New Jersey Man Admits Aiding Conspiracy to Defraud the Elderly

ST. LOUIS - A man from New Jersey pleaded guilty Monday and admitted picking up cash and gold bars from elderly victims of a fraud conspiracy.

Andy R. Miqui-Castillo, 35, of Newark, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. He admitted being recruited in October of 2023 to act as a courier for a conspiracy that targeted the elderly.

The conspirators contacted victims falsely claiming to be from various financial institutions or government agencies. They told them that their accounts had been compromised and were being used for illegal activity and induced victims to give them cash or valuables to stop that illegal activity. Miqui-Castillo was provided with the victims' addresses, picked up cash or other valuables and then delivered or shipped it to co-conspirators in exchange for money.

Miqui-Castillo retrieved or attempted to retrieve cash and gold bars totaling more than $550,000 from four victims in October and November of 2023. He was paid $4,500. He picked up a total of $50,000 in cash and two 100-gram gold bars from two victims in New York and five 1-kilogram gold bars from a North Carolina victim. Miqui-Castillo was arrested by law enforcement on Nov. 17, 2023, while attempting to pick up three 1-kilogram gold bars worth $196,000 from a St. Louis area victim.

Miqui-Castillo is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 11, 2025. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.