BOSTON – Manuel Ponce Vazquez, a 60-year-old Spanish native from Quincy, was today sentenced to 31 months in federal prison for orchestrating a nearly $1 million fraud scheme against charities and law firms. The judge also ordered him to pay over $995,000 in restitution and face removal proceedings upon his release.
Ponce Vazquez pleaded guilty last July to one count of mail fraud. His criminal enterprise began in August 2013, where he and his co-conspirators sent fraudulent cashier’s checks to unsuspecting victims, including charities and law firms. They convinced their targets to wire money, under the guise that the fake checks would cover the expenses.
Targeting charities, Ponce Vazquez posed as generous donors who had accidentally over-contributed. He pressured the charities with dire need for funds, claiming it was crucial for life-saving surgery. Upon receiving the fraudulent money, they discovered the check was counterfeit.
In law firm frauds, Ponce Vazquez and his crew posed as debtors paying off debts. The firms were directed to transfer money to an account controlled by Ponce Vazquez, using their own funds, without realizing it.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; FBI Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw; IRS Criminal Investigations’ Joel P. Garland; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Shelly Binkowski announced the sentence. The Braintree Police Department and the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Pérez-Daple prosecuted the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Scheme · Massachusetts
- Harvard-Trained FinServ Founder Faces Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Charges · Massachusetts
- Cambridge Man Jailed for $40K Diary Fraud · Massachusetts
- Ricco Gets Probation for EPA Fraud · Massachusetts
- Andover Man Pleads Guilty to Union Benefit Fraud · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News