MIAMI — Ernesto Ortega Padgett, a Nicaraguan national who was previously residing in Miami, Florida and was deported from the United States in January 2020, made his initial appearance in a federal court in Miami on June 16. Ortega, a fugitive wanted in the United States, Spain and Panama, was extradited from Madrid, Spain, to Miami to face federal charges related to an international wire fraud, extortion and money laundering conspiracy that resulted in more than $29 million in losses to victims located across the United States.
Ortega, 41, is charged in a 27-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Feb. 2, 2023. The charges include:
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud,
Wire Fraud,
Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Extortion,
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering,
Making a Communication in Interstate Commerce Containing a Threat to Injure,
Engaging in Transactions Involving Criminally Derived Property, and
Conspiracy to Transport Stolen Property.
According to the indictment, Ortega’s criminal scheme began in 2020 and targeted businesses across the United States. Ortega and his co-conspirators posed as bank representatives and used a combination of technology and social engineering to deceive victims into providing sensitive account information. Ortega and his co-conspirators then used that information to access victims’ bank accounts and initiate unauthorized wire transfers.
Ortega relied on an international network of money launderers to receive the stolen funds, withdraw them in cash, and forward the proceeds to accounts directly under Ortega’s control, often in the form of cryptocurrency. During commission of the scheme, Ortega and his co-conspirators used extortion, threatened force, and fear of injury to compel some money launderers to take part in the scheme.
Ortega conducted the scheme spanning multiple countries and continents, which resulted in losses exceeding $29 million.
Ortega had also been charged in Spain for related criminal conduct before fleeing that jurisdiction, as well as having pending charges in Panama. He remained a fugitive for nearly a year, with active warrants in all three countries. In December 2023, law enforcement received intelligence that Ortega would be traveling to Paris, France, for Christmas. Law enforcement subsequently intercepted Ortega, who was apprehended at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris. Ortega was then extradited back to Madrid pursuant to a European Union fugitive warrant, where he remained until extradited to the United States on June 13, pursuant to an indictment issued by the Southern District of Florida.
If convicted, Ortega faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge, up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge, up to 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act charge, up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit money laundering charge, up to 20 years in prison on the making a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure charge, up to 10 years in prison for the engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property charge, and up to five years in prison for the conspiracy to transport stolen property. Each count also carries the possibility of a fine and supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jason Scalzo of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Electronic Crimes Unit and Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FDIC-OIG and the USSS are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Ortega’s arrest and extradition. The United States also thanks the Government of Spain, French authorities, the USSS Madrid Resident Office, and the USSS Paris Field Office for their valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Moore and Michael Brenner of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
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