UM TEP STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTIIXRN DISTRICT OF FLURIDA

CA SE N O .

18 U.S.C. j 1349

18 U.S.C. j 981(a)(1)(O

UNITED STATES OF AM ERICA,

VS.

LUISENY QW RENDON CARDENA#,

D efendant.

/

INFORM ATION

The United Sutes Attorney alleges that:

GENERAL R LEGATIONS

At various times relevant to this Information:

1. LUIS tNRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS (tEREXDOX'') was a resident of

Harbor City, Caltf' ornia.

LUIS ENRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS owned and operated International

Latin Market C1LM '') âom his home in Hatbor City, California.

œ ough ILM, LUJS ENRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS miintained payment

and shipping operations for Penwian call centers that placed telephone calls to Spanish-spenking

residents, or ttcustomers'' in the United States; provided Pertwian call centers with lists of Spnnishspenking consllm eit atld call scripts; and processed payments from the Southem District of

Flodda, and elsewhere:

22-20507-CR-SEITZ/REID

Oct 27, 2022

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 1 of 10

MM
COUNT 1

Conspiracy toCom m itM ailandW ireFraud

(18U.S.C.j1349)

Paragraphs1through 3 oftheGeneralAllegationssection ofthislnform ation are

reallegedandincorporatedbyreferenceasthoughfully setforthherein.

From atleastasearly asin oraround2011,untilin oraroundN ovember2017,in

M inmi-DadeCotmty,intheSouthem DistrictofFlorida,andelsewhere,thedefendant,

LUISENW QUE RENDON CARDENAS

didwillfuly,thatis,withtheintenttofurthertheobjectsoftheconspiracy,andknowingly

com bine,conspire,confederateand agreewith others,lcnown andllnknown totheUnited States

Attorney,to com m itcertainoffensesagainsttheUnited States,thatis:

a. toknowingly andwith intentto defrauddeviseand intendtodeviseaschem eand

adificetodefraud,andtoobtainm oney andpropertybym eansofm ateriallyfalseandfraudulent

pretenses,representations,andprom ises,knowingthattheywerefalseandfraudulentwhenm ade,

and forthe purpose ofexecuting such schem e and artifice,knowingly caused to be delivered

certain m ailmatterby theUnited StatesPostalSelwiceandbyprivateand comm ercialinterstate

carrier,according to the directionsthereon,in violation ofTitle18,Urlited StatesCode,Section

1341;and

b.

artificeto defraud,andtoobtainmoney andpropertybym eansofm ateriallyfalseandfraudulent

pretenses,representations,andprom ises,knowingthattheywerefalseandfraudulentwhenm ade,

to knowingly andwithintentto deâaud deviseandintendto deviseaschem eand

andforthepup oseofexecutingsuchschem eandartifice,didtransmitandcausetobetransm itted,

by m eansofwire com municationsin interstate and foreign comm erce,certain m itings,signs,

signals,pictures,andsounds,inviolationofTitle18,United StatesCode,Section 1343.

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 2 of 10
PURPOSE OF THE CON SPIM CY

Itwasthepurposeofthe conspiracy forthedefendr talldllisco-conspiratorsto

unlawfully emichthem selves,andothers,by obtainingm oneyfzom Spanish-speakingconsllm ers

in theUnited Statesby m eansofmaterially falseandfraudulentstatementsand representations

concerning,am ong othertllings,the consequenceofthevictim s'failureto receive and pay for

delivezy ofproducts,theconspirators'abilitytolevyfinesandbringlawsuitsforfailtzretoreceive

delivery ofproducts,and theconsequencesofconsum ers'failureto pay to settlethethreatened

finesandlawsuits.

M ANNER AND M EANS OF TH E CONSPIM CY

The manner and m eans by which the defendantand his co-conspirators soughtto

accomplishthepurposeoftheconspiracy included,am ongothers,thefollowing:

4. LUIS ENRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS obtained listscontainingthenames

andcontactinfonnation ofSpnnish-spenkingconstlm ersintheUnited States,whoweretypically

recentimm igrantsfrom M exico and CentralAm erica. RENDON provided theliststo hiscor

conspiratorsatPertzvian callcenters.

5. LUIS ENRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS and llis co-conspirators targeted

individualswho recently em igrated f'rom M exico and CentralAmerica becausethey perceived

thoseindividualstobeparticularlyvulnerableandm orelikelytobesusceptibletotheirâaudulent

schem e.

6. Attimes,LUISENRIQUERENDON CARDENASemailedcallscriptstohiscoconspiratorsinPenzviainterstateandforeignwires.Forexample,onesuch scriptem ailedfrom

RENDON to his co-conspirators in Peru directed the co-conspirator callers to falsely and

fraudulently inform the victim sthatthey had won atabletpre-loaded with English language

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 3 of 10
leam ing softwarefrom a(çl-lispanicHelpCenter.''Thescriptsinstructedco-conspiratorcallersto

collectidentifyinginform ation ofvictim s,includingtheircountryoforigin,theireducation level,

and their profession in order for m embers of the conspiracy to assess victim s'perceived

susceptibilitytothef'raudulentscheme.

LUIS ENRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS'callcenterco-conspiratorsin Penz

usedthelistsofrecentimmigrantsand thecallscriptsthatREND ON providedtothem toplace

tmsolicitedtelephonecallstoconsum ersintheSouthernDistrictofFloridaandelsewhere.Onthe

calls,RENDON 'Sco-conspiratorsfalselyandfraudulently identifiedthem selvesas,among other

things,representativesofSpanishlanguagetelevisionchannelsoraGçl-lelpCenter''andfalselyand

fraudulently prom ised to provide free or discotmted English language learning products and

computertablets.

8. LUISENRIQUERENDON CARDENAS'callcenterco-conspiratorsfalselyand

fraudulently m adeadditionalcallsto the victim s. On these calls,RENDON 'Sco-conspirators

fraudulentlytoldthevictim sthattheyhadtom akelargepaym entstoreceivethesupposedly free

or discotmted products. RENDON'S co-conspirators posed as attorneys and falsely and

fraudulently claim edthatvictim shad, entered intocontractstoreceiveand pay forthe supposed

freeproductsandw erelegallyrequifedtocomplywithcontractualobligationstopayhundredsof

dollars.

9. Other times, LUIS ENRIQUE RENDON CARDENAS' call center coconspiratorsclaimedthatthevictimsowed moneybecausethey failedtopayfortheproductsthat

theyhadpreviouslyagreedtoplzrchaseandreceive,andtherefore,thevictim swereliableforcosts

such as storage fees and fines. W hen victim s refused to comply with the false dem ands,

REND ON 'Scallcenterco-conspiratorsfalsely andfraudulently tk eatenedvictim swithnegative

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 4 of 10
m azksontheircreditrecord,courtproceedings,crim inalpenalties,andim migrationconsequences

untilthevictimsrelentedandpaid.Inreality,therewerenocontracts,noattorneys,andnostorage

fees,andvictim sdidnotfaceany ofthethreatenedconsequences.

LUISENRIQUE RENDON CARDENASprocessedpaymentsfrom thevictims

andcausedm ailingstobesentbyprivateorcomm ercialinterstatecaniertovictim sintheSouthern

District of Florida and elsewhere. After processing these payments,RENDON distributed

proceedstohisco-conspiratorsinPenzandkeptaportionforhim self.

To fraudulently induce Spanish-spealdng consllmers to pay m oney, LUIS

ENRIQUERENDON CARDENASmade,andcausedotherstomake,materiallyfalsestatements

including,nm ongotherthings,thefollowing'.

M ateriallvFalseStatem ents

a.

b.

Thatcertainvictimsqualifedforandwereselectedtoreceiveafreeprize;

Thatthecallerswerecallingonbehalfofthettl-lispanicHelpCenter,''social

workers, consllm er product companies, large retailers, and shipping

compnnies;

Thatvictimshadagreedtopay forproducts,butfailedtodoso;

That victims had agreed to pay for and receive delivery of product

shipm entsbutfailedtodoso;

Thatthe victim s'failtlre to receive and pay forproductshipm entshad

d.

resultedincostsandfees;

ThatcallerswereattorneysandwereassodatedwithU.S.entities,including

FedEx;and

f.

g. Thatvictim swho failed to makepaym entscould facenegativemarkson

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 5 of 10
theircreditrecords,courtproceedings,im m igrationconsequences,criminal

charges,andimprisonm ent.

AllinviolationofTitle18,United StatesCode,Section 1349.

FORFEITURE

(18U.S.C.jj981(a)(1)(C)and982(a)(8)

TheallegationsofthisInform ation m'erealleged andincorporated by referenceas

though ftzlly setforth herein forthepurposeofallegingforfeitureto theUnited Statesofcertain

propertyinwlaichoneorm oreofthedefendantshasan interest.

2. Upon conviction ofTitle 18,United StatesCode,Section 1349,asalleged in this

lnformation,the defendantsso convicted shallforfeitto theUnited Statesal1property,realor

personal,whichconstitutes,orisderivedfrom ,proceedstraceabletosuch violation,ptzrsuantto

Title18,UzlitedStatesCode,Section981(a)(1)(C).

4

Iftheproperty subjecttoforfeiture,asaresultofanyactoromissionofthe

defendant:

cannotbelocatedupontheexerciseofduediligence;

hasbeentransferredorsoldto,ordepositedwithathirdparty;

hasbeenplacedbeyondthejuzisdictionoftheCourt;

hasbeen substantially diminishedinvalue;or

b.

hasbeen com mingled with otherproperty,wlnich cnnnotbe subdivided

withoutdifficulty;

theUrlitedStatesshallbeentitledtoforfeim reofsubsti'tutepropertypursuanttoTitle21,United

StatesCode,Section853419.

Al1pursuanttoTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section981(a)(1)(C),Title18,UnitedStates

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 6 of 10
Code,Section982(a)(8),andtheproceduressetforthatTitle21,UnitedStatesCode,Section853,

m adeapplicablebyTitle28,United StatesCode,Section2461andTitle18,Ulited StatesCode,

Section982(b).

. R ,u Tsxoxs'rToAIEosGAowxzovuxsszv

GUSTAV W .EYLER

DIRECTOR

U.S.DEPARTM ENT OF JUSTICE

CON SU PROTECTION BRANCH

' kjqhç'

PHILI . OOM AJIAN

SENIOR TRIAL ATTORN EY

M AX GOLDM AN

TRIAI,ATTORNEY

U.S.DEPARTM ENT OFJUSTICE

CONSUX R PROTECTION BRANCH

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 7 of 10
UNITED STATESDISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

UNITED STATES OF AM ERICA CASE NO.:

V.

LUISENRIQIJERENDON CARDENAS,

/

Defendant.

CourtDivision(selectone)

IZIMiami L KeyW est L FTP

L'FTL EIW?B

1doherebycertifythat:

1. 1have carefully consideredtheallegationsoftheindictm ent,thenumberofdefendants,thenumberofprobable

w im essesandthelegalcom plexitiesofthelndictment/lnform ationattachedhereto.

CERTIFICATE O F TRIAL ATTORNEY*

SupersedingCaselnform ation:

New Defendantts)(YesorNo)

NumberofNew Defendants

TotalnumberofNew Counts

lam awarethattheinformationsupjliedonthisstatementwilberelieduponbytheJudgesofthisCourtinsetling

theircalendarsandschedulingcrimlnaltrialsunderthemandateoftheSpeedyTrialAct,Title28U.S.C.j3161.

lnterpreter:(YesorNo)Yes

Listlanguageancl/ordialect:Spanish

4. Thiscasewilltake 0 daysforthepaliestotry.

Pleasecheckappropriatecategoryandtypeofoffenselistedbelow:

(Checkonlyone) (Checkonlyone)

I Z 0to 5days r Petty

11 IZI6to10days E-TM inor

III L 11to20days jD M isdemeanor

IV E71to60days z Felony

V L'61daysandover

HasthiscasebeenpreviouslyfiledinthisDistrictCoul't?(YesorNo)No

lfyes,Judge CaseNo.

Hasacomplaintbeenfiledinthismatter?(YesorNo)No

Ifyes,M agistrateCaseNo.

8. DoesthiscaserelatetoapreviouslytsledmatterinthisDistrictCourt?(YesorNo)Yes

lfyes,Judge Scola CaseNo.18-CR-20506

9. Defendantts)infederalcustodyasof

10. Defendants)instatecustodyasof

11. Rule20from the Districtof

12. Isthisapotentialdeathpenaltycase?(YesorNo)No

13. Doesthiscaseoriginatefrom amatterpendingintheNorthernRegionoftheU.S.Attorney'sOffice

priortoAugust8,2014(M ag.JudgeShaniekM aynard?(YesorNo)No

Doesthiscaseoriginatefrom amatterpendingintheCentralRegionoftheU.S.Attorney'sOffice

priortoOctober3,2019(M ag.JudgeJaredStrauss?(YesorNo)No

sy: l

PHILIP TOOM AJIAN

DOJTrialAttorney

CourtID N o. A5501275

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 8 of 10
UM TED STATES DISTRICT CO URT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

PENALTY SH EET

Defendant'sNam e: LUISENRIOUE RENDON CARDENAS

CaseNo:

Cotmt#: 1

Title 18.United StatesCodesSection 1349

ConspiracvtoComm itM ailandW ireFraud

*M ax.Term ofIm prisonm ent: 20years

*M andatoryM in.Term ofImprisonment(ifapplicable): N/A

*M ax.Supervised Release: 3years

*M ax.Fine: $250,000ortwicethegrossgainorlossfrom theoffense

ARefersonlyto possibleterm ofincarceration,supervised releaseand nnes. Itdoesnotinclude

restitutiom specialassessm ents,paroleterm s,orforfeituresthatm ay beapplicable.

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 9 of 10
AO455(Rev.01/09)WaiverofanIndictment

U NITED STATESD ISTRICT COURT

forthe

SouthernDistrictofFlorida

United StatesofAm erica

CaseNo.

LuisEnriqueRendonCardenas,

Defendant

W AIVER OF AN INDICTM ENT

IunderstandthatIhavebeenaccused ofoneorm oreoffensespunishableby imprisonmentformorethanone

year.lwasadvisedinopencourtofmyrightsandthenatureoftheproposedchargesagainstme.

Afterreceivingthisadvice,1waivemyrighttoprosecutionbyindictm entandconsenttoprosecutionby

inform ation.

Date:

De#ndant'ssignature

Signatureofdepndant'sattorney

Printednameofde#ndant'sattorney

Judge'ssignature

Judge'sprintednameandtitle

Case 1:22-cr-20507-PAS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 10 of 10