An “intermittent” employee who worked as a collector and trained others to scam individuals out of more than $3 million in payments has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is now facing up to 20 years in prison.
Shauniqua Rodriguez, 40, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., pleaded guilty on Friday. The charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
Rodriguez participated in a scheme that was allegedly spearheaded by Joseph Ciffa, according to the Department of Justice. Ciffa pleaded guilty to a number of felonies last year for his part in bilking $22 million in fraudulent payments from individuals during a scam that ran for four years. A number of other conspirators have also pleaded guilty. Along with criminal convictions and possible jail time, the individuals have also been barred from participating in the collections industry for life.
Even though they knew the debts had already been satisfied, Rodriguez used false representations as to her identity, false threats of arrest, and claims of criminal charges against the people she was calling to make payments, according to prosecutors. The company Rodriguez worked for operated under the names Lakeside Mediations, Lincoln Mediation, Valentine Legal Mediation, First Point Mediation, State Filing and Legal Services, and Elite Services.
Along with making collection calls, Rodriguez also trained others in how to collect from individuals who were referred to as “easy targets,” prosecutors alleged.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28.
