SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Eric Anthony Olivas, 30, a money mule involved in a transnational elder fraud scheme, was sentenced last month to one year in jail and two years’ probation by a judge at the Vista courthouse.
Olivas was arrested last year after attempting to collect $50,000 in cash from 75-year-old Dale Marsh’s home in Carlsbad. Marsh had been targeted in a scam involving a fake text message thanking him for purchasing Norton antivirus products — which he never bought.
After calling a listed 1-800 number, Marsh noticed an unexpected $50,000 deposit in his checking account. An overseas scammer convinced him the money was legitimate, persuading him to allow a courier to collect the cash.
Marsh’s wife grew suspicious and alerted Carlsbad police, who involved the FBI. They launched an undercover operation using fake cash to catch Olivas in the act.
Olivas was charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted theft from an elder over $950, and attempting to receive stolen property. He had previously pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit elder fraud.
FBI agent Nicole Mondello noted that couriers regularly travel from Los Angeles to San Diego to pick up stolen cash from seniors, earning up to $1,000 per pickup as middlemen funneling money overseas.
San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello praised law enforcement’s swift action in preventing the loss in Marsh’s case, emphasizing that most victims lose tens of thousands before reporting scams.
The FBI reported that seniors in San Diego County lost $108 million to elder fraud scams in 2024.
