Brooklyn’s federal court has convicted Yveler Marcellus on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, as well as mail and wire fraud. The jury’s verdict, reached after a five-day trial, detailed a telemarketing scheme that defrauded dozens of Americans of more than $12 million. United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon presided over the case, marking a significant step in the investigation into cross-border fraud.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Daniel Brubaker, the Inspector in Charge at the United States Postal Inspection Service's New York Division, announced the outcome. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Nocella called attention to the severity of the crime, saying, "The evidence showed that Yveler Marcellus worked closely with a crew based in New York, along with co-conspirators abroad, to perpetrate a sprawling, transnational money laundering and fraud scheme." When sentenced, Marcellus faces a substantial prison sentence of up to 40 years.
The conviction underlines the effort from various agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Nassau County Police Department, whose collaborations were crucial to the case. According to officials, between January 2022 and December 2023, Marcellus, alongside his associates, ran a "tech" scam with roots in India. Victims were contacted by phone and manipulated into sending money orders to several addresses in the Eastern District of New York, as per the press release.
Following the receipt of these funds, Marcellus and his stateside co-conspirators engaged in laundering the proceeds through multiple bank accounts, eventually sending the majority of these ill-gotten gains to their accomplices overseas. The scheme targeted vulnerable individuals, often seniors, who were deceived into believing their financial security was in danger. Inspector in Charge Brubaker highlighted the resolve to protect consumers, stating, "This verdict is another victory for consumers, and sends a strong message to those who use the U.S. Mail to prey on our seniors, you will be brought to justice and pay for your crimes." Already, seven of Marcellus's co-conspirators have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing for their involvement, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case was handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section, with Assistant United States Attorneys Molly Delaney and David Berman leading the prosecution, supported by Paralegal Specialists John Schneider and Erin Payne. According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, efforts to address elder fraud and related schemes are ongoing.
