumers.
Related Federal Cases
- Stuart C. Cole, Mail Fraud, Extortion, Money Laundering, St Pete Be… · Puerto Rico
- Christopher B. Epps, Bribery and Wire Fraud, Jackson MS, 2023 · Florida
- Jeffery Hall Sentenced to 2 Years for Mail Fraud, Orlando FL, 2023 · New York
- Patrick Merrill Brody, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, Salt Lake C… · Florida
- Michael Szafranski Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Su… · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- 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