Five Sentenced in $3.5 Million Credit Card and Money Laundering Scheme
Five individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a $3.5 million credit card fraud and money laundering operation in South Florida. The sentences, handed down by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, range from 36 to 132 months.
The Sentences
The following sentences were issued on Tuesday, March 10, 2026:
- Willan Pupo, 38, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in federal prison.
- Joel Castillo, 39, was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison.
- William Castillo, 42, was sentenced to 55 months in federal prison.
- Miriam Pupo, 36, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison.
- Jessica Forpomes, 40, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison.
The Scheme
The group carried out a scheme involving more than $3.5 million in fraudulent credit card charges between February 2023 and June 2024. They utilized legitimate businesses and shell companies to acquire point-of-sale (POS) devices, which were then used to process unauthorized transactions [NBC 6 South Florida].
The fraudulent activities included:
- Using credit cards belonging to associates to make fake purchases and then disputing the charges for refunds.
- Purchasing stolen credit card numbers through the dark web and encrypted messaging apps, such as Telegram.
- Using stolen credit cards obtained through mail theft.
EIDL Fraud and Restitution
Willan Pupo and Joel Castillo as well admitted to fraudulently obtaining Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through shell companies, receiving over $650,000 in proceeds [U.S. Department of Justice].
Joel and William Castillo have already paid over $800,000 towards restitution [Caribbean National Weekly].
Investigation and Arrest
The pair, Willan Pupo and Joel Castillo, were initially arrested in July 2024 during a raid conducted by the U.S. Secret Service at a Pembroke Pines home.