United States of America v. Gilberto Barron

Fresno, California criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violaition of 18 U.S.C. 1349, money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1956, and aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028A.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Gilberto Barron, 26, formerly of Delano and Las Vegas, and others conspired with federal inmate Seth Depiano, 44, formerly of Clovis, to commit the fraud charged in this case. At the time, Depiano was serving a 12-year prison sentence for a prior, multimillion-dollar fraud (Case No. 1:17-cr-172 DAD). Depiano, assisted by Barron and others, helped create fake identities for supposed real estate agents and shell companies that mirrored the names of legitimate real estate companies. They then used the fake identities and shell companies to market various properties online that were not actually for sale to would-be buyers in California’s Central Valley and elsewhere at discounted prices. This included properties where the actual owners had died.

Barron and others would meet with the buyers using the fake identities and close the sales. They even went so far as to present the buyers with fabricated deeds, title reports, and other real estate documents to substantiate the sales.

After getting the would-be buyers’ money, Depiano, Barron, and others would launder the funds primarily through Las Vegas casinos. For example, Barron and others would travel to the casinos, put large amounts of money into gaming machines, and quickly cash out with little to no gaming activity. They did this to try to hide the fact that the money was proceeds from their fraudulent scheme. They would then use the money to purchase properties for their own benefit.

The Defendant elected to plead guilty.