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A prisoner in the state of Florida managed to set up a million-dollar fraud operation from his cell and used part of the loot to build himself a house, according to a report from the Middle District of Florida Prosecutor's Office.
Jared Borgesto Murray, 41 years old and a resident of St. Petersburg, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for orchestrating a 1.2 million dollar fraud while serving a sentence for theft in a state prison in Pinellas County.
The unusual aspect of the case is not only the scale of the fraud, but that Murray was running the operation from within the prison using contraband mobile phones. Between January 2019 and September 2020, he impersonated dozens of customers from a national store and made fraudulent purchases using the credit lines of the victims.
The illegally obtained products were sold online at reduced prices, and Murray handled everything: from contacting buyers to organizing shipments and receiving payments via bank transfers or checks sent by mail. All of this, from the cell.
Murray did not act alone. He had a network of accomplices abroad, who collected the money and distributed the products. Part of those profits was invested in the construction of a house in Lake Placid, Florida. The property was later seized by the authorities, along with more than $43,000 found in his bank accounts.
The case, investigated by the FBI and the Tampa Police Department, highlights the cracks in the American penitentiary system, where an inmate with resources and intelligence was able to operate as if he were free, causing millions in losses to a national company.
His defense attorney, Maribeth Wetzel, presented him in a court memorandum as an example of “misguided talent, missed opportunities, and systemic neglect”. In her words: “This is an unusual case, one that leaves observers saying: ‘If Mr. Murray had applied his talent to legitimate business, just imagine how far he could have gone’”.
A pesar de los esfuerzos de su defensa para obtener una condena más leve, Federal Judge Steven D. Merryday adhered to the guidelines and issued the corresponding sentence.
The story of Jared Murray has astonished many due to the sophistication of the fraud and the ability to run a criminal enterprise from imprisonment. This scenario reminds many Cubans of how ingenuity can create opportunities even in the most extreme conditions, although in this case, it is a criminal tale.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Jared Borgesto Murray Scam from Prison
How did Jared Borgesto Murray manage to swindle 1.2 million dollars from prison?
Jared Borgesto Murray orchestrated a $1.2 million fraud while in prison using contraband mobile phones. He impersonated dozens of customers from a national store to make fraudulent purchases using the credit lines of the victims. He sold the illegally obtained products online at discounted prices, coordinating the entire process from his cell.
What actions did the authorities take after discovering Murray's scam?
After uncovering the scam, authorities seized the house that Murray had built with part of the money obtained illegally and more than $43,000 found in his bank accounts. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Tampa Police Department, which highlighted the flaws in the prison system that allowed Murray to operate from behind bars.
What sentence did Jared Borgesto Murray receive for his fraud from prison?
Jared Borgesto Murray was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for orchestrating the scam from his cell. Federal Judge Steven D. Merryday issued the corresponding sentence, despite the defense's efforts to secure a lighter sentence.
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