A woman prosecutors describe as an organizer of a transnational fraud operation has pleaded guilty in a case involving more than $36 million stolen from over 400 Americans, most of them elderly.
Juliet Mora, 42, formerly of Hayward, California, admitted participating in a money laundering conspiracy tied to a network that contacted timeshare owners and previous fraud victims while posing as legitimate attorneys. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, victims were falsely told that they qualified for restitution or other payments.
Mora joined the operation in August 2021 and later became an organizer while living in Nicaragua. Prosecutors said shell companies she maintained received more than $1.56 million in victim funds, while approximately $2.74 million in stolen money passed through accounts she controlled.
She was arrested in December 2025 after arriving at Boston Logan International Airport on a flight from Panama City. Mora pleaded guilty September 14 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced December 14.
Victims Received Fake Legal Agreements Before Paying Fees
Nicaragua Based Organizer in $36 Million Transnational Scheme to Defraud more than 400 Elderly and Vulnerable Americans Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
https://t.co/l63Y0snI1g— U.S. Department of Justice – International (@USDOJ_Intl) September 15, 2026
The operation targeted people who owned timeshares or had already lost money to previous fraud schemes. Callers posed as attorneys and told victims that settlements, restitution or other payments were available to them.
Prosecutors said the organization sent fraudulent representation agreements and bogus nondisclosure agreements that appeared to establish formal attorney-client relationships. Victims were then instructed to pay fees before the promised money could be released.
Checks and wire transfers were directed to shell companies controlled by participants in the United States. The victims never received the restitution they had been promised.
Mora Helped Operate the Scheme From Nicaragua
After moving to Nicaragua, Mora communicated with U.S.-based participants and directed them to receive and transfer victim money, establish shell companies and prepare documents used in the fraud, according to court records.
She also communicated directly with victims through email accounts created for fictitious paralegals. Prosecutors said the fake legal identities helped maintain the appearance that victims were dealing with legitimate law firms.
Mora admitted misleading financial institutions about the source and purpose of transactions. When accounts were closed because of suspicious activity, she opened new ones and continued moving money through corporate accounts.
Operation Silver Shores Led to Arrests in Several Countries
The wider investigation, known as Operation Silver Shores, produced a major enforcement action in October 2025. Fifteen defendants were arrested across several U.S. states, and authorities seized more than $2.1 million in victim funds.
Nicaraguan authorities arrested Marlon Solis Bonilla, identified by prosecutors as one of the investigation’s principal subjects, and he was transferred to U.S. custody. In August 2026, Mexican authorities arrested Julian Jauregui, Sergio Jauregui and Eduardo Navarro in Guadalajara before they were returned to the United States.
Three defendants remained at large when prosecutors announced Mora’s guilty plea. The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and Bakersfield Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Truckee Police Department.
Mora Faces Up to 20 Years in Federal Prison
Conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Mora also faces a potential fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the laundering offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston will determine the sentence after considering the federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The cases against defendants who have not pleaded guilty or been convicted remain pending. The allegations against those defendants have not been proven in court.
Fraud Victims Can Be Targeted Again With Fake Recovery Offers
The FBI warns that timeshare owners can be approached repeatedly after an initial loss. Criminals may later pose as law firm employees and claim they can recover money through a settlement or restitution process if the victim first pays legal or court fees.
The Federal Trade Commission gives similar guidance for refund and recovery scams. Someone who unexpectedly promises to recover lost money but demands an upfront retainer, processing charge or administrative fee should not be trusted.
Consumers should independently research any lawyer, government agency or recovery organization that contacts them. Telephone numbers, websites and email addresses supplied by the person making the offer should not be used as the only way to verify the organization.
Anyone who has already sent money should stop further payments and preserve contracts, emails, telephone numbers, bank records and wire information. Timeshare fraud can be reported to the FBI through IC3.gov, while refund and recovery scams can also be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.