He stole nearly $1 million from immigrants in food truck fraud scheme, prosecutors say

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Set us as preferred Fernando Jauregui Ochoa had carefully depicted himself on social media as a trustworthy and successful Central California food truck builder.His videos drew dozens of aspiring food truck owners, many of them immigrants like Ochoa, who entrusted him with their life savings in hopes of turning their dreams into a livelihood.But Stanislaus County prosecutors said Ochoa, owner of 8A Food Trucks, turned those dreams into a nearly million-dollar fraud scheme.Instead of building the trucks and trailers he promised, prosecutors said Ochoa used his customers’ money for drugs, vacations and other personal luxuries.

Ochoa was known to flaunt his success on social media, including posts of him riding jet skis and standing by his black Corvette.Some victims suspect he used their money to produce a Mexican corrido that was posted on YouTube.On Friday, prosecutors announced that 30-year-old Ochoa had been convicted of 18 counts of obtaining money by fraud with an allegation that the total fraud exceeded $500,000.

Additionally, he was convicted of one count of witness intimidation and an aggravating factor that he targeted vulnerable victims based on their immigration status, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.Ochoa was also ordered to pay restitution and is scheduled to receive a 20-year prison sentence in October, according to prosecutors.“This case demonstrates the devastating impact fraud can have on unsuspecting victims,” Dist.Atty.

Jeff Laugero said in a written statement.“Instead, he exploited their trust and vulnerabilities and stole from them.”The conviction comes two years after Ochoa was charged following a report by The Times that detailed the plight of his alleged victims.

Many of them had saved money while toiling as farmworkers, cooks, custodians and construction wor...