Ernesto Ortega Padgett, a Nicaraguan national previously residing in Miami, Florida, has been extradited from Madrid, Spain to face charges in the United States. Ortega appeared in federal court in Miami on June 16. He is accused of involvement in an international wire fraud, extortion, and money laundering conspiracy that led to over $29 million in losses across the United States.
The indictment against Ortega includes 27 counts returned by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2023. The charges encompass conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud itself, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion, conspiracy to commit money laundering, making a communication containing a threat to injure via interstate commerce, engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property, and conspiracy to transport stolen property.
Ortega’s alleged criminal activities began in 2020 and targeted U.S. businesses. He and his associates reportedly posed as bank representatives using technology and social engineering tactics to obtain sensitive account information from victims. This information was then used for unauthorized wire transfers from victims’ accounts.
An international network of money launderers allegedly facilitated the receipt and transfer of stolen funds into accounts controlled by Ortega. The scheme involved extortion and threats of force or injury against some money launderers.
Before his extradition to the U.S., Ortega faced related charges in Spain and had pending charges in Panama. After being apprehended at Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris following intelligence reports about his travel plans for Christmas 2023, he was extradited back to Madrid under a European Union fugitive warrant until his recent transfer to the United States.
If convicted on all counts, Ortega could face significant prison time along with fines and supervised release post-incarceration. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida announced this development alongside Special Agent Jason Scalzo of the FDIC-OIG Electronic Crimes Unit and Special Agent Rafael Barros of the US Secret Service Miami Field Office.
The investigation is being conducted by FDIC-OIG and the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from various international authorities including those from Spain and France.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Moore and Michael Brenner are prosecuting this case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken handles asset forfeiture matters related to it.
Further details can be accessed through court documents available on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida under case number 23-cr-20049.
