In a broad sweep of arrests conducted yesterday, the FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF) took into custody 19 individuals allegedly involved in an international scam network targeting over 500 seniors in the U.S. The arrests are part of an operation involving more than 100 law enforcement personnel. A federal indictment was also unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, implicating 22 people for their supposed roles in schemes aimed at defrauding American seniors through wire and mail fraud and money laundering activities. This information was released by the FBI San Diego.
The indictment alleges that the defendants participated in a three-phase fraud operation, beginning with a tech support scam, followed by a refund scam, and culminating in money laundering of the illicit proceeds. According to court documents, the fraud, emanating from countries like India, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, has been swindling seniors since at least July 2021, with the total losses currently estimated to exceed $40 million. The leaders of the scheme orchestrated the fraud from abroad while enlisting individuals in Southern California to facilitate the money laundering phase.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis underscored the gravity of the situation, asserting, as per FBI San Diego, "Our nation's elderly citizens deserve to be treated with respect, not scammed out of their hard-earned savings by criminals exploiting their trust." He bolstered his statement with a commitment to the aggressive pursuit of fraudsters: "FBI San Diego and our local and federal law enforcement partners will relentlessly investigate those who prey on our senior community and ensure they are held fully accountable." These comments were echoed in an official statement provided by the field office.
Central to the operation was Victor Marion, a San Diego resident, charged with orchestrating the local money laundering cell for the fraudulent network since at least fall 2023. Marion used his business, Mecca Barbershop, as a recruitment hub for co-conspirators within the operation. Court documents reveal that he retained direct communication with the leaders based in India and Dubai, and he played a significant role in steering the laundered funds back to the overseas masterminds. In addition to the arrests, authorities seized several bank accounts associated with the scheme and a BMW vehicle, which had been acquired with victim funds. The assets apprehended in the sting signal the depth and reach of the fraudulent activities that ensnared unsuspecting seniors.
The defendants, if convicted of the charges, face a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison. Enforcement agencies involved in the operation included the FBI, local police, and sheriff’s departments, Homeland Security Investigations, among others. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Goff and Shivanjali Sewak are in charge of prosecuting the defendants. For those with additional information relevant to the investigation, contact details have been provided at [email protected] by the investigation team.
