Women of legal age, preferably Latina, were the favorite victims of a gang of scammers who, since 2017, dedicated themselves to deceive them with the story of the winning ticket of the jackpot prize.
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Mercedes Montañez, 69, and his alleged accomplices, Luis Camargo, 39, María Luisa Henao, 43, and Tito Lozada, 50, were members of the alleged gang of criminals.
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Lozada pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud against elderly women. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in a federal prison. His sentence will be ruled on May 11, said Ciaran McEvoy, deputy federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.
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In November 2019, a federal grand jury accused the four members of the conspiracy gang to commit electronic fraud for their role in the plan to steal cash and other valuables from the elderly women.
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“How many times have I not heard the same story?” Asked Norma Heisenmann, spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). “We have always repeated that, if someone offers you something that seems too good to be true, it really isn’t.”
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The operation of the alleged fraudsters was to approach the elderly as a couple, usually when they left the bank or a supermarket. They requested help to make a lottery ticket effective, with the excuse that either of them could not make the “jackpot” effective, or that, in order to deliver the ticket they had to give them a deposit, in order to obtain the winnings .
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Convinced of the authenticity of the ‘winning ticket’ and the persuasion of the evildoers, the old women were taken to withdraw money from their bank accounts, delivered the money in cash in exchange for the “winning” ticket. They were asked to keep it and immediately told them that they were returning shortly. All they did was disappear.
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Tito Lozada and the three women were initially charged in a state court for having cheated a 66-year-old woman in the city of Long beach, but the case went to federal authorities when it was discovered that they were linked to a dozen alleged robberies since 2017.
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“This was an organized group that aimed to scam older women with the sole purpose of scamming them with false promises of a great payday,” federal prosecutor Nick Hanna said in a statement. “While law enforcement will do everything possible to bring criminals to justice, this case should serve as a reminder to potential victims and their families that no one should pay an upfront fee in relation to any prize, raffle or lottery. “
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The fourth defendant in the case, Maria Luisa Henao, 43, who had recently become a US citizen, was arrested in San Diego.
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According to federal prosecutors, Henao was the one who claimed to have the one million dollar winning lottery ticket in his hands and could not change it due to his immigration status.
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Henao and one of his alleged accomplices convinced the victims to give them $ 20,000. He promised to return the money plus an additional $ 10,000 for his help. She has not been sentenced and will face a trial as of June 23 next.
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“Our community of older adults is often a convenient and lucrative goal for scammers and, although we have accused some of the authors in this case, we know that many others are working to take their place,” said Paul Delacourt, assistant director of the FBI field office in Los Angeles. “Educating ourselves, as well as our family and aging friends, is crucial so that they can take precautions and avoid victimization.”
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