DOJ charges 5 Mexican cartel bosses in drug trafficking, timeshare fraud schemes that stole over $400M from Americans

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the heads of numerous other federal agencies, announced Wednesday indictments of members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) for drug trafficking, weapons charges and for targeting elderly Americans in sprawling timeshare fraud schemes.The revelation was part of a wider inter-agency news conference Wednesday announcing a sweeping set of enforcement actions targeting the CJNG in Mexico.“These sophisticated organizations use violence and fear to maintain control over the importation of deadly narcotics in the United States, including fentanyl, cocaine, meth, and other illegal drugs.Their actions spread violence and death to our communities,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced during the news conference.“These cartel members have been charged with a range of crimes, including running drug networks, organizing highly trained hitmen responsible for murders and attempted assassinations, procuring weapons, money laundering and deadly drug manufacturing and distribution.

Three of the alleged cartel members were also allegedly committing a sophisticated fraud targeting elderly Americans in an alleged timeshare fraud scheme,” Blanche added.As part of the enforcement, the DOJ’s criminal division brought federal charges against five senior members of the cartel, including drug trafficking and firearms offenses, Assistant Attorney General Tysen Duva said.Duva also provided further details about the fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans.“CJNG targeted Americans who are aspiring to own or already own timeshares in Mexico, many of them elderly, and promised them profits for selling or renting them.

But first, the victims had to pay taxes and advance fees.Of course, the profits never came.

Once someone paid, the fraudsters contacted them again, posing as lawyers or officials who could recover the money for another fee,” Duva explained.“Of course it was fake.The scheme morphed and contin...