Five illegal aliens in California are facing federal charges after prosecutors say they brazenly stole people’s identities, went on shopping sprees, and racked up thousands of dollars in credit card debt.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California charged five individuals in separate federal criminal complaints and arrested four of them on Oct. 1 in California.
The five defendants allegedly stole Americans’ Social Security numbers to “obtain credit, run up debt and then seek to erase over $140,000 through bankruptcy,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal prosecutors were tipped off to the Social Security fraud ring and retail fraud after they sought to erase the debt by filing for bankruptcy, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.
The five defendants include:
- Abel Ávila Martínez, 48, of Buena Park, who previously was removed from the U.S. in 1999;
- Walter Anastacio Castellanos-Pérez, 53, of Rancho Dominguez;
- José Alfredo Chávez-Cabello, 54, of Long Beach; and
- Verónica Espinosa-Cortés, 54, of Bell Gardens, whom an immigration judge ordered removed from the U.S. in 1996.
- Moisés Ortuño-Claras, 47, of Anaheim.
Each defendant is charged with fraud in connection with access devices over $1,000. Ávila Martínez, Chávez-Cabello, Espinosa-Cortés and Ortuño-Claras are Mexican nationals. Castellanos-Pérez is a Guatemalan citizen.
.@USAttyEssayli appeared today on @nmasUnivision34 with @salvadorduran to discuss this morning’s arrests of four illegal immigrants residing in L.A. and Orange counties charged with stealing Social Security numbers to run up large debts with retailers then filing for bankruptcy… pic.twitter.com/RKB6PxIivX
— US Attorney L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) October 2, 2026
If convicted, each defendant could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
Federal agents located four of the suspects wanted for credit fraud in Orange County and Long Beach, California, on Thursday morning, including one man who almost made a surprise getaway in his car, the New York Post reported.
Fox News also aired footage of their arrests, including the capture of Ávila Martínez. High-flying drones were used to secretly track him as he exited his home in the pre-dawn hours in Orange County, California.
There is no safe haven for illegal aliens, not even in bankruptcy court when they try to wipe out their personal debt. https://t.co/D3twf498qd
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 1, 2026
Essayli appeared on Fox News’ “America Reports” to discuss the scope of the alleged scheme and why his office pursued the federal charges.
“Our bigger message here today is Vice President J.D. Vance and the Attorney General said no fraud is too big and no fraud is too small,” Essayli said on “America Reports.”
“Here we’re talking about credit card debt that was incurred under stolen Social Security numbers, and we want people to know that you are on our radar,” Essayli said. “Nothing is too small for us to charge you federally, where you are going to face federal prison time.”
According to affidavits filed with the complaints, from February 2025 to May 2025, the defendants each filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
Each defendant signed a sworn declaration stating under penalty of perjury that he or she used a Social Security number not assigned to them to obtain credit.
Five illegal aliens were charged in a sweep on federal fraud charges for allegedly stealing Americans’ Social Security numbers to obtain credit, run up debt, and then seek to erase over $140,000 through bankruptcy:
• Abel Avila Martinez, 48, of Buena Park⁰• Walter Anastacio… https://t.co/shiCtXFaVv
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 1, 2026
Espinosa-Cortés reported incurring a total of $10,982 in debts including from furniture retailers and a jewelry store.
Ortuño-Claras racked up $63,974 in debts from retailers such as Old Navy, Macy’s, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Pass Pro Shop and Sam’s Club.
In February 2023, Ortuño-Claras was approved for a Bass Pro Shop credit card with a credit limit of $6,000 under the fraudulent SSN. He used the credit card to make multiple purchases in Orange County for the total amount of $3,522, federal prosecutors said.
Ávila Martínez reported incurring $15,964 in debt, including a $1,185 buy at Guitar Center store, according to court documents.
Castellanos-Pérez and Chávez-Cabello reported debts of $32,961 and $19,153, mostly from credit cards obtained from retailers.
In March 2023, Castellanos-Pérez was approved for a Best Buy credit card with a $2,000 credit limit. Two months later, he used that store credit card to purchase an appliance at a Best Buy store in Compton for approximately $1,206.
Federal authorities claim they exploited hardworking Americans by running up debt under their social security numbers and then tried to get out of it by filing bankruptcy.
“These arrests highlight the very real harm caused when individuals misuse Social Security numbers to obtain credit,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Christian Assaad, with the Social Security Administration, said. “These schemes leave innocent people to deal with the fallout of fraud and financial damage.”
Essayli noted Ávila Martínez was previously removed from the United States in 1999 and used a stolen social security number to build a new identity for himself. He filed for bankruptcy in May 2025 in an attempt to discharge the debt.
“He still wanted to live on the social security number to work, to get an apartment, to have a credit card,” Essayli said. “To incur debt, to go on shopping sprees and then to submit himself to the bankruptcy court to wipe the debt that he incurred is outrageous.”
The U.S. Trustee for Region 16, which covers the Central District of California, referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
“As the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, the United States Trustee Program is committed to addressing fraudulent and abusive conduct,” Peter Anderson, U.S. Trustee for Region 16, said.
It’s an example of what happens with open-border policies and illegal immigrants who think there are no repercussions for breaking the law, Essayli said, adding that “our laws have to mean something.”
“What stands out to me, there is an attitude, there is a culture here that being an illegal immigrant is not a big deal. And that’s what California is doing it. It’s laid out the red carpet,” Essayli said on Fox’s “America Reports.” “They’ve normalized being illegal here in the United States, and that’s what we’re working to reverse under this administration.”
