Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced that detectives have made an arrest in connection to a scam targeting an elderly resident. Diego Diaz, 47, of Georgia, was apprehended after attempting to collect thousands of dollars from a scam victim.
On December 10, 2024, an elderly man from Thibodaux reached out to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office after receiving a suspicious notification about an online purchase for a dishwasher from Walmart. The man contacted Walmart, only to find there was no record of the purchase. Walmart suggested that the notification was likely a scam. The man was soon contacted by someone claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission, who warned him of an ongoing money laundering investigation. He was told to withdraw $40,000 in cash for “safe keeping” by investigators. The scammer instructed the victim to arrange for a courier to pick up the money the following day.
On December 11, the victim received detailed instructions from the scammer on how to package the money. Investigators set up surveillance at the pickup location, where they saw a courier arrive to collect the cash. The courier, later identified as Diego Diaz, was arrested on the spot. Further investigation revealed that Diaz had acted as a courier in similar scams across other areas and was linked to a larger criminal organization operating throughout the southern United States.
Diaz was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges including conspiracy to commit extortion, felony theft, and exploitation of the infirmed. He is being held without bond on these charges and is also detained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The investigation continues, with collaboration from neighboring parishes and federal authorities.
Sheriff Webre cautioned residents to be wary of any unsolicited calls asking for money, especially when they involve claims of protecting funds during an investigation. “If someone tells you not to inform anyone, including law enforcement, and asks for money, it’s almost certainly a scam,” said Sheriff Webre. “While we were able to make an arrest in this case, in most scams, the money is sent electronically, and it can be nearly impossible to recover. We encourage everyone to contact local law enforcement if they have any doubts.”
