Fairfield, NJ (KWCH) – A 56-year-old man from Guadalupe, Mexico, Jose Renteria-Medellin, has pleaded guilty to theft by deception and conspiracy after orchestrating a Bitcoin scam that resulted in the theft of over $100,000 from a Fairfield business.
The incident occurred on February 10, 2024, when an employee at Care by Dank’s, a business located at 105 Route 46 West in Fairfield, received a phone call from someone pretending to be from “FedEx.” The caller instructed the employee to withdraw cash from the business’s safes and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine. The employee was told that the request came directly from the business owner.
While still on the phone, the employee received a text message appearing to confirm the instructions from the supposed business owner. However, after failing to open the safes on their own, the employee called a locksmith for assistance. Once the safes were opened, the employee followed the caller’s orders to deposit the money into the Bitcoin machine.
More than $100,000 in cash was deposited. The caller had promised to contact the employee again in 20 minutes, but the follow-up call never came.
Detective Daniel Moran led the investigation with support from the New Jersey State Police and Customs Border Patrol. The authorities were able to identify Renteria-Medellin as the suspect and determined that he had fled to Mexico. An extraditable warrant was issued for his arrest.
Renteria-Medellin was apprehended on November 28, 2024, as he attempted to cross the border back into the United States. After his arrest, he was extradited and held at the Essex County Jail in Newark, where he awaited his arraignment.
On April 22, 2025, Renteria-Medellin pleaded guilty to theft by deception and conspiracy charges. He remains incarcerated at the Essex County Jail.
Fairfield Police Public Information Officer Stacy Chiarolanza commended the efforts of all agencies involved, stating that the investigation required hundreds of hours of work. She also cautioned the public to remain vigilant against scams, urging them to trust their instincts and ask questions if something seems suspicious.
“Unfortunately, people are scammed every day by criminals, and we urge the public to be diligent when something doesn’t seem right,” said Chiarolanza. “The red flags are there; it’s up to you to slow down the conversation and ask questions. Call us for help, don’t be the next victim.”
