Husband and Wife Sentenced in International Property Theft Scheme
SAN DIEGO / Friday, September 4, 2026 –Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and his wife, Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, Mexican nationals who entered the U.S. on tourist visas, were sentenced to 27 months and 10 months in custody, respectively, for participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently sell homes they did not own and launder approximately $1 million in proceeds.
According to the June plea agreement, conspirators posed as legitimate property owners and used fraudulent documents to sell real estate they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. They then routed the proceeds from the illegal sales through bank accounts controlled by the defendants.
“It is difficult to imagine a more brazen betrayal of trust than pretending to own someone else’s home and selling it for your own gain,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
“Real estate fraud and money laundering schemes like this can devastate victims and undermine confidence in legitimate financial transactions,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. “HSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify transnational criminal networks, follow the money, and hold accountable those who exploit our financial systems for personal profit.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message: Those who engage in fraud will be held accountable,” said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants employed sophisticated tactics to exploit the trust of innocent real estate buyers and undermine the integrity of our financial system. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to following the money, uncovering the truth, and collaborating with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and ensure justice is served.”
According to the plea agreement, to carry out the scheme, the defendants’ co-conspirators created email addresses that closely resembled those of the legitimate property owners and used them to market properties they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. By conducting transactions entirely through email, they avoided meeting buyers in person and concealed their identities.
Once a sale was arranged, the defendants’ co-conspirators used forged property transfer documents that falsely appeared to bear the property owner’s signature, allowing ownership of the property to be fraudulently transferred to the unwitting buyer. Villalobos and Montoya admitted they opened bank accounts using business names similar to those of the legitimate property owners and used those accounts to receive the illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sales before transferring the money abroad.
Specifically, Villalobos and Montoya admitted they lied to open bank accounts to facilitate the illegal sales of homes at 3873 36th Street and 555 Hollister Street in San Diego. The plea agreement said the defendants received:
- $400,748 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 3873 36th Street. In April 2023, Montoya transmitted nearly the entire amount of money to bank accounts in Mexico.
- $561,463 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 555 Hollister Street. Upon receipt, Villalobos withdrew all the money by international wire transfers to accounts in Mexico and Jordan, and in cash withdrawals.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-CR-4686-DMS
Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan Age: 48 Mexico
Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez Age: 48 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bank Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Bank Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(2)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Contact
Kelly Thornton, Director of Media Relations
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California
