The Southern District of New York recently indicted a Florida man, Erick Jason Victoria-Brito, for his involvement in a complex financial scheme that defrauded small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments of approximately $60 million over a five-year period. Victoria-Brito, along with a group of fraudsters, allegedly set up a sophisticated operation that included creating fake businesses, bank accounts, and emails to deceive various organizations into sending them money.
After being extradited from the Dominican Republic to New York City, Victoria-Brito now faces federal bank fraud and money laundering charges in US District Court. The indictment alleges that the group targeted a wide range of entities, including an American sports organization, a publicly traded healthcare company, and an international nonprofit. Additionally, law firms, construction companies, investment funds, and multiple city governments were also victims of the elaborate scheme, with the group attempting to steal over $150 million between December 2017 and November 2022.
According to prosecutors, the fraudsters established more than 1,000 fake businesses to open fraudulent bank accounts and receive the stolen funds. This fraudulent activity, known as a business email compromise scheme, involved wiring the money to banks in China to prevent the victimized businesses from recovering their losses. The total amount stolen is estimated to be more than $60 million.
US Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon emphasized the significant harm caused by these scams to businesses, nonprofits, and local governments. She stated that the extradition of Victoria-Brito demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to hold accountable all individuals involved in such fraudulent activities. If convicted on both charges, Victoria-Brito could face up to 50 years in prison.
In addition to Victoria-Brito, five other individuals – Rene Victoria Rodriguez, Ashly Camacho Soto, Paul Antonio Liz, Luis Furniel Vasquez, and Abel Rodriguez Toribio – were also charged in the indictment with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The US Secret Service Special Agent in Charge, Patrick J. Freaney, commended the investigators and prosecutors for their efforts in disrupting this fraudulent scheme and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Overall, the indictment sheds light on the elaborate nature of the international bank fraud and money laundering scheme orchestrated by Victoria-Brito and his co-conspirators. As the legal proceedings unfold, the authorities are determined to ensure that those responsible for perpetrating financial crimes are held accountable for their actions.
