ICE Los Angeles, multiple agency case results in 2 Cuban nationals sentenced for fraudulent dispute scheme

LOS ANGELES – Two local area men were sentenced Feb. 24, in the Central District of California for their involvement in a fraudulent dispute scheme. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force conducted this investigation collaboratively with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

“This conviction highlights our agency efforts to safeguard our economy as well as take dangerous criminals off the street,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Los Angeles Al Rossi. “The El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force will work tirelessly to ensure that perpetrators who prey on innocent victims and decide to undermine our financial infrastructure are brought to justice and held accountable for their actions.”

Alejandro Munoz and Abel Pena-Garcia, who are identical twins, were involved in a fraudulent dispute scheme that targeted third party payment platforms, like PayPal and Square.

Additionally, the two were suspected of defrauding the United States Treasury Department. Munoz was sentenced to 75 months confinement for Aggravated Identity Theft, with three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $477,396.74 in restitution. Pena-Garcia was sentenced to 41 months confinement for Attempt and Conspiracy, with three years of supervised release.

Anyone with information on financial fraud are encouraged to call the Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

Learn more about ICE HSI’s mission to protect the U.S. economy in your community on X at @HSILosAngeles.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)