FBI Arrests 20+ In $40M Scam Targeting Seniors

Over 20 people from San Diego face charges in connection to an international elder scam network, authorities said.

Multiple federal and state arrest and search warrants were executed Wednesday, resulting in 22 individuals charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and/or conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of an international elder fraud tech support and refund scam targeting American seniors, the FBI San Diego Field Office said in a news release.

FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF) investigated an Indian call center scam operating from foreign countries like India, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates since at least July 2021, according to court documents. Authorities say the network allegedly targeted elderly individuals across the United States, allegedly defrauding victims multiple times over through a technical support scam and then through a refund scam.

The investigation has resulted in over 500 suspected or confirmed U.S. victims with the approximate loss amount exceeding $40 million, the FBI said.

“As today’s numerous arrests confirm, FBI San Diego’s Elder Justice Task Force and its partner
agencies are leading the charge against fraudsters targeting American seniors,” said Mark Dargis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Our nation’s elderly citizens deserve to be treated with respect, not scammed out of their hard-earned savings by criminals exploiting their trust. FBI San Diego and our local and federal law enforcement partners will relentlessly investigate those who prey on our senior community and ensure they are held fully accountable.”

Victor Marion, of San Diego, is suspected of orchestrating U.S.-based individuals in Southern California to receive millions of dollars of elder fraud victim funds and immediately transfer the majority of the funds to overseas actors. per court documents.

FBI San Diego also seized multiple bank accounts used in the fraudulent scheme and a BMW vehicle purchased with victim funds, the release said.

Marion and 18 of his alleged co-conspirators were arrested over the last 24 hours on Wednesday. Most of the federal defendants found below face a statutory maximum of twenty years in prison:

Case Number 25CR4061-TWR-01

• Victor Lee Marion, 41, San Diego, CA

• Justin Lewis, 24, San Diego, CA

• Michael Jeeho Yi, 25, San Diego, CA

• Andre Hammond Jr]., 26, San Diego, CA

• Iman Shenko Abdulbasir, 23, San Diego, CA

• Carlo Humberto Hernandez, 45, San Diego, CA

• Donel Gem Gutierrez Labaco, 38, San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

• Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349,2326

• Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)

• Maximum penalty: forty years in prison

Case Number 25CR4061-TWR-01

• Seth Michael Sheldon, 23, San Diego, CA

• Jose Anthony Cardenas Ortiz, 25, San Diego, CA

• Jose Lauro Luiz Munoz, 48, San Diego, CA

• Matthew Brandon Oh-Slack, 26, San Diego, CA

• Ryan Navarro Anorma, 47, San Diego, CA

• Malique Jordan Shaw, 26, San Diego, CA

• Kenneth Odin Lara, 40, San Diego, CA

• Steven Ray Basic, 21, San Diego, CA

• Nicholas Edward Webber, 24, San Diego, CA

• Jonathan Enriquez Limfueco, 42, San Diego, CA

• Christina Michele Asmus, 45, San Diego, CA

• Andrew Butch Divine, 30, San Diego, CA

• Joshua Estrada, 46, San Diego, CA

• Zachariah Michael T S Siganoff, 30, San Diego, CA

• Edgar Galindez, 32, San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

• Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)

• Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison