Santiago.-The members of the criminal network dismantled by the Public Ministry with Operation Discovery operated in Santiago, Santo Domingo, La Vega and Puerto Plata more than 10 call centers dedicated to cybercrime, sexual and economic extortion , as well as the identity theft of United States citizens.
The Public Ministry highlighted that the operation, which is still underway, is carried out with the cooperation of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of National Security Investigations (HSI), who also carried out simultaneous raids in the city of New York, USA.
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Arrested in Operation Discovery operated several call centers created for cybercrime
Authorities carry out operation against criminal network
Sucre Rafael Rodríguez Ortiz (Darimán and/or Daria), Máximo Miguel Mena Peña, Emmanuel Castro Ozuna (Billete), Mayobanex Braulio Rafael Rodríguez Fernández, Ángel Rafael Peralta Guzmán, Genaro Antonio Hernández Caba, Pablo Miguel Balbuena (Miguel Ortiz and/or the Valve) and David Antonio Guzmán Javier.
The Public Ministry of Santiago, headed by the head prosecutor of the demarcation, Osvaldo Bonilla, will request coercive measures before a permanent attention judge.
The group of those arrested, which continues to expand, faces charges for various crimes, including the violation of articles 59, 60, 258, 265 and 266 of the Dominican Penal Code, which typify complicity, association of criminals and the usurpation of functions and the 405 that condemns the “scam”.
Also, for violation of the provisions of articles 2, 4 of Law 155-17, on Money Laundering to the detriment of the Dominican State and 14 and 15 of Law 53-07, on High Technology Crimes and Offenses, which typify the illicit obtaining of funds and fraud through computerized, telematic and telecommunications means.
The prosecutors working the case seized evidence of million-dollar transactions. They advanced the seizure of seven pistols and an Uzi submachine gun, as well as some 400 thousand dollars and more than 19.2 million pesos in cash, as well as 30 high-end vehicles and 300 electronic equipment, including mobile phones and computers.
The operation against transnational crime is part of the actions carried out by the Public Ministry headed by Judge Miriam Germán Brito.
The investigation that led to the dismantling of the network took place over months and entails, at this stage, the mobilization of 45 prosecutors, 105 technicians and 321 agents of the National Police.
The investigation is in charge of the General Directorate of Persecution of the Public Ministry, headed by Deputy Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso; the Santiago Public Prosecutor’s Office, represented by its head, Osvaldo Bonilla; the Specialized Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Ramona Nova Cabrera, and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Crimes and High-Tech Crimes, headed by Iván Vladimir Féliz Vargas.
The Public Ministry investigated the network with the cooperation of the FBI and the HSI of the United States and with the support of the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations (Dicrim), of the National Police.
The members of the network became an association of criminals that usurped functions, and that incurred in money laundering and the illegal carrying and possession of firearms.
In addition to sexual extortion and identity theft, members of the network made intimidating phone calls, sent medications using “delivery” and even usurped official functions of the United States, including that of FBI agents.
The network relies on cryptocurrencies and the national financial system as means for the movement of capital in dollars and pesos and they acquired millionaire assets as a result of their criminal actions.
