A federal judge sentenced two men to nine years and two years in prison for their role in a large-scale criminal enterprise that swindled over $300,000 from ten elderly victims in San Diego County.
Timothy Ingram, 30, of North Hollywood, California, and 46-year-old Joaquin Lopez of Hollywood, Florida, were sentenced in federal court to nine years and two years in prison, respectively – for their roles in nationwide extortion and fraud to swindle about $2 million from more than 70 elderly victims.
During their sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo described the scheme as “long term, sophisticated, and one of the most evil manipulations “ she has ever encountered in her 17 years on the bench. The defendants stole the victim’s financial security, and exploited their fear and trust, the judge noted.
According to federal prosecutors, six of the eight defendants charged in the case have pleaded guilty. Two defendants remain at large.
According to court documents, Ingram ran a network of money mules who conducted cash pick-ups for nearly a year. They received wire transfers from victims who believed they were sending money to help a grandchild, or other close relative or friend.
Cash pick-ups were arranged through the mules.
The network was organized with at least five other participants in California. Mules were occasionally instructed to travel out of state to execute the same scheme elsewhere.
Ingram also recruited mules to receive wire transfers of victim funds into their bank accounts and provided extensive instruction and supervision over how to withdraw the funds. The federal court ordered Ingram to forfeit $124,700 in proceeds that he personally received from the offense and to pay $1,932,507.93 to the victims in restitution.
Joaquin Lopez was involved in the scheme from February 2020 through October 2020. He admitted to using bank accounts under his control to funnel victim proceeds for co-defendant Tracy Knowles. In exchange for a 20 percent cut, Lopez made bank accounts available to other scheme participants to receive wire transfers from victims and to disperse those proceeds.
The federal court ordered Lopez to forfeit $62,700 in proceeds he personally received from the offense.
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, which is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office, and all San Diego County law enforcement agencies.
“Today's sentencing of two key members of the criminal enterprise targeting our elderly population is a testament to the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force's continued commitment to bringing fraudsters to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “It is the FBI's mission to protect the American people and protecting our seniors from financial crimes is imperative to the well-being and safeguarding of our communities.
