A Colombian and His Partner Found Guilty of Defrauding Vulnerable People in the US
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that Colombian citizen Luis Pino-Copete, 42, a resident of Bogota, and “his lover” Jael Watts, 45, a resident of Alloway, New Jersey, were found guilty by a jury of orchestrating an extensive nationwide scheme to steal millions of dollars in federal program funds administered by the United […]
Colombian national Luis Pino-Copete, 42, and his accomplice Jael Watts, 45, from Alloway, New Jersey, were convicted by a jury of a large-scale scheme to swindle millions of dollars in federal funds from transportation and housing departments. These funds were intended to assist the elderly, disabled, and homeless populations. The scheme was orchestrated through a fictitious company, Pearl Transit Corporation, based in New Jersey, which allegedly employed drivers to assist these vulnerable groups.
However, no such drivers or services were provided. Instead, the pair fabricated identities and falsely claimed they transported people, despite many listed beneficiaries having already passed away or drivers lacking proper licenses. They submitted these false claims, totaling over $13 million, to the Department of Transportation and HUD programs, which were funded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watts later married Pino-Copete in Colombia in 2023, and he joined the fraudulent activities in January 2024. Upon his arrival in the U.S. in January 2025, his involvement in the crime intensified. A joint federal and state investigation, following an audit by the New York State Comptroller's Office, exposed this multiyear scheme spanning Georgia, North Carolina, California, and New York. The couple spent the stolen funds on luxury items, including Porsche rentals and high-end fashion.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
