Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Extortion Ring Broken Up

SAN DIEGO (CN) - Four members of an extortion ring pleaded guilty Tuesday to duping 128 Latino families nationwide by telling them a family member had been kidnapped and demanding ransom, federal prosecutors said.

The defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

They will be sentenced on Oct. 3.

Pleading guilty were Ruth Graciela Raygoza, 63, of Chula Vista; Maria Del Carmen Pulido Contreras, 42, of Los Angeles; Adrian Jovan Rocha, 26; and Jonathan Rocha, 24, both of Tijuana.

They made nearly $200,000 from the scheme, prosecutors said.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...