Woman Arrested for Alleged Fake ICE Kidnapping Scheme in Los Angeles

A Mexican woman residing illegally in Los Angeles has been charged with masterminding a fake kidnapping involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to elicit public sympathy and raise donations. The announcement was made by the Justice Department on Thursday.

Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, who previously lived in South Los Angeles, faces charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal authorities, according to the DOJ’s report.

Calderon had been in the United States under a federal law enforcement parole, which had expired earlier this year. She is now in federal custody due to her alleged role in fabricating the kidnapping.

This incident follows a news conference organized by Calderon’s family and lawyers that claimed she had been abducted on June 25 by men in unmarked vehicles wearing uniforms. Local news outlet KTLA reported details about the emotional plea made on her behalf.

Claims of Violent Abduction

During the news conference, a purported attorney named Stephano Medina claimed that Calderon was intercepted in a Jack in the Box parking lot by unidentified individuals who may have been bounty hunters. According to Medina, Calderon was subsequently taken to the border and presented to an ICE official, who pressured her to sign self-deportation forms.

According to the attorney’s assertions, Calderon was confined to a warehouse until she ultimately agreed to sign the documents.

The Investigation Unfolds

Fox News Digital has acquired a copy of the criminal complaint filed against Calderon in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. An affidavit submitted with this complaint alleges that Calderon, along with accomplices, plotted a hoax kidnapping to benefit themselves financially.

As part of the scheme, Calderon’s daughter established a GoFundMe page, seeking $4,500 claiming that her mother had been taken by masked men in an unmarked vehicle.

In the aftermath of the reported kidnapping, the daughter also lodged a missing person report with the Los Angeles Police Department, which subsequently informed Homeland Security Investigations about Calderon’s allegedly perilous situation.

Unraveling the Deception

After receiving the report, HSI determined that Calderon was not under the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. With concerns for her safety, the agency initiated a thorough investigation to locate her, which revealed multiple inconsistencies. Notably, it was discovered that calls made to her family, claiming she was using borrowed phones, were actually made from her own cell phone, masked to appear as unknown numbers.

Another significant piece of evidence came from video surveillance footage that showed Calderon calmly departing the Jack in the Box parking lot and entering a nearby car. Notably, despite the presence of a marked LAPD vehicle, there was no indication that she attempted to alert law enforcement to her supposed abduction.

The affidavit states that when confronted with information that contradicted their kidnapping narrative, Calderon and her associates lied to federal agents in an effort to obstruct the investigation.

Tracking Down the Alleged Victim

HSI agents eventually located Calderon on July 5 in a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield, California. Throughout their interactions, Calderon maintained that she had been forcibly taken by masked men and detained alongside others.

Currently, she is in U.S. immigration custody, facing a possible maximum sentence of five years for conspiracy and an additional five years for making false statements if convicted.

Authorities Respond to the Case

U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, expressed gratitude to HSI agents and federal officers for their professionalism amid growing tensions. Essayli noted that the harmful narrative suggesting that ICE agents are involved in kidnapping illegal immigrants is dangerously propagated by certain politicians and echoed in the media.

He emphasized that this rhetoric serves to undermine the hard work of federal agents who are dedicated to protecting the community.

The Broader Implications

HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge, Eddy Wang, expressed dismay over the resources expended on the fraudulent kidnapping investigation, which ultimately turned out to be a hoax. He remarked that diverting critical law enforcement resources in such a manner is both reckless and irresponsible.

Wang further stated that such fraud puts the community at greater risk by diverting attention from serious issues, such as drug trafficking and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

He reassured the public that HSI and its law enforcement partners will thoroughly investigate any claims of criminal activity, and those engaging in fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This case shines a light on the complexities surrounding immigration enforcement and the lengths some individuals may go to in seeking aid and sympathy. As the investigation continues, it calls into question the nuances of public narratives regarding immigration and the law enforcement practices designed to address them.