Mexican national faked kidnapping by ICE to solicit donations

The United States Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against Yuriana Juliana “Juli” Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old woman from South Los Angeles, accusing her of orchestrating a fake kidnapping related to immigration. She faces federal charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal agents after allegedly faking her abduction by supposed bounty hunters who, she claimed, handed her over to immigration agents (ICE).

According to the complaint, the staged incident began on June 25, when she was reported missing from a Jack in the Box restaurant in South Los Angeles. Days later, on June 30, her family held a press conference alleging that she had been kidnapped and taken to a facility near the border in San Ysidro, where she was pressured to sign a self-deportation order. A photograph supposedly showing her “rescue” was also circulated.

In addition, a fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe, requesting $4,500 to support her family. The case gained attention from local activists and politicians, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who shared the story on her social media accounts on July 1. However, the narrative began to fall apart as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating.

Federal authorities uncovered, through phone records and surveillance footage, that Pelaez Calderon had not been kidnapped at all. In reality, she had been moving about freely and was found on July 5 at a shopping center in Bakersfield, not in custody and under no surveillance. DHS described the case as an “elaborate hoax” that diverted federal resources and caused public alarm with false accusations against ICE agents.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that this was “a well-orchestrated conspiracy” designed to discredit the immigration system and manipulate public opinion. If convicted, Pelaez Calderon faces up to five years in prison for each charge. Authorities have not ruled out additional charges against others who may have been involved in the scheme.

The case has triggered strong public reactions, especially over how quickly the false story spread through media and social networks without verification. It has also raised concerns about the responsibility of public figures in amplifying unverified narratives and the misuse of fundraising platforms for fraudulent purposes.