Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, a 40-year-old from Lima, Peru, was extradited to the United States, making his first court appearance in Miami on charges of leading a widespread fraud and extortion operation. Zuñiga was apprehended by Peruvian law enforcement on February 26, 2023, following a request for extradition by the United States, and has been detained in Peru ever since.
The charges against him involve the operation of call centers in Peru from January 2014 to February 2019, through which he and his accomplices contacted Spanish-speaking individuals in the U.S. under false pretenses. Initially, victims were misled into believing they had won free products in raffles.
However, they were later coerced into making substantial payments under the threat of legal consequences for purportedly failing to fulfill contractual obligations to pay for and receive these products. Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, underscored the commitment of the U.S. to prosecuting individuals who defraud American consumers, thanking Peruvian authorities for their cooperation. Similarly, Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the USPIS Miami Division highlighted the importance of international collaboration in upholding the rule of law and combatting transnational fraud schemes.
The indictment details how Zuñiga and his group misrepresented themselves as legal and official representatives to extort money from victims, threatening them with legal action, arrest, and other consequences if they failed to pay for the falsely claimed products and fees. Some victims were further exploited through a so-called “restitution” fraud, where they were deceived into paying for nonexistent restitution payments. Zuñiga faces charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and extortion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.
However, an indictment is only an accusation, and a federal court will determine any sentences based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors. The case was investigated by the USPIS and received critical support from various U.S. and Peruvian agencies. Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Consumer Protection Branch are leading the prosecution. The Justice Department also encourages Spanish-speaking residents of the U.S., especially those aged 60 or older who have been victims of financial fraud, to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline for assistance in reporting fraud and connecting with resources to help recover losses.
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