Staged kidnapping: 41-year-old immigrant arrested for plotting scheme to raise money; fabricated ICE abuse claims
A 41-year-old undocumented immigrant has been arrested for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping in order to raise money and falsely accuse federal law enforcement.
The US department of justice announced on Thursday that Yuriana Julia 'Juli' Pelaez Calderon faces charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers.
According to the department of justice, Calderon collaborated with others to stage a dramatic, fake abduction at gunpoint. The scheme involved armed men, described as bounty hunters, who took her from a fast-food restaurant parking lot in Los Angeles and attempted to force her to self-deport, all as part of a plan to deceive the public and discredit federal law enforcement.
Federal officials said the scheme was designed not only to raise money but also to spread misinformation and undermine the credibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported by the New York Post.
'Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are 'kidnapping' illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public and discredit our courageous federal agents,' said US Attorney Bill Essayli.
'The conduct alleged in today's complaint shows this hoax kidnapping was a well-orchestrated conspiracy.'
The staged event began with a press conference held by Calderon's family and attorneys on June 30.
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They claimed that masked men in two trucks abducted Calderon from a Jack in the Box parking lot in Los Angeles and took her to San Ysidro, where she was allegedly pressured to sign deportation papers. Her family also claimed she was held in a warehouse after refusing to cooperate.
Following widespread media coverage, Calderon's daughter created a GoFundMe page requesting $4,500 to support her mother.
'My name is Angeline Gonzalez, and my mother, Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, was taken by masked men in an unmarked vehicle on June 25th,' the page now deleted read.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security denied any involvement and launched an investigation. Agents searched for Calderon for several days, including checking detention facilities across the region. She was eventually found in a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield on July 5.
Despite continuing to claim she was kidnapped, video surveillance showed Calderon voluntarily getting into a car after leaving the restaurant.
Phone records also supported the conclusion that the event was fabricated.
Officials said that Calderon's family had planned a second press conference on July 6 for the GoFundMe page to increase public donations before the hoax was foiled. They even created fake images suggesting Calderon was abused during her supposed rescue.
'Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles communities,' the DHS said.
DHS also criticised media outlets and public figures who had repeated the false claims without proper verification. 'Calderon will now face justice and the media and politicians who swallowed and pushed this garbage should be embarrassed,' the agency said.
GoFundMe confirmed that it removed the fundraising page and has refunded the $80 that had been donated. It further clarified that the organisation never had access to the funds. 'We have zero tolerance for any attempt to exploit our platform,' a spokesperson said.
If convicted, Calderon faces up to five years in federal prison for each charge. The DOJ also indicated that others involved in the hoax may face legal consequences.
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