A 41-year-old illegal immigrant in South Los Angeles is facing federal charges after allegedly faking her own kidnapping and blaming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a Colombian national, was arrested and charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officials, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Calderon fabricated a dramatic abduction story, staged by masked men in an unmarked car, to gin up public outrage and collect donations via GoFundMe.
Orchestrated Hoax
According to a criminal complaint filed on July 16:
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On June 30, Calderon’s family attorney Stephano Medina held a press conference, claiming Calderon was kidnapped on June 25.
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The family alleged she was “taken at gunpoint” from a Jack in the Box parking lot in downtown L.A., pressured to sign self-deportation papers, and held in a mysterious warehouse.
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Calderon’s daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $4,500, telling supporters that her mother was snatched by “masked men.”
The story made local headlines and stoked fear about ICE tactics.
None of It Was True
Federal authorities quickly determined the entire story was a hoax.
“Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. “This was a deliberate conspiracy.”
Key findings from the investigation:
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Surveillance video showed Calderon leaving the fast food parking lot calmly, entering a sedan.
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Phone records tracked her to Bakersfield, where she was found alive and well on July 5.
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She allegedly staged fake rescue photos, falsely showing abuse, and was planning a second press conference to boost donations.
Despite knowing law enforcement was searching for her, neither Calderon nor her family came forward, officials said.
Fallout and Federal Charges
Calderon is now in ICE custody and is expected to appear in federal court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
Federal officials say they are reviewing whether others involved in the alleged scam, including her attorney and family members, will also face charges.
The Transnational Organized Crime Section is handling prosecution.
“We invested valuable time and resources investigating this case, only to find out it was staged,” said Eddy Wang, special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations.
