Two men have been arrested in connection with an elaborate money laundering scheme that defrauded over 100 victims of at least $10 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
The two men, Sylas Nyuydzene Verdzekov, 38, of Chino Hills, and Lovert Che, 44, of Lomita, were taken into federal custody on Thursday. A third defendant, Mustapha Nkachiwouo Selly Yamie, 29, of Inglewood, remains at large.
The defendants are accused of creating at least 36 shell companies in California under fake identities. These companies, which conducted no legitimate business, were used to open over 145 bank accounts and 32 private mailboxes. The scheme primarily targeted older victims, many of whom were defrauded through phone scams and fraudulent email pop-ups.
Posing as law enforcement personnel or company representatives, the defendants falsely claimed that the victims’ bank accounts had been compromised. They then pressured the victims into transferring funds to supposedly secure accounts to protect their money. Using fake badges and job titles, the defendants manipulated the victims into providing personal information, which was exploited to drain their accounts.
In addition to the phone scams, the defendants ran a separate scheme posing as real estate owners selling properties. They convinced victims to wire money or send checks to accounts they controlled, using fraudulent credentials to create a false sense of legitimacy. After the funds were deposited into their accounts, they laundered the money through fraudulent bank accounts, making large cash withdrawals for personal expenses, including rent and luxury items.
The case highlights the growing concern of financial crimes targeting vulnerable populations, with authorities emphasizing the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate the activities of the third suspect, Mustapha Nkachiwouo Selly Yamie.
