SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A man plead guilty Wednesday to mail fraud in connection with a telemarketing scam that targeted the elderly in Dinuba, Woodland, Stockton, and Bakersfield.
Wladimir Rocha, 35, plead guilty to one count of mail fraud. Rocha is a Cape Verde national and resident of Winchester, Virginia.
Court documents state that the scam tricked victims into believing the money they sent to the defendants would be used to pre-pay taxes and fees on winnings from sweepstakes or lotteries.
The US Department of Justice says that Rocha opened different post office boxes in Virginia to receive the money.
Rocha faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
He is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 3. Rocha’s co-defendant Joseph Nkunzi plead guilty on Sept. 2, and is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 19.
Wladimir Rocha, 35, plead guilty to one count of mail fraud. Rocha is a Cape Verde national and resident of Winchester, Virginia.
Court documents state that the scam tricked victims into believing the money they sent to the defendants would be used to pre-pay taxes and fees on winnings from sweepstakes or lotteries.
The US Department of Justice says that Rocha opened different post office boxes in Virginia to receive the money.
Rocha faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
He is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 3. Rocha’s co-defendant Joseph Nkunzi plead guilty on Sept. 2, and is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 19.