Adriana Camberos and Andres Camberos, siblings from San Diego, were found guilty of multiple fraud charges by a federal jury on October 25, 2024. Their scheme involved deceiving manufacturers to obtain wholesale groceries and goods at discounted rates by falsely claiming these products would be sold in Mexico or to prisons and rehabilitation facilities. Instead, the products were sold at higher prices to U.S. distributors.
The jury convicted them of eight out of eleven counts, including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and seven wire fraud counts. They were acquitted of three mail fraud charges.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the defendants controlled three businesses: Tradeway International, Inc., Specialty Foods International, Inc., and Baja Foodservice S.R.L. de C.V. These companies operated together as sister companies with shared facilities in San Diego and Tijuana.
Baja Exporting claimed to export goods to Baja California, Mexico, while Specialty Foods International purportedly distributed goods within Mexico and U.S. correctional facilities. Baja Foodservice also claimed regional distribution in Mexico.
The defendants used these entities to secure significant discounts from manufacturers under false pretenses. However, their sales primarily targeted U.S. distributors rather than Mexican retailers or institutions as claimed.
From 2019 to September 2023, their businesses generated hundreds of millions in sales to U.S. distributors but less than one-tenth of one percent went to Mexican entities or institutions like prisons or rehab centers.
To maintain their deception, they removed GPS trackers from shipments meant for Mexico, altered packaging labels intended for Spanish-speaking markets, fabricated customs documents, staged market visits in Tijuana with hired models posing alongside products for authenticity purposes, and maintained a fake office in Mexico City.
During this period, Adriana Camberos earned over $12 million from Baja Exporting while Andres Camberos received over $14 million from Specialty Foods International. The scheme resulted in tens of millions lost by manufacturers who could have profited through legitimate sales channels.
With profits from their fraudulent activities, the siblings made luxury purchases including high-end vehicles like a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and Lamborghini Huracan; acquired real estate properties; invested in various financial accounts; all subject now to forfeiture proceedings.
U.S Attorney Tara McGrath stated: “These defendants’ deception led to millions in illegal profits but the gain was fleeting.” FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy added: “This conviction should send a clear message that fraud — no matter the scale — will be thoroughly investigated.”
Sentencing is set for March 3rd next year before Judge Cynthia Bashant with Assistant U.S Attorneys Joshua Mellor Peter Horn Jordan Arakawa prosecuting this case against them under Case Number 23-CR-1916-BAS facing up-to twenty years imprisonment per charge investigated by Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI).