Operation Discovery continues to make headlines as the justice department prepares to present evidence against the criminal network in court. On Thursday last, DR1 News had reported the first arrests. Throughout the end of the week, more and more information came to light. There were photographs of a huge assortment of gaudy personal items of high value: jewelry, expensive watches and luxury vehicles were seized by government law enforcement agents. Also seized was a tidy sum of money, some US$300,000 and RD$19.2 million.
The case involves a network of cyber-criminals that used call centers in Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo to extort US citizens of millions of dollars. It was also learned that the FBI also carried out search warrants in New York City. Noticias SIN reports that the cybercrime network moved upwards of US$250 million.
The arraignment accusatory file indicates the investigation dates to July 2020 when US law enforcement requested the collaboration of the Attorney General. The government agencies involved were working hand in hand with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and an agency attached to the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo.
On Saturday, 5 March 2022, the office of the District Attorney for Santiago de los Caballeros requested an 18-month protective custody sentence from Judge Osvaldo Bonilla for the 38 persons under indictment for violating at least six articles of the Dominican Penal Code.
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Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Nacional
Diario Libre
7 March 2022