Fabrisio Arias was sentenced to 41 months in prison by a federal court in San Diego for his involvement in an international scam targeting elderly individuals. The scheme misled victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes prize, requiring them to pay fees or taxes to claim their winnings.
U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta also ordered Arias to pay $395,536.05 in restitution to 22 victims. Between November 2020 and September 2022, Arias participated in a conspiracy that defrauded U.S. citizens and laundered significant sums of money.
The operation involved phone scammers based in Costa Rica who contacted victims using spoofed numbers, making it appear as if the calls originated from within the United States. Victims were deceived into sending funds to Arias' residence in Fontana, California, under the pretense that he was a government CPA. In reality, there was no prize; Arias deposited the fraudulent proceeds into his bank accounts and informed his co-conspirators when he received the money.
The government revealed that Arias received over 200 cashier's checks and blank money orders from at least 22 victims nationwide. He disguised these proceeds through various means, including false documentation and commingling with funds from other businesses he owned.
Victims suffered severe financial consequences due to the scheme, with some losing their life savings or being forced back into work after retirement. Over nearly two years, Arias laundered more than $395,000 and sent over $237,000 to Costa Rican co-conspirators while keeping a substantial portion for himself.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath warned against falling for such schemes: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." She urged people to report suspicious calls promptly.
Acting Special Agent Brandon Knarr emphasized the seriousness of impersonating IRS employees: "TIGTA and our law enforcement partners will do everything within our power" to prosecute offenders fully.
Matt Shields of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service highlighted the global impact of such frauds and stressed the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies: "By working together, we can keep our communities safe from financial exploitation."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan prosecuted this case.
Individuals who suspect they have been targeted by scammers are encouraged to report incidents quickly via IC3.gov or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 for non-life-threatening emergencies.