Hayden O’Byrne United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida | The Florida Bar
Ernesto Ortega Padgett, a Nicaraguan national and former Miami resident, appeared in federal court in Miami on June 16. Ortega was extradited from Madrid, Spain, to face charges related to an international wire fraud and extortion scheme that allegedly caused over $29 million in losses across the United States.
The 41-year-old is charged with multiple offenses as per a 27-count indictment issued by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2023. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion, conspiracy to commit money laundering, making a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure, engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property, and conspiracy to transport stolen property.
According to the indictment, Ortega's criminal activities began in 2020. He and his associates posed as bank representatives using technology and social engineering tactics to obtain sensitive account information from businesses across the U.S. This information was then used for unauthorized wire transfers.
Ortega reportedly used an international network of money launderers who withdrew stolen funds in cash and forwarded them often as cryptocurrency under his control. Extortion and threats were employed against some money launderers during the scheme.
Before being apprehended at Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris last December, Ortega faced related charges in Spain and Panama. After his capture, he was extradited back to Madrid before being sent to the U.S. on June 13 following an indictment by the Southern District of Florida.
If convicted on all counts, Ortega faces significant prison time: up to 20 years each for several charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Hobbs Act extortion; up to ten years for engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property; and up to five years for conspiracy to transport stolen property. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne announced the proceedings alongside Special Agent Jason Scalzo of FDIC-OIG Electronic Crimes Unit and Special Agent Rafael Barros of US Secret Service's Miami Field Office.
The investigation involves FDIC-OIG and U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs along with Spanish authorities and others involved internationally.
Prosecutors Robert Moore and Michael Brenner are handling the case while Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken manages asset forfeiture matters related thereto.
Further details can be accessed via case number 23-cr-20049 at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
