ADVERTISEMENT 2
ADVERTISEMENT 3
Error: No articles to display
ADVERTISEMENT 1
ADVERTISEMENT 4
In San Antonio, a mother and son have surrendered to federal authorities based on an alleged million dollar fraud scheme involving a local church owned by a different family member announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Lee Dotson, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Cotter.
A 12-count federal grand jury indictment, returned last week, charges 23–year-old Brennan R. Diaz and 44–year-old Deborah A. Diaz with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of money laundering, The indictment also charges Brennan Diaz with four substantive counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of money laundering. Deborah Diaz is charged with two substantive counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, between February 2015 and October 2015, the defendants conspired to defraud the La Obra Milagrosa Church (aka “The Miracle Center Church”) of more than $1 million. Both defendants were associated with the TMC Church which was owned by Brennan’s grandfather. Neither defendant had authority to sign TMC Church checks. The indictment alleges that Brennan Diaz wrote, and fraudulently forged his grandfather’s signature on, approximately 50 TMC Church business checks made payable to himself. Defendant Deborah Diaz allegedly forged her father’s signature on three TMC Church business checks made payable to herself. The total amount of those fraudulent checks is estimated to be $1,094,100.00.
Upon conviction, bank fraud calls for up to 30 years in federal prison; money laundering calls for up to ten years in federal prison; conspiracy to commit bank fraud calls for up to 30 years in federal prison; and, aggravated identity theft calls for mandatory two years in federal prison. Brennan Diaz surrendered to federal authorities this morning. He was released this afternoon on a $30,000 bond pending trial. Deborah Diaz surrendered to authorities on Friday. She is currently on a $50,000 unsecured bond pending trial.
This joint investigation is being conducted by the Financial Crimes Section of the U.S. Secret Service South Texas Regional Task Force and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Other agencies involved in the Task Force include the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Moore is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
A federal jury in El Paso convicted self-proclaimed licensed investment broker Roberto Trinidad Del Carpio Frescas of carrying out a Ponzi scheme that resulted in an estimated minimum $15 million loss announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Lee Dotson and El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen.
Late Friday afternoon, jurors convicted Del Carpio, age 39, of Chihuahua, MX, of 24 counts of wire fraud and ten counts of money laundering.
Evidence presented during trial revealed that the defendant held himself out to have superior knowledge and ability as an investor in stocks, bonds, futures in oil, gas, precious metals and currency. Though he was not licensed in the state of Texas as a dealer, or registered as an investment adviser, Del Carpio formed several companies in Texas including SMI International Institute Corporation (aka Stock Market Investment), Del Carpio Trading Institute LLC, and one in the Cayman Islands, Del Carpio Holdings, to facilitate his scheme.
From August 2010 until January 2012, Del Carpio conspired with others to collect money from over 100 known investors in Mexico and the United States. Del Carpio pocketed most all of the funds he collected though he did pay minimal amounts of money to “early” investors as a return on their investment and to encourage his victims to invest more of their money with him.
Del Carpio faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and up to ten years in federal prison for money laundering.
Del Carpio has remained in federal custody since his arrest in February 2015. Sentencing is expected to occur within the next 60 days before United States District Judge David C. Guaderrama in El Paso.
Del Carpio’s co-defendant, 60-year-old David Brian Binder of Pittsburg, PA, is charged by indictment with one count of accessory after the fact and one count of wire fraud. Binder, who is currently out on bond, is scheduled for jury selection and trial on April 18, 2016, before Judge Guaderrama in El Paso. Upon conviction, Binder faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and up to ten years in federal prison for accessory after the fact.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Binder is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you feel you may have been victimized as a result of the above mentioned scheme, please contact the U.S. Secret Service at (915) 532-2144 or the El Paso Police Department.
This investigation was conducted by agents with the U.S. Secret Service and the El Paso Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian Hanna and Stanley Serwatka are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
DALLAS (AP) — Two North Texas men face health care-related fraud charges that prosecutors say cost a U.S. Department of Defense agency $65 million.
Richard Robert Cesario of Plano and John Paul Cooper of Southlake remained in custody pending a detention hearing Thursday in Dallas.
Both were arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, receipt of illegal remuneration and payment of illegal remuneration.
The scam targeted TRICARE — DOD's health system for military beneficiaries. The indictment says Cesario and Cooper operated a Dallas company that marketed compounded pain and scar creams. Neither man has medical licensing or education.
Prosecutors say the company opened in 2014, ceased operations in mid-2015 and the alleged kickbacks scheme ran until this month.
Messages left with the company, CMG RX, weren't immediately returned Wednesday.