Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: US FBI

OAKLAND – An Oakland man was arrested yesterday on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Jason Nious, 42, made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning.

According to the criminal complaint and court documents unsealed today, Oakland police encountered Nious on Sept. 18, 2024, while searching the 500 block of East 15th Street in Oakland for a different individual who had an active arrest warrant for gun possession.  Officers saw Nious standing next to the wanted person and next to a car that was registered to Nious.  Officers determined that Nious was a convicted felon, currently on probation. They then searched Nious’s car and found a gun with a live round in the chamber in a bag on the front passenger seat, along with a loaded 10-round magazine.  Nious has prior convictions in Alameda County for human trafficking of a minor, providing controlled substances to a minor, and armed robbery.

Nious is next scheduled to appear in federal district court for a detention hearing on Dec. 23, 2024.

As detailed in the criminal complaint, the 500 block of East 15th Street in Oakland is within “the Blade,” an area surrounding International Boulevard between 5th Avenue and 23rd Avenue that is known throughout the Bay Area for its widespread pimping and pandering. The Blade also has seen a significant increase in other violent crimes in recent years.  Consequently, this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Oakland Police Department have been actively coordinating and increasing enforcement to combat sex trafficking and violent crime in the area.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp made the announcement.

A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Nious faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of $250,000 on the count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).  A court would impose any sentence following conviction after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivana Djak is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Oakland Police Department.
 

Source: US FBI

Grow Site, Which Used 33,780 Gallons of Water Daily, Contained Highly Toxic and Illegal Chemicals

Source: US FBI

OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted Paul Raymond Flood with cyberstalking, witness tampering, and obstruction of a criminal investigation by bribery.  Flood, 54, of Castro Valley, was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court this morning.

According to the indictment, which was filed May 16, 2024, and unsealed today, Flood was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2007 through 2019.  In early October 2018, Flood met a first-year law student, referred to in the indictment as “Victim-1” or “V-1,” who had contacted him for information on pursuing a future career with the FBI.  A family member of V-1’s, referred to in the indictment as “B-1,” knew Flood and referred V-1 to him.

Within a few weeks of meeting V-1, Flood allegedly began to make unwelcome romantic advances toward V-1 and engage in a pattern of harassing and intimidating conduct.  The indictment charges that, among other conduct, Flood had a diamond ring delivered to V-1 in mid-October 2018; used different numbers and messaging applications to call and text V-1, creating and using at least 79 different numbers between mid-October 2018 through September 2019; sent messages demonstrating that he was surveilling V-1 and her family; and repeatedly pressured B-1 to have V-1 call or unblock Flood.

Although V-1 initially did not report Flood due to her family’s fear of retaliation, V-1 reported him in June 2019 to federal and local law enforcement authorities.  Shortly thereafter, the FBI suspended Flood from duty and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) opened an investigation into Flood’s conduct.  In response, Flood allegedly employed various means to pressure, harass, intimidate, and persuade V-1 to help him by not providing statements or testimony in the investigations against him, including threatening to commit suicide, offering V-1 various bribes, and pressuring V-1’s family members to persuade her not to cooperate with law enforcement.  Flood allegedly succeeded in persuading V-1 to help him obstruct the pending investigations.  This included V-1’s evading multiple attempts by DOJ OIG investigators to contact her for an interview and to serve her with a federal grand jury subpoena in July 2019. According to the indictment, Flood also persuaded V-1 to agree to enter a sham marriage with him so that she would not have to testify against him, buying her a $17,000 engagement ring in the process.  V-1 did not follow through with the sham marriage plan.

The indictment charges Flood with one count of cyberstalking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), two counts of witness tampering by intimidation, threats, corrupt persuasion, or misleading conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(b)(2) and (b)(3), one count of witness tampering by harassment in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(d), and one count of obstruction of a criminal investigation by bribery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510(a).

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Flood faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each witness tampering count under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b), three years in prison on the witness tampering count under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(d), and five years in prison on each count of cyberstalking and obstruction.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Flood is currently on conditional release.  His next appearance in federal court is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Zachary Shroyer, Special Agent in Charge of DOJ OIG Western Region, made the announcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Mimi Lam, Lakisha Holliman, and Helen Yee.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DOJ OIG, with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.

Paul Raymond Flood Indictment
 

Source: US FBI

SAN JOSE – Todd Baldwin, a former sports coach, teaching assistant, and operations manager at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, was arraigned in federal court this afternoon on charges of enticement of minors and receipt of child pornography.

Baldwin, 44, currently of Bremerton, Wash., was charged by complaint on Oct. 10, 2024, and by information on Nov. 19, 2024.  According to the complaint, Baldwin allegedly persuaded, induced, and enticed two minor boys, both high school students at the time, to produce child sexual abuse materials in exchange for money from December 2022 to August 2023.  Baldwin allegedly paid thousands of dollars via mobile payment services to the minor boys and to at least two other students whom Baldwin had recruited to create child sexual abuse materials for resale online.  The complaint further alleges that Baldwin designated some of the exploited minors as his “Teacher Assistants.”  The information formally charges Baldwin with two counts of enticement of minors in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) and two counts of receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b).

An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Baldwin faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, a term of supervised release, and restitution.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Baldwin surrendered to federal authorities in San Jose on Oct. 28, 2024, and made his initial appearance in federal court on the same day.  He is currently on conditional release.  He is next scheduled to appear before the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, U.S. District Judge, on Feb. 4, 2025.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp made the announcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Marissa Harris is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Squad.

Source: US FBI

SAN FRANCISCO – A Palm Springs man pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering related to a years-long scheme to embezzle more than $1.3 million from his former employers, two San Francisco law firms.

According to court documents, Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, formerly of San Francisco, held various roles at the firms, eventually becoming Chief Financial Officer (CFO).  As the CFO, Archuleta-Perkins was in a position of trust and had access to the law firms’ payroll systems and end-to-end payments automation platforms. During the course of his employment, Archuleta-Perkins used this access to embezzle funds in various ways.

The primary way that Archuleta-Perkins stole money from the law firms was to cause the firms to make false and fraudulent payments to a non-profit organization he had set up and solely controlled. Archuleta-Perkins admitted to stealing more than $1.1 million using this method. Archuleta-Perkins also embezzled funds from the law firms by falsely adding “one-time reimbursements” to his regular paychecks or special bonus payroll checks through the use of the law firms’ payroll software. He admitted to stealing more than $106,000 using this method. Archuleta-Perkins also admitted that he endorsed a $41,663.69 tax refund check made out to one of the law firms, deposited it into a bank account belonging to the non-profit, and then wrote himself a check for the same amount.  

As part of his plea agreement, Archuleta-Perkins admitted that he knew that the principal of one of the law firms was undergoing serious health issues that kept him out of the office, and that the principal’s physical condition made him unusually vulnerable and particularly susceptible to Archuleta-Perkins’s criminal conduct.

In total, Archuleta-Perkins admitted that he was responsible for at least $1,321,752.72 in losses to his victims. Archuleta-Perkins used the stolen money for personal expenses, including payments on a Best Buy credit card.

Archuleta-Perkins pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (money laundering) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.  He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison as to the bank fraud charge and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison as to the money laundering charge. A federal district judge will determine and impose a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

Archuleta-Perkins, who was arrested on June 28, 2024, remains free on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before the Honorable Jacqueline Scott Corley, U.S. District Judge.

U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp made the announcement. 
           
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Madeline Wachs. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
 

Source: US FBI

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 12, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Ryan Coffey of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he sexually abused the 14-year-old girl seated next to him on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to San Diego, California.

Coffey was indicted on March 15, 2024, for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact stemming from his actions on an evening flight on January 7, 2023. Coffey, who was 31 years old at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty, admitting that he gave the girl rum and touched her inner thigh and breasts. The defendant did not know the victim.

“Thanks to the courage of a brave girl who reported what happened in the dark on a plane, and swift engagement from law enforcement, this defendant was brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the public in the air, on the ground, or at sea.”

“Ryan Coffey’s conduct was abhorrent,” said Acting FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge TJ Holland.  “The FBI, along with our dedicated law enforcement partners remain committed to using all tools available to follow the evidence and bring those who commit crimes against children to justice.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Katie Grammenidis.

DEFENDANTS                                             Case Number                         24cr505-AJB

Ryan Coffey                                                   Age: 33                                   San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Abusive Sexual Contact Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2244(a)(3)

Maximum penalty: Two years in prison

INVESTIGATING AGENCY

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Source: US FBI

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 20, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Because of a new and aggressive effort to thwart criminals who target seniors, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the San Diego FBI have recovered more than $3 million lost by victims of sophisticated fraud schemes that primarily targeted the elderly.

The ongoing operation, launched at the beginning of the year, is a collaboration led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI with assistance from state and local agencies. The operation uses a data-driven approach to target and seize money on behalf of victims of fraud. Since January 2024, investigators have obtained over 40 seizure warrants written for more than $5.6 million in seizures, with $3,339,273.58 recovered so far.

“By getting reports of suspected fraud early, we have been able to interrupt millions of dollars in transactions and recover victims’ money before it’s too far gone,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “We are using every tool at our disposal to support victims of these sophisticated scams, and bring those who prey on the elderly to justice. But our efforts depend on early reporting – so if you think you may have been contacted by a scammer, report it immediately.”

“It is imperative that we are relentless in our fight against scammers who seek to defraud our most vulnerable citizens,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Jamie Arnold. “Our best defense is educating the public about how to avoid becoming a victim of these schemes, and encouraging those that fall victim to a scam to immediately report it to law enforcement.”

June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, meant to draw attention to the abuse and neglect affecting the older generations. Approximately one in ten people over the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse, including financial exploitation. And such crimes are still widely underreported.

Cyber-enabled fraud is a nationwide menace, but it uniquely impacts California, including the citizens of the Southern District of California. According to the recently published 2023 FBI IC3 report, in 2023, California led the nation in both number of victims (more than 77,000) and the amount of victim loss ($2.1 billion). But population alone is not the reason for these troubling statistics. While California has 30 percent more population than Texas, the next most populous state, California has 63 percent more victims and more than double the victim loss in comparison.

Some recent prosecutions related to schemes that victimized seniors:

In terms of loss amounts, cryptocurrency investment scams have the highest loss amounts. These schemes involve victims being targeted through messages on mobile messaging apps or social media. It starts as a text message or a chat message from a stranger, often with an attractive profile photo, with a simple “hello” or what seems like confusion about why your phone number is in the person’s contacts. Once a victim responds to these messages, the conversation is steered over time to an online investment. After building the trust of the victim, the scammers suggest that they can show the victim how to make money by investing online in cryptocurrency, for example. In reality, the victim unknowingly transfers money to the scammers, who first pretend that the victim is making incredible gains, and then ultimately disappear with the money.

In terms of number of victims, the most prevalent scams are tech support/government impersonation/bank impersonation scams. These scams specifically target victims over 60 years old. These scams, alone or layered on top of one another, involve unsolicited pop-up ads on a computer or spam emails or phone calls.  The scam may involve allegations that the victim’s computer is compromised.  In other instances, victims receive emails claiming the victim made a purchase or subscribed to some service the victim did not subscribe to.  Victims are then directed to call a phone number to address the issue.  When the victim calls, they unwittingly connect to a scam call center that often then instructs the victim to download commercially available remote desktop software, which the scammers use to perpetuate the fraud. Ultimately, victims are defrauded into sending wire transfers, bulk cash in express mail packages, or to purchase gift cards for the scammers. Once a victim is successfully scammed, they are often repeatedly targeted until they no longer have any money. For that reason, it is critical for victims to report the scams to the FBI IC3 (www.ic3.gov), as well as local law enforcement. 

The last major category of scams affecting Americans are business email compromise (“BEC”). These scams involve spoofing an email address of a business, such as a realtor or escrow company or some other entity owed significant amounts of money. The scammers then pretend to be that business by creating email addresses that are very similar to the legitimate business’s email address. Victims are then told that the wire instructions have been changed and are instructed to wire money to the new account.  In reality, victims are defrauded out of thousands (often hundreds of thousands) of dollars when they send the wire transfer to the scammers’ bank accounts. Individuals involved in purchases of real estate are particularly vulnerable, since they are often dealing with realtors and escrow companies on a one-off basis and may not notice the person emailing the wire instructions is a fraud. If you receive wire instructions, especially involving high dollar amounts, it is best to confirm those instructions are real by contacting the other parties in the transaction by phone and using phone numbers you have already verified. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office requests that the following warnings be distributed or announced to the general public in an effort to engage and educate those who may be targeted:

• Legitimate companies DO NOT typically seek to access to computers or phones remotely, that is, you should not be asked to share your computer screen with a legitimate company.

• Legitimate companies DO NOT request that customers provide User ID or Passwords for the representative to log into your account for you.

• Legitimate companies DO NOT ask customers to send cash through the mail, deliver gold bars or precious metals, or make deposits into cryptocurrency ATMs.

• Legitimate companies DO NOT ask customers to mail money or wire funds in order to refund alleged overpayments.

If you are asked to do any of these things, HANG UP the phone.  

If you are concerned – HANG UP. It is ok to GET OFF THE PHONE AND CALL A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER TO DOUBLE CHECK if a call is suspicious.

A legitimate company will want you to be sure and careful.

If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer, report it quickly at IC3.gov. There is a team standing by. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to stop the transaction and recover your money.

Ways to help prevent elder abuse and neglect:

•     Listen to older adults and their caregivers to understand their challenges and provide support.

•     Check-in on older adults who may have few friends and family members.

•     Look for unusual financial transactions – unexplained withdrawals, purchases of gold bars or cryptocurrency, or uncharacteristic efforts to wire large amounts of money.

•     And report abuse or suspected abuse to local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman, or the police.

For other non-life-threatening emergencies, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11, or go to the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative website for more information:

www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

Source: US FBI

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 12, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Leonard Darnell George was convicted by a federal jury late Monday, June 10, of accepting bribes to allow vehicles containing methamphetamine and other illicit drugs to pass through the border into the U.S.

George was also convicted of allowing vehicles with unauthorized individuals to pass through his lane and into the U.S. while working for two separate criminal organizations.

During the trial, several witnesses testified that George agreed to allow drug-laden vehicles enter the U.S. through his lane in late 2021. George would notify members of the drug trafficking organization when he was at work, what lane he was on, and that they had one hour to reach his lane. However, in February 2022 after an alert placed by law enforcement agents on a suspected drug smuggling vehicle was flagged entering George’s lane, George was forced to send the vehicle to secondary revealing approximately 222 pounds of methamphetamine. Undeterred, George allowed a second drug-laden vehicle affiliated with the drug trafficking organization and traveling directly behind the flagged vehicle enter the U.S. with over 200 pounds of drugs. Text messages sent by George the following day reveal he received approximately $13,000 for the vehicle he allowed to enter the U.S. On the same day he received his bribe payment, George purchased a 2020 Cadillac CT5 for an associate of the drug trafficking organization as a gift. George delivered the Cadillac CT5 to the associate in Ensenada on Valentine’s Day.

Over the course of six months, George continued to allow vehicles containing drugs and undocumented individuals to enter the U.S. through his lane.George repeatedly omitted passengers and the true names of drivers coming through his lane, instead entering the names of others to conceal his criminal activities. Law enforcement agents and prosecutors identified approximately 19 crossings associated with the criminal organizations during the six-month time period. Text messages confirmed George agreed to allow vehicles through his lane for $17,000 per vehicle, $34,000 for two vehicles, $51,000 for three vehicles, or $65,000 for four vehicles. One text message confirmed that George received $68,000 after he allowed four vehicles from one organization to enter his lane in June 2022.

Testimony from a witness confirmed that George purchased vehicles, motorcycles, and jewelry with the proceeds of his illicit activities. Additionally, on George’s days off, he travelled to Tijuana to visit Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club where he spent approximately $5,000 per trip. He would stand on the second level of the club and throw cash over the balcony to the dancers below, “showering” them with money. He would buy bottles of alcohol, and occasionally gifts, for dancers.

The extent of George’s relationship with traffickers revealed itself when prosecutors admitted a photograph of one of George’s trafficking associates taking a selfie in George’s CBP uniform jacket.

“With this verdict, the jury sent a clear message to anyone considering trading in their badge for cash,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “Abandoning the integrity of the uniform for the conspiracy of drug trafficking is a path to a criminal conviction.”

“As persons in positions of public trust, we are relied upon to serve and protect the American people,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge, Stacey Moy. “We also rely on each other to uphold that sacred oath. Should that oath be violated, the FBI and it’s law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice, even if it means holding ourselves accountable.”

“CBP does not tolerate misconduct within its ranks,” said Special Agent in Charge Elizabeth Cervantes of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, San Diego Field Office. “The Office of Professional Responsibility’s efforts in this case and this latest court decision are a testament to CBP’s commitment to preserving the honor of its overwhelmingly professional workforce, and to its core values of vigilance, integrity, and service to country.” 

“Today’s conviction shows HSI’s and our law enforcement partners dedication to dismantling criminal organizations and holding those criminals that enable their illicit activity accountable,” said Chris Davis, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. “There is no place in law enforcement for those who dishonor their badge and oath to protect our communities and our country.”

“The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General is grateful for the continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners as we fight corruption along our Southern Border,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. “This guilty verdict sends a clear message that federal employees who violate the law will be held accountable for their actions.”

The case was tried and prosecuted by lead Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Calderon-Peñaloza and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Kimura.

George’s sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2024, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson.

SUMMARY OF CHARGES                                    Case Number 23CR1291

Receiving Bribe by Public Official – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201

Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison

Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances – Title 21 U.S.C., Sections 952, 960, 963

Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum

Bringing in Certain Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371, Title 8 U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)

Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison

Bringing in Certain Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371, Title 8 U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)

Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG)

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Customs and Border Protection – Office of Professional Responsibility (CBP OPR)

Source: US FBI

SAN DIEGO – Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Hector Hernandez, who admitted that he took bribes to smuggle methamphetamine and people across the U.S.-Mexico border while on duty, was sentenced in federal court today to 87-months in prison.

Hernandez pleaded guilty in January, admitting that he agreed to use his official position to open border fences and allow unauthorized immigrants to enter the United States from Mexico. Hernandez also agreed to move methamphetamine and other controlled substances from the Southern District of California further north to other locations within the United States.

In his plea agreement, Hernandez acknowledged he took Mexico-based smugglers on a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border, showing them the best locations to sneak unauthorized immigrants into the U.S. He also provided information about the location of monitoring devices and cameras – information only known to him by virtue of his position as a Border Patrol agent. Hernandez admitted that he opened restricted border fences on several occasions to allow people to illegally enter the United States in exchange for cash payments of $5,000 per opening.

“In every instance, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stands ready to reinforce public trust in law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “When that trust is undermined by criminal acts concealed behind a badge, it threatens both public safety and the integrity of our judicial system. Hernandez put personal greed above the safety of others and this sentence reflects the magnitude of his actions.”

“Agent Hernandez disgraced his badge when he chose to smuggle both drugs and people across the border,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “His sentence reflects the harm he caused his coworkers and his country. As law enforcement we are held to a higher standard, and we must be held accountable for our actions.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that federal officials who betray the people they are sworn to protect will be held accountable for their actions,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari.

According to court records, Hernandez admitted that on May 9, 2023, he met with someone who unbeknownst to him was, in fact, an undercover federal agent, and agreed to pick up a bag full of narcotics that would be hidden near the border fence. Hernandez agreed to pick up the bag while on duty and deliver it to the undercover agent in exchange for $20,000. Once the agreement was made, agents loaded the bag with 10 kilograms of fake methamphetamine, one pound of real methamphetamine, and a tracking device, before placing the bag in a storm drain near the border fence.

Later that evening, Hernandez drove his official vehicle to the storm drain while on duty and retrieved the bag. He drove the bag to his residence in Chula Vista and left the bag there for the remainder of his work shift. On May 10, 2023, after his shift was over, Hernandez returned home, retrieved the bag, and drove to meet with the undercover agent. Upon arrest, agents confirmed that that the bag still contained both the sham and real methamphetamine.

After Hernandez was arrested, agents searched his residence and found $131,717 in cash and 7.7 grams of cocaine. Hernandez admitted at least $110,000 of the cash represented proceeds he received in connection with his narcotics trafficking and bribery activities.

As part of his plea agreement, Hernandez forfeited his personal vehicle used to bring the drugs to the undercover agent; $110,000 of the seized cash; and his interest in his residence where the drugs were maintained.

In court today, U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino said, “Border Patrol is an honorable and admirable agency of the Government sworn to protect and safeguard our borders… [Hernandez] chose to betray the agency, the nation and betray public trust.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Lawrence A. Casper.

DEFENDANT                                                      Case Number 23cr1114-JLS
Hector Hernandez                                               Age: 55                                                    Chula Vista, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine – 21 U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum penalty: Life imprisonment in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum

Receiving Bribe by Public Official – 18 U.S.C., Section 201(b)(2)
Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Source: US FBI

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 22, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Jiaci Liu appeared in federal court today following his arrest for engaging in a multinational fraud conspiracy targeting seniors, including a 63-year-old man from Poway. 

According to a federal complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (ETJF) learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department that he been duped as part of a layered tech support, bank impersonation and government impersonation scam.

Specifically, while on his personal computer, a pop-up window appeared indicating there was a possible virus on his computer and instructing him to contact a phone number. When he contacted the number, he was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support. The victim was informed that his computer had viruses.  The victim was then transferred to another conspirator who claimed to be from the victim’s bank.  During that interaction, the victim was told there were unauthorized transfers from his bank.  The victim was instructed to go immediately to his bank and to withdraw all his money for safekeeping. 

At the direction of the conspirators, the victim went to his bank and withdrew $28,000.  The victim was then instructed by the conspirators that someone from the U.S. Marshals Service would come to his house to pick up the money.  After the interaction, the victim became suspicious and contacted the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, which informed the victim to contact them if anyone showed up to pick up the money.

According to the complaint, on June 9, 2023, defendant Jiaci Liu arrived at the victim’s residence. The victim called the police, who arrived and found Liu outside the victim’s home.  Liu’s cellphone was seized and later searched.  Investigators located evidence indicating that in just one week in June 2023, Liu had picked up over $348,000 dollars from multiple victims located in Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona. 

“Everyone with a computer is vulnerable to sophisticated scams like the one alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath.  “If you think you’ve been targeted, report it quickly. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to catch the scammers and recover any swindled money.”

“Individuals committing tech scams are getting more and more innovative with the methods they use to con innocent people,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners continually adapt our strategies so that we can stay ahead of those who scheme and collude to defraud the American public. We are committed to ensuring each of these individuals is brought to justice.”

A detention hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge David D. Leshner. 

This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.

DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 24MJ1929-MSB                               

Jiaci Liu                                                          Age: 34                                   Monterey Park, California

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349

Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2)(A), and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)

Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

San Diego Police Department

San Diego Elder Justice Task Force

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.