Arrests Made in Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Social Security Numbers
Federal authorities in California reported the arrest of four individuals charged with using stolen Social Security numbers to accumulate significant retail credit card debt. The suspects are believed to have filed for bankruptcy to eliminate their financial obligations.
One of those arrested, 48-year-old Abel Ávila Martínez from Buena Park, is a Mexican national who was deported from the U.S. back in 1999. According to reports, he allegedly accumulated debt by using fraudulent Social Security numbers.
On Thursday morning, federal agents tracked Martínez from his residence to a car in an Orange County neighborhood, employing drones for surveillance. As he entered the vehicle, approximately 20 agents, equipped in tactical gear, surrounded the car and ordered him to surrender.
Back in November 2024, Martínez applied for a PayPal credit card using a misappropriated Social Security number, receiving approval for a card with a $6,250 limit. The following January, he made a notable purchase of $1,185 at a Guitar Center.
The other three arrested individuals also appeared in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana and Los Angeles on Thursday. They each face a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison.
- Walter Anastacio Castellanos-Pérez, 53, from Rancho Dominguez — Guatemalan national.
- José Alfredo Chávez-Cabello, 54, from Long Beach — Mexican national.
- Verónica Espinosa-Cortés, 54, from Bell Gardens, who was ordered removed from the U.S. in 1996 — Mexican national.
During their court appearance, the judge reviewed their rights and charges, talked about legal representation, and discussed both pretrial detention conditions and bail options.
A fifth suspect, 47-year-old Moisés Ortuño-Claras from Anaheim, remains at large, and federal officials are actively searching for him in connection with this fraud case.
“Identity theft causes significant and enduring harm to the financial stability of hardworking Americans,” stated Erin Burke, acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles. “These arrests reinforce our commitment to combating financial fraud and protecting the community from individuals who seek to profit at the expense of innocent victims.”
