Five individuals were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for their roles in a $3.5 million credit card fraud and money laundering scheme operating in South Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced.
Willan Pupo, 38, received the longest sentence, 132 months in federal prison. Joel Castillo, 39, was sentenced to 58 months, even as his brother, William Castillo, 42, will serve 55 months. Miriam Pupo, 36, received a 37-month sentence, and Jessica Forpomes, 40, was sentenced to 36 months.
The scheme, which ran from February 2023 through June 2024, involved the leverage of legitimate businesses and shell companies to obtain point-of-sale (POS) devices, according to court records. These devices were then used to process fraudulent credit and debit card transactions.
Prosecutors detailed several methods employed by the group, including using credit cards belonging to associates to develop false purchases, then disputing the charges for refunds. They also purchased stolen credit card numbers through the dark web and encrypted messaging apps like Telegram. The group utilized credit cards stolen from the mail to conduct further fraudulent transactions.
The investigation revealed that William Castillo, Willan Pupo, and Joel Castillo gained access to a database containing sensitive personal identifying information – including names, social security numbers, and addresses – to facilitate the activation of stolen credit cards and accelerate their fraudulent activities.
Beyond the credit card fraud, Willan Pupo and Joel Castillo also admitted to fraudulently obtaining Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through shell companies, receiving over $650,000 in illicit proceeds. The pair were initially arrested during a U.S. Secret Service raid at a Pembroke Pines home in July 2024.
As part of their efforts toward restitution, Joel and William Castillo have already paid more than $800,000, prosecutors stated.
