United States v. FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, Southern District of New York (Feb. 12, 2024) — Complaint
raw: United States v. FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA
United States v. FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 12, 2024)
Federico Hernandez Gamboa faces charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft for orchestrating a sweepstakes lottery scheme in the Southern District of New York.
Federico Hernandez Gamboa is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme involved using fictitious sweepstakes winnings and forged documents to defraud victims and financial institutions. While specific total amounts are tied to $4.3 million in victim losses, the investigation also traced $664,000 directly to his personal bank accounts.
Federico Hernandez Gamboa operated a fraudulent scheme in the Southern District of New York from 2020 through 2023. He conspired to commit wire fraud by using fictitious sweepstakes lottery winnings to induce victims to send funds. Additionally, he engaged in bank fraud by submitting forged and altered documents to financial institutions to obtain assets. The investigation revealed that approximately $4.3 million was defrauded, with $664,000 traced to his personal bank accounts and other funds diverted to his company, FABUCredit Corp. Gamboa also faces aggravated identity theft charges for using the personal information of others to facilitate the fraud. Evidence supporting these charges includes fraudulent loan agreements and personal identification documents recovered from his iCloud account.
Extracted insights
- $11.00M $11,000,000 $10M–$100M
- $11.00M $11,000,000 $10M–$100M
- $8.00M $8,000,000 $1M–$10M
- $4.30M $4.3 million $1M–$10M
- $3.60M $3,600,000 $1M–$10M
- $3.60M $3,600,000 $1M–$10M
- $2.70M $2,700,000 $1M–$10M
- $2.70M $2,700,000 $1M–$10M
- $1.95M $1,950,000 $1M–$10M
- $1.20M $1,200,000 $1M–$10M
- $750K $750,000 $100K–$1M
- $750K $750,000 $100K–$1M
- person Amanda Caitlin Weingarten ×2
- person Federico Hernandez Gamboa ×2
- person Jared Eannucci ×2
- person bank fraud
- organization United States Attorney’s Office For The Southern District Of New York
- scheme_term wire fraud
- Federico Hernandez Gamboa conspired to commit wire fraud
- Federico Hernandez Gamboa conspired to commit bank fraud
- Federico Hernandez Gamboa executed scheme to defraud financial institution
- Jared Eannucci is Special Agent with United States Attorney’s Office
- Amanda Caitlin Weingarten is Assistant United States Attorney
AUSA: AMANDA CAITLIN WEINGARTEN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA,
Defendant.
SEALED COMPLAINT
V
iolations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1028A,
1344, and 1349
COUNTY OF OFFENSE:
NEW YORK
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, ss.:
JARED EANNUCCI, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a Special Agent with
the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and charges as follows:
COUNT ONE
(Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud)
1.From at least in or about August 2020, through at least in or about May 2023, in
the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the
defendant, and others known and unknown, willfully and knowingly combined, conspired,
confederated, and agreed together and with each other to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 1343.
2.It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that FEDERICO HERNANDEZ
GAMBOA, the defendant, and others known and unknown, knowingly having devised and
intending to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud, and for obtaining money and property by
means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, would and did transmit
and cause to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, and television communication in interstate or
foreign commerce, writings, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds for the purpose of executing such
scheme and artifice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, to wit, GAMBOA
agreed to make and cause to be made false statements to victims about fictitious sweepstakes
lottery winnings to induce the victims to send funds to GAMBOA and others known and unknown,
and caused others to send and receive, emails and other electronic communications, to and from
the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, in furtherance of that scheme.
(Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.)
COUNT TWO
(Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud)
3.From at least in or about October 2020, through at least in or about September 2022,
in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the
defendant, and others known and unknown, willfully and knowingly combined, conspired,
2
4 MAG 612
2
confederated, and agreed together and with each other to commit bank fraud, in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 1344.
4. It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that FEDERICO HERNANDEZ
GAMBOA, the defendant, and others known and unknown, knowingly would and did execute,
and attempt to execute, a scheme and artifice to defraud a financial institution, as that term is
defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 20, and to obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets,
securities, and other property owned by, and under the custody and control of, such a financial
institution, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, in violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, to wit, GAMBOA agreed to make and cause to be
made false statements to financial institutions, including by submitting and aiding and abetting the
submission of forged and altered documents, in order to obtain funds under the custody and control
of those financial institutions.
(Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.)
COUNT THREE
(Bank Fraud)
5. From at least in or about October 2020, through at least in or about September 2022,
in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the
defendant, knowingly executed, and attempted to execute, a scheme and artifice to defraud a
financial institution, as that term is defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 20, and to
obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, and other property owned by, and under the
custody and control of, such a financial institution, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses,
representations, and promises, to wit, GAMBOA engaged in a scheme to make false statements to
financial institutions, including by submitting and aiding and abetting the submission of forged
and altered documents, in order to obtain funds under the custody and control of those financial
institutions.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1344 and 2.)
COUNT FOUR
(Aggravated Identity Theft)
6. From at least in or about August 2021, through at least in or about May 2023, in
the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the
defendant, knowingly transferred, possessed, and used, without lawful authority, a means of
identification of another person, during and in relation to a felony violation enumerated in Title
18, United States Code, Section 1028A(c), to wit, GAMBOA possessed and used, and aided and
abetted the possession and use of the names and personally identifiable information of other
persons during and in relation to the bank and wire fraud violations charged in Counts One, Two,
and Three of this Complaint.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2.)
The bases for my knowledge and for the foregoing charges are, in part, as follows:
3
7. I am a Special Agent with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern
District of New York. I have been personally involved in the investigation of this matter. This
affidavit is based upon my investigation, my conversations with law enforcement agents and
others, and my examination of reports and records. Because this affidavit is being submitted for
the limited purpose of establishing probable cause, it does not include all the facts that I have
learned during the course of my investigation. Where the contents of documents and the actions,
statements, and conversations of others are reported herein, they are reported in substance and in
part, except where otherwise indicated.
Overview of the Sweepstakes Lottery Fraud Scheme
8. As set forth below, there is probable cause to believe that FEDERICO
HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant, participated in a conspiracy to induce elderly victims
to send wire transfers to bank accounts that were purportedly controlled by operators of a
sweepstakes lottery (the “Sweepstakes Lottery”), but were in fact controlled by GAMBOA and
other co-conspirators. In connection with the Sweepstakes Lottery scheme (the “Fraud Scheme”),
four victims (“Victims 1-4”) collectively sent approximately $4.3 million in fraud proceeds to bank
accounts that were controlled by GAMBOA or GAMBOA’s co-conspirators, approximately
$664,000 of which were sent directly to bank accounts that were controlled by GAMBOA.
9. As part of the Fraud Scheme, FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the
defendant, and others, induced at least four victims to send wire transfers to “FABUCredit Corp.,”
a company for which GAMBOA is the owner, president, manager, and chief operating officer.
GAMBOA controls the bank accounts associated with FABUCredit Corp. FABUCredit Corp.
once maintained a website that reported that it was a luxury jewelry company and subsequently
claimed to be a vendor for healthcare services. Currently, FABUCredit Corp. maintains no online
presence and does not appear to engage in any legitimate business dealings.
Victim-1
10. As set forth below, from in or about August 2021, up to and including in or about
September 2022, Victim-1, who is 67 years old, was induced to send approximately $465,000 to
bank accounts purportedly controlled by operators of the Sweepstakes Lottery, at least
approximately $265,000 of which Victim-1 sent to FABUCredit Corp. bank accounts that were
controlled by FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant.
11. Based on my participation in at least five interviews of Victim-1 that took place
from on or about November 20, 2022, through on or about October 12, 2023, my review of records
and information provided by Victim-1, as well as my review of law enforcement records, I have
learned the following:
a. In or about August 2021, Victim-1 received a phone call from an individual
who identified herself as an employee of “National Awards & Promotions” (the “NAP
Impersonator”). The NAP Impersonator informed Victim-1 that Victim-1 had won an
approximately $750,000 second-place prize in the Sweepstakes Lottery. The NAP Impersonator
subsequently informed Victim-1 that the first-place prize winner defaulted, and that Victim-1
4
would also receive the first-place prize of approximately $1,200,000 for a total of approximately
$1,950,000.
b. A short time later, Victim-1 received a phone call from an individual who
identified himself as an employee of the United States Department of the Treasury and United
States Department of Commerce (the “Department of Commerce Impersonator”). The Department
of Commerce Impersonator informed Victim-1 that he was tasked with organizing the paperwork
related to Victim-1’s sweepstakes winnings.
c. On or about March 22, 2022, the Department of Commerce Impersonator
emailed Victim-1 informing Victim-1 that Victim-1 needed to wire approximately $7,650 to the
United States Department of Commerce for “identification bond and transportation insurance fees”
associated with Victim-1’s sweepstakes winnings. The Department of Commerce Impersonator
provided Victim-1 with the account details associated with a particular bank account (“Bank
Account-1”).
d. Later that same day, on or about March 22, 2022, Victim-1 followed the
Department of Commerce Impersonator’s directions and initiated a wire transfer in the amount of
approximately $7,650 to Bank Account-1.
e. Based on my review of bank records, on or about March 23, 2022,
approximately $4,455—over half of the money that Victim-1 wired to Bank Account-1—was
wired from Bank Account-1 to a bank account in Costa Rica with a false wire memorandum that
read “Invoice payment for a physical good purchased.”
f. From in or about March 29, 2022, through in or about May 9, 2022, Victim-
1 made three additional wire transfers to Bank Account-1, totaling approximately $124,519.47.
Each of these wire transfers were made at the direction of the Department of Commerce
Impersonator, who told Victim-1 that the payments were necessary fees associated with Victim-
1’s sweepstakes winnings.
g. Immediately after Victim-1 wired to Bank Account-1 each of the three
above mentioned wire transfers, see supra ¶ 11(f), a portion of that money was wired from Bank
Account-1 to a bank account in Costa Rica. The memoranda on the wires falsely represented that
the wire transfers were for “Invoice payment for a physical good purchased” or “Office Expenses.”
h. In or about July 2022, Victim-1 received an email (the “July 2022 Email”)
from an individual who identified himself as the Deputy Director of the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (the “FinCEN Impersonator”).
i. The July 2022 Email included two attachments (“Attachment 1” and
“Attachment 2”): (i) Attachment 1 was a fraudulent invoice in the amount of $265,785 for taxes
associated with Victim-1’s sweepstakes winnings with “FABUCredit Corp[.]” written on the
letterhead, and (ii) Attachment 2 was a FABUCredit Corp. “Account Statement” detailing the four
payments that Victim-1 made to Bank Account-1 along with a pending payment to be made as
detailed in the fraudulent invoice in Attachment 1. Attachment 2 listed “Accurate Finance
Group[;] a Division of FABUCredit Corp[.]” on the letterhead.
5
ii.In the July 2022 Email, the FinCEN Impersonator provided Victim-
1 with the banking information associated with FABUCredit Corp. (“FABUCredit Bank Account-
1”) at a particular bank, (“Bank-1”),
1
and directed Victim-1 to wire the pending $265,785 payment
to FABUCredit Bank Account-1.
i.On or about July 13, 2022, Victim-1 followed the FinCEN Impersonator’s
instructions and initiated a wire transfer for approximately $265,785 to FABUCredit Corp. at
FABUCredit Bank Account-1. For the reasons set forth below, I believe that FEDERICO
HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant, used bank accounts in the name of FABUCredit
Corp.—including FABUCredit Bank Account-1—in furtherance of the Fraud Scheme:
i.On or about March 10, 2023, a Magistrate Judge sitting in this
District authorized a search warrant (the “Warrant”) for the iCloud account used by GAMBOA
(“GAMBOA’s iCloud Account”).
2
ii.Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I
know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained spreadsheets showing a breakdown of Victim-
1’s $265,785 wire transfer, including the transfer of some of those funds into accounts for other
entities that are owned by GAMBOA. As noted above, Victim-1 sent the $265,785 wire transfer
to a FABUCredit Corp. account at FABUCredit Bank Account-1.
iii.Based on my review of records received from Bank-1, and publicly
available information from the Florida Department of State, I know that the account opening
documents associated with FABUCredit Bank Account-1 list GAMBOA’s name, telephone
number, email address, and mailing address.
iv.Based on my review of publicly available Florida state records, I
know that GAMBOA is listed as the president of FABUCredit Corp.
v.Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I
know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained a photograph of a check made out to
FABUCredit Corp.
j.Also on or about July 13, 2022, three wire transfers totaling approximately
$250,000 were sent from FABUCredit Corp. to three separate bank accounts in Costa Rica.
k.In or about September 2022, Victim-1 received a phone call from an
individual who identified himself as the Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (the “SDNY Impersonator”). The SDNY
1
From my review of publicly available materials, as well as my training and experience, I know
that, at all relevant times, the deposits of Banks 1-5, discussed herein, were insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).
2
The phone number associated with FABUCredit Bank Accounts 1-3, discussed herein, is the
same phone number associated with GAMBOA’s iCloud Account, which is subscribed to in the
name “Federico Hernandez.” Moreover, the address associated with GAMBOA’s iCloud Account
is the same address listed in Florida state records for FABUCredit Corp.
6
Impersonator told Victim-1 that he was investigating the Sweepstakes Lottery and informed
Victim-1 that there were outstanding taxes associated with Victim-1’s winnings that needed to be
paid immediately.
l. On or about September 29, 2022, Victim-1 received an email in which the
SDNY Impersonator provided Victim-1 with the account details associated with a particular bank
account (“Bank Account-2”), where the pending payment in the amount of $68,931.16 should be
sent.
m. On or about September 29, 2022, Victim-1 followed the SDNY
Impersonator’s instructions and initiated a wire for $68,931.16 to Bank Account-2.
n. That same day, three wire transfers totaling $63,950 were sent from Bank
Account-2 to three separate bank accounts in Costa Rica.
o. On or about November 17, 2022, Victim-1 received an email from the
FinCEN Impersonator requesting an additional $92,355 for taxes and fees associated with Victim-
1’s sweepstakes winnings. Attached to the email was an account statement showing Victim-1’s
prior wire transfers to Bank Account-1 and FABUCredit Bank Account-1. The letterhead on the
invoice read, “FABUCredit Corp[.;] Accurate Finance Group[;] a division of Raddhaus LLC.” In
the email to Victim-1, the FinCEN Impersonator provided Victim-1 with the account details
associated with a particular bank account (“Bank Account-3”), where the pending payment should
be sent. Victim-1 did not make the requested payment.
p. On or about January 17, 2023, Victim-1 received an email from the
Department of Commerce Impersonator requesting an additional $25,598.63 for taxes associated
with Victim-1’s sweepstakes winnings. In the email to Victim-1, the Department of Commerce
Impersonator provided Victim-1 with the account details associated with a particular bank account
(“Bank Account-4”), where the pending payment should be sent. The Department of Commerce
Impersonator also provided Victim-1 a copy of a forged Department of Commerce identification
card, which misspelled the words “Washington” and “Financial.” Victim-1 did not make the
requested payment.
q. On or about February 13, 2023, Victim-1 received a phone call from an
individual who identified himself as the “Lead Attorney/Special Agent” with the “United States
Attorney’s Office – Western District of Virginia and Texas” (the “WDVA/WDTX Impersonator”).
The WDVA/WDTX Impersonator informed Victim-1 that the SDNY Impersonator had turned
over Victim-1’s case to him. Also on or about February 13, 2023, Victim-1 received an email
from the WDVA/WDTX Impersonator which contained the United States Department of Justice
seal.
7
Victim-2
12. As set forth below, from in or about August 2022, up to and including in or about
September 2022, Victim-2, who is 72 years old, was induced to send approximately $73,800 to
bank accounts purportedly controlled by operators of the Sweepstakes Lottery, nearly all of which
Victim-2 sent to FABUCredit Corp. bank accounts that were controlled by FEDERICO
HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant.
13. Based on my participation in at least three interviews of Victim-2 that took place
from on or about November 10, 2022, through on or about August 28, 2023, my review of records
and information provided by Victim-2, as well as my review of law enforcement records, I have
learned the following:
a. In or about August or September 2022, Victim-2 received a phone call from
an individual who identified herself as an employee of the “Consumer Protection Agency,” (the
“CPA Impersonator”), and an individual who identified herself as an employee of the “Give-A-
Way Sweepstakes” (the “GAW Sweepstakes Impersonator”). During the phone call, the CPA and
GAW Sweepstakes Impersonators informed Victim-2 that Victim-2 won an approximately
$750,000 prize in the Sweepstakes Lottery. The CPA and GAW Sweepstakes Impersonators
instructed Victim-2 to mail a check for approximately $1,800 to a particular name and mailing
address in Texas in order to have a federal bonded trustee issue an insurance policy for the
transaction.
b. On or about September 1, 2022, Victim-2 followed the instructions and
mailed a check in the amount of approximately $1,800 to the address that the CPA and GAW
Sweepstakes Impersonators had provided.
c. A short time later, Victim-2 received a phone call from an individual who
identified himself as an employee of a particular bank (“Bank-2”), (the “Bank-2 Impersonator”).
The Bank-2 Impersonator informed Victim-2 that Victim-2 needed to wire $28,000 to cover the
“State Entry Fee” for the “State of Nevada Gaming Commission.” The Bank-2 Impersonator
provided Victim-2 with account details for FABUCredit Bank Account-1, the banking information
associated with FABUCredit Corp. However, when Victim-2 attempted to wire the money to
FABUCredit Bank Account-1, bank personnel from Bank-1 rejected the transaction. Bank
personnel told Victim-2 that the transaction was rejected due to suspicious activity in FABUCredit
Bank Account-1, namely, the high volume of money moving in and out of FABUCredit Bank
Account-1. Victim-2 relayed that information to the Bank-2 Impersonator, who then instructed
Victim-2 to mail a check to FABUCredit Corp. at its business address in Miami, Florida (the
“Florida Address”).
d. On or about September 7, 2022, Victim-2 complied with the instructions
and mailed a check to FABUCredit Corp. for approximately $28,000 to the Florida Address. This
check was ultimately deposited into a bank account for FABUCredit Corp. (“FABUCredit Bank
Account-2”) at a particular bank, (“Bank-3 ”).
e. Based on my review of records provided by Bank-3, I know that the
following day, on or about September 8, 2022, approximately $28,000, plus an additional $2,000,
8
was transferred out of FABUCredit Bank Account-2 into another bank account, and then into a
cryptocurrency wallet.
i. Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I
know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained an email dated October 29, 2022 from Bank-3
that was addressed to FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant, regarding
FABUCredit Bank Account-2.
f. Shortly after Victim-2 mailed a check for approximately $28,000 to
FABUCredit Corp. at the Florida Address, the GAW Sweepstakes and Bank-2 Impersonators
contacted Victim-2 and instructed Victim-2 to mail another check for approximately $44,000 to
FABUCredit Corp. at the Florida Address for additional fees.
g. On or about September 16, 2022, Victim-2 mailed a check made out to
FABUCredit Corp. for approximately $44,000 to the Florida Address. Based on my review of
data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained a
photograph of this check.
h. Based on my interviews of Victim-2, I know that shortly after Victim-2
mailed a check for approximately $44,000, Victim-2 began to suspect that Victim-2 was a victim
of fraud and contacted Victim-2’s bank to stop the payment. Personnel from Victim-2’s bank
informed Victim-2 that personnel from Bank-1 claimed that a contract was submitted between
Victim-2 and FABUCredit Corp. to substantiate Victim-2’s $44,000 check to FABUCredit Corp.
that was to be deposited into FABUCredit Bank Account-1. Victim-2 informed me that Victim-2
never signed any type of contract with FABUCredit Corp. As set forth below, it appears that
GAMBOA submitted or assisted in the submission of this fraudulent contract to Bank-1:
i. Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I
know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained a photograph of the online banking profile for
FABUCredit Bank Account-1 reflecting a $44,000 hold in or about September 2022.
ii. GAMBOA’s iCloud Account also contained a purported “Loan
Agreement” between Victim-2 and FABUCredit Corp. dated April 15, 2022 (“Loan Agreement-
1”), which, for the reasons noted below, I believe to be fraudulent. The notary public stamp on
Loan Agreement-1 is from Florida and dated May 22, 2018—approximately four years prior to
the date of Loan Agreement-1. The notary public stamp also appears to be identical to the May
22, 2018 notary public stamp on a Power of Attorney document, possessed by GAMBOA’s
lawyers, between FABUCredit Corp. and another victim (“Victim-4”), discussed below, see infra
¶ 17(e). Based on my review of travel records for GAMBOA, I know that GAMBOA was not in
the United States on or about April 15, 2022, or on or about May 22, 2018 (i.e., on the dates that
these two agreements were purportedly executed).
1. Loan Agreement-1 purports to contain the initials and
signature of Victim-2. However, when shown Loan Agreement-1, Victim-2 confirmed that
Victim-2 had never seen Loan Agreement-1 before and never signed or initialed it.
9
2. Based on my review of documents provided by Bank-1, I
know that Bank-1 obtained Loan Agreement-1 from members of the Fraud Scheme, which was
submitted to Bank-1 to substantiate the $44,000 check deposit from Victim-2.
i. Based on my review of records provided by Bank-1, I know that on or about
September 20, 2022, Victim-2’s check in the approximate amount of $44,000 was deposited into
FABUCredit Bank Account-1 at Bank-1, and that on or about September 23, 2022, approximately
$43,000 was transferred out of FABUCredit Bank Account-1 into another bank account, and then
into a cryptocurrency wallet.
i. Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I
know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained a photograph of Victim-2’s $44,000 check to
FABUCredit Corp., and a photograph of a deposit ticket from FABUCredit Bank Account-1 dated
September 22, 2022, in the amount of $44,000. GAMBOA’s iCloud Account also contained a
contacts list that includes Victim-2’s name and a phone number that is linked to Victim-2 based
on publicly available information but which Victim-2 confirmed has never been associated with
Victim-2.
Victim-3
14. As set forth below, from in or about July 2022, up to and including in or about May
2023, Victim-3, who is 66 years old, was induced to send approximately $3,600,000 to bank
accounts purportedly controlled by operators of the Sweepstakes Lottery, at least approximately
$77,600 of which Victim-3 sent to FABUCredit Corp. bank accounts that were controlled by
FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant.
15. Based on my participation in at least two interviews of Victim-3 that took place
from on or about June 30, 2023, through on or about August 28, 2023, my review of records and
information provided by Victim-3, as well as my review of law enforcement records, I have learned
the following:
a. In or about July 2022, Victim-3 received a phone call from the GAW
Sweepstakes Impersonator who informed Victim-3 that Victim-3 had won an approximately
$8,000,000 prize in the Sweepstakes Lottery.
b. From in or about July 2022, through in or about December 2022, the GAW
Sweepstakes Impersonator and other individuals that purported to work for the Sweepstakes
Lottery, induced Victim-3 to send wires totaling approximately $3,600,000 for purported taxes
and fees associated with Victim-3’s lottery winnings.
c. For example, on or about July 15, 2021 and July 21, 2021, Victim-3 sent
two wire transfers totalling approximately $77,600 to FABUCredit Bank Account-2, the bank
account for FABUCredit Corp. at Bank-3. Based on my participation in this investigation, my
review of publicly available documents, and my review of documents from Bank-3, I know that
both wire transfers were interstate wire transfers and passed through a bank with an address in
New York, New York.
10
d. In or about May 2023, at the direction of the GAW Sweepstakes
Impersonator, Victim-3 emailed a copy of Victim-3’s driver’s license to an email address provided
by the GAW Sweepstakes Impersonator.
i. Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I
know that GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained at least four photographs of driver’s licenses
that contain Victim-3’s personal identifying information, but that contain photographs of four
different individuals, none of which depict Victim-3. GAMBOA’s iCloud Account also contained
photographs of a U.S. passport and Massachusetts identification card that contain Victim-3’s
photograph and personal identifying information.
ii. GAMBOA’s iCloud Account also contained screenshots of a text
message conversation that included wire transfer information for one of the wire transfers that
Victim-3 sent.
iii. GAMBOA’s iCloud Account also contained a document depicting
a wire transfer that Victim-3 sent to a co-conspirator in the Fraud Scheme. The document depicts
Victim-3’s outgoing wire transfer into a particular bank (“Bank-4”).
Victim-4
16. As set forth below, from in or about October 2020, up to and including in or about
November 2021, Victim-4, who passed away on or about August 19, 2022 at the age of 102, was
induced to send approximately $250,000 to FABUCredit Corp. bank accounts that were controlled
by FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant.
17. Based on my participation in at least three interviews of a relative of Victim-4 (the
“Nephew”) that took place from on or about June 29, 2023, through on or about October 13, 2023,
my review of records and information provided by the Nephew, as well as my review of law
enforcement records, I have learned the following:
a. In or about the spring or summer of 2020, Victim-4 was contacted by an
individual who identified himself as an employee of the United States Department of the Treasury
(the “Department of the Treasury Impersonator”). The Department of the Treasury Impersonator
told Victim-4 that Victim-4 won approximately $11,000,000 from the Sweepstakes Lottery and
was entitled to an additional $2,700,000 from “State Bridge Insurance.” The Department of the
Treasury Impersonator sent Victim-4 a document that purported to be a contract in which Victim-
4 was to receive $11,000,000 from the Sweepstakes Lottery and $2,700,000 from State Bridge
Insurance, in exchange for paying approximately $20,000 for an “indemnity bond” for finalization
of payment proceeds from the Sweepstakes Lottery. Thereafter, at the direction of the Department
of the Treasury Impersonator, Victim-4 sent a cashier’s check dated August 14, 2020, in the
amount of $250,000 to a FABUCredit Corp. bank account, (“FABUCredit Bank Account-3”) at a
particular bank (“Bank-5 ”).
b. On or about August 15, 2020, Victim-4’s check was deposited into
FABUCredit Bank Account-3 at Bank-5. By on or about August 26, 2020, the money was
withdrawn via seven separate wire transfers.
11
c. In or about the fall of 2021, the real and legitimate United States Department
of the Treasury opened an investigation into the Fraud Scheme and contacted Victim-4. On or
about November 19, 2021, Victim-4 emailed a Special Agent with the Department of the Treasury
and informed him that the Department of the Treasury Impersonator asked Victim-4 to loan
approximately $250,000 to FABUCredit Corp. for “expansion purposes.”
d. Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I know that
GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained a photograph of a cashier’s check dated August 14, 2020,
from Victim-4 in the amount of approximately $250,000 made out to FABUCredit Corp.
GAMBOA’s iCloud Account also contained a loan agreement dated June 2, 2021, between
FABUCredit Corp. and Victim-4 for a loan in the amount of approximately $250,000 (“Loan
Agreement-2”).
i. On or about October 13, 2023, when I showed the Nephew Loan
Agreement-2, the Nephew informed me that Loan Agreement-2 did not look familiar to him.
e. Based on my review of documents I obtained from the Nephew, I know that
on or about January 16, 2021, the Nephew sent the then-lawyers of FEDERICO HERNANDEZ
GAMBOA, the defendant, a legitimate Power of Attorney document that Victim-4 signed on or
about July 31, 2017. The notary stamp on the Power of Attorney document is dated May 22, 2018
and is identical to the notary stamp on Loan Agreement-1, which is dated April 15, 2022—
approximately four years after the date of the notary stamp.
f. Based on my interviews of the Nephew, I know that in or about October
2020, Victim-4 and the Nephew informed Victim-4’s bank that the $250,000 cashier’s check was
sent to FABUCredit Corp. under fraudulent pretenses. As a result, Bank-5 froze FABUCredit
Bank Account-3.
g. Based on my review of data obtained pursuant to the Warrant, I know that
GAMBOA’s iCloud Account contained emails between GAMBOA and bank personnel at Bank-
5 dated October 26, 2020, in which GAMBOA describes Victim-4 as an investor that he met
through his attorneys.
12
WHEREFORE, the deponent respectfully requests that a warrant be issued for the arrest of
FEDERICO HERNANDEZ GAMBOA, the defendant, and that he be arrested, and imprisoned or
bailed, as the case may be.
___________________________
J
ARED EANNUCCI
Special Agent
United States Attorney’s Office for the
Southern District of New York
Sw
orn to before me on
February ___, 2024 by reliable electronic means,
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 4.1
_____________________________________
TH
E HONORABLE BARBARA MOSES
United States Magistrate Judge
Southern District of New York
9
s/ Jared Eannucci by the Court with permission