Mexican National Illegally in the United States Makes Initial Appearance for Using a Counterfeit Foreign Passport to Deceive Victims and Launder Money

LAS VEGAS - As a result of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, a Mexican national, who is illegally present in the United States, made his initial court appearance Wednesday for allegedly using a counterfeit passport as identification to open a bank account and launder proceeds from online vehicle sales.

"The theft of identities and fabrication of official foreign travel documents strikes at the heart of our financial and border security systems," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "This office, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to dismantling the complex fraudulent networks used by illegal actors to exploit innocent victims and launder illicit funds within our borders."

"Each arrest is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Deputies and Task Force Officers," said U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield. "Bringing these criminals to court to be held accountable for running a multi-state scheme that defrauded our citizens is exactly why our officers work tirelessly to protect our communities."

According to allegations in the indictment, Jose Carlos Dalli Castro, also known as "Julio Castro Lopez," "Mario Mejia Rojas," "Alberto Silva Valdez," Mike Boris Oganov," and "Amer Daoud Panou," used a counterfeit Spanish passport to open a personal checking account with the intention to launder money through the bank account. As alleged, he purported to be the seller of vintage restored vehicles and equipment. As part of the scheme, after a victim would make an online purchase, Dalli Castro would then quickly remove the funds from the bank account. He had no intention of selling a vehicle or equipment.

A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment charging Dalli Castro with one count of false use of a passport; seven counts of wire fraud; nine counts of money laundering; and three counts of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. A jury trial is scheduled to begin October 20, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years' imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by the District of Nevada.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers with the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and Nevada Gaming Control Board with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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