Five individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a large-scale credit card fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in more than $3.5 million in fraudulent charges, according to a March 10 announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of an investigation into a coordinated fraud ring that exploited financial systems and legitimate businesses, causing significant losses to banks and merchant processors. The defendants used point-of-sale devices, stolen credit cards, and shell companies to carry out their activities.
Willan Pupo, 38, received a sentence of 132 months in federal prison; Joel Castillo, 39, was sentenced to 58 months; William Castillo, 42, received 55 months; Miriam Pupo, 36, was sentenced to 37 months; and Jessica Forpomes, 40, received a sentence of 36 months. Each had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“This was a coordinated fraud ring that generated more than $3.5 million in fake charges by manipulating point-of-sale systems, stolen credit cards, and shell companies,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They exploited legitimate businesses, abused financial systems, and shifted losses onto banks and processors. Large-scale fraud like this undermines confidence in our financial markets. Those who build criminal enterprises around deception and stolen data will face serious federal prison time.”
Court records show that from at least February 2023 through June 2024 the group orchestrated fraudulent transactions using both legitimate businesses and shell companies to obtain point-of-sale devices from merchant processors. They processed sham purchases with associates’ credit cards—later disputed for refunds—and used stolen card numbers acquired on the dark web or through encrypted messaging platforms such as Telegram. Additionally, they used credit cards stolen from mail thefts.
After processing these transactions, proceeds were quickly withdrawn or transferred from associated bank accounts before discovery by merchant processors could occur. When victims reported unauthorized charges and issuers reversed transactions, it was often merchant processors or financial institutions left absorbing the losses.
Three members—William Castillo, Willan Pupo, and Joel Castillo—also accessed databases containing personal identifying information to activate stolen cards and further accelerate their fraudulent activity. As part of restitution efforts so far, Joel and William Castillo have paid over $800,000.
In addition to the main scheme, Willan Pupo and Joel Castillo admitted using shell companies to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), receiving more than $650,000 in proceeds.
The cases were investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s Cybercrimes Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Quin Landon prosecuted the cases with assistance on asset forfeiture from Annika Miranda, Robin Waugh, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon.
Related court documents can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case numbers provided for each defendant.
