Juan Enrique Kramer, Restaurant Investment Fraud, Texas 2022

Restaurant Investment Fraud Scheme Lands San Antonio Couple in Prison

A San Antonio couple, Juan Enrique Kramer and Adriana Pastor, have been sentenced for their involvement in a scheme to defraud business investors of over $1 million.

On February 1, 2022, Kramer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of failure to file an individual tax return. Pastor pleaded guilty to one count of aiding or assisting in filing a false tax return on February 22, 2022.

According to court documents, Kramer and his co-conspirators promoted a “turn-key” business venture to Mexican nationals, consisting of a chain of Mexican food restaurants throughout the United States and Mexico known as “Las Quesadillas.” Kramer charged buyers a set fee ranging from $105,000 to $250,000 and promised to perform all tasks necessary for establishing a fully functional restaurant.

Instead of providing the promised services, the defendants used the funds for personal gain or to provide partial payments to previous customers who were demanding their money back. In addition to partial refunds, Kramer would also offer stakes in other businesses as an alternative to repayment. The defendants perpetrated their scheme on at least eight different victims, resulting in a total loss of more than $1 million.

Kramer, 46, was sentenced to three years in prison, forfeiture of $59,589 in proceeds, restitution of $1,171,497 payable to the victims of his wire fraud, and restitution of $727,936 to the IRS. Adriana Pastor, 47, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and is also liable for the $727,936 to the IRS. Both Kramer and Pastor were also sentenced to three years of post-release supervision.

“Investment fraud schemes such as what Kramer and Pastor engaged in are specifically designed to take advantage of vulnerable, trusting individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Today’s sentences underscore that this is unacceptable criminal conduct and violators will be held accountable.”

The case was investigated by the IRS-CI and the FBI with assistance from the Texas State Securities Board. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung, Matthew W. Kinskey, and Antonio Franco Jr. prosecuted the case.

“This case highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating cross-border crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Kramer and Pastor are con artists who swindled people out of money, and their sentences reflect the severity of their crimes.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/san-antonio-couple-sentenced-restaurant-investment-fraud-scheme