Fifth Defendant Sentenced to Prison for Sophisticated International Cellphone Fraud Scheme

A former West Palm Beach, Florida resident who was extradited to the United States from the Dominican Republic was sentenced to 65 months in prison today for multiple criminal charges in connection with a sophisticated global cell phone fraud scheme that involved compromising cellphone customers’ accounts and “cloning” their phones to make fraudulent international calls.

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division,  and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.

            Braulio De la Cruz Vasquez, 54, pleaded guilty earlier to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, the use, production or possession of modified telecommunications instruments, and the use or possession of hardware or software configured to obtain telecommunications services.  De la Cruz also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida.

            According to the plea agreement, De le Cruz and his co-conspirators participated in a scheme to steal access to existing cell phone accounts, and fraudulently open new cellphone accounts, using the personal information of individuals around the United States.

            De la Cruz admitted that his role in the scheme included operating a “call site” from his residence in West Palm Beach.  He admitted that he would receive telecommunication identifying information associated with customers’ accounts from his co-conspirators and use that data, as well as other software and hardware, to reprogram cellphones that he controlled.  According to the plea agreement, De la Cruz’s co-conspirators would then transmit thousands of international calls over the internet to De la Cruz’s residence, where he would route them through the re-programmed cellphones to Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and other countries with high calling rates.  The calls were billed to the customers’ compromised accounts.

In addition, De la Cruz admitted that from March 2011 through April 2013, co‑conspirators sent him more than 700 emails containing approximately 2,158 telecommunications identifying numbers associated with cellphone account holders around the United States.  He also admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he received tens of thousands of dollars from at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) company for fraudulently routing international calls through his call center.

De la Cruz is a citizen of the Dominican Republic.  He was arrested in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States and then, in August 2018, extradited to Miami, where he is currently in custody.

De la Cruz is the fifth defendant to be sentenced in the case.  Previously, defendants Edwin Fana, Farintong Calderon, Jose Santana, and Ramon Batista pleaded guilty to similar charges and have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 36 months to 75 months.

The FBI investigated the case, dubbed Operation Toll Free, which is part of the FBI’s ongoing effort to combat large-scale telecommunications fraud.  The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition in this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared M. Strauss of the Southern District of Florida and Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

Indianapolis man convicted of Sex trafficking of a minor

Indianapolis - United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that Elijah Vines, 27, was convicted on January 28, 2019 following a trial by jury for charges involving the sex trafficking of a minor child, transportation of that child across state lines for the purpose of trafficking her, as well as involvement in an organization that promoted the prostitution of other women. Vines is a lifetime resident of Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Vines coerced a vulnerable minor child into performing sex acts for money. In short, he profited through the exploitation of a child,” said United States Attorney Minkler. “Holding this predator and others like him responsible took stalwart determination and cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement. But it also involved community citizens standing up and proactively holding the line on behalf of our children. We cannot do it alone, and this case demonstrates again the resolve and fortitude of American citizens.”

In April 2018, the Justice Department seized Backpage.com and shutdown the website, which had become well known to law enforcement as a website that advertised commercial sex.

According to the criminal complaint, Elijah Vines trafficked Minor Victim 1 in Indianapolis motels in September 2016 after transporting her from Ohio to Indiana. Evidence at trial revealed that Vines took suggestive photographs of the child in clothing that he purchased for her. Vines used his account on Backpage.com to post advertisements for the child, offering her for sale. Vines’s iCloud account showed the emailed responses by a number of men who sought to have sexual contact with the child in exchange for money.

The case came to the attention of law enforcement when the child was recovered on October 6, 2016 and treated at Riley Hospital for Children. This case was a joint investigation involving the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Vice and Human Trafficking Unit as well as the FBI. The Indiana State Police provided computer forensics assistance, and Dr. Tara Harris of Riley Hospital for Children testified as an expert in Child Abuse Pediatrics.

“Human Trafficking is about money, plain and simple. Mr. Vines preyed upon a vulnerable child and used her as a commodity to fulfill his own greed. It is one of our fundamental responsibilities to protect the most vulnerable in our society and we are pleased that justice was served for this victim,” said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “The FBI is proud of the work our agents and our law enforcement partners conduct each and every day to protect the children of our communities.”

“Keeping Indianapolis residents safe means building strong connections in our neighborhoods and removing the most dangerous offenders from our community. And that’s exactly what the men and women of IMPD who serve our city each day remain focused on,” said IMPD Chief Bryan Roach. “When our resources are coordinated along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners through collaborative efforts like this investigation, the Indianapolis community benefits.”

“Sex trafficking continues to be a crime in our community, often victimizing young people lured into a dangerous life under someone else’s control. The intentional and vigorous prosecution of traffickers in our state and federal courts is intended to send a clear message that we will not tolerate this crime,” Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry added. “Increasing education and public awareness are critical components in fulfilling our shared commitment to restore safety for sex trafficking victims and seek justice on their behalf.”

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Kristina M. Korobov and Lawrence Hilton, who prosecuted this case for the government, Vines faces up to a lifetime of imprisonment.

                             In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with law enforcement agencies to prosecute individuals engaged in the sexual exploitation of children. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section

FBI Responding to Hazardous Material Found in Lawton Residence

The FBI is responding alongside federal, state, and local partners to a residence in Lawton, Oklahoma that may contain hazardous material.

Following the execution of a narcotics arrest warrant, conducted by Lawton Police Department, materials were found inside the residence with an indication of hazardous properties.

The subject of the arrest warrant is currently in custody.

Assisting agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Oklahoma National Guard, Lawton Police Department, Lawton Fire Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Comanche County Office of Emergency Management.

Law enforcement has established a safe perimeter at the location and asks that all individuals stay away from the area.

As this is an ongoing matter, no further information or specific details will be released at this time.