Woman faked kidnapping by ICE to raise money for herself

In the United States, Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old resident of South Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers following an alleged hoax kidnapping. This event unfolded after a press conference held on June 30, where Calderon's family claimed that she was kidnapped by masked men in unmarked vehicles outside a Jack in the Box restaurant on June 25, 2023. They alleged that she was forcefully taken to the border in San Ysidro, where she was supposedly presented with self-deportation paperwork and subsequently held in a warehouse. The circumstances of this incident sparked significant concern and generated public interest, especially due to the sensitive nature of immigration enforcement and allegations against federal agents. According to the Department of Justice, the investigation revealed that the entire kidnapping story was fabricated. Surveillance footage from the Jack in the Box parking lot contradicts the family's claims, showing Calderon calmly entering a sedan rather than being forcefully abducted. After further inquiry, it was confirmed that she was not in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting Homeland Security Investigations to launch a search for her. On July 5, agents found Calderon in a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield, California, where she continued to assert that she had been kidnapped. Compounding the situation, Calderon's daughter created a GoFundMe page aimed at raising $4,500 to help with their supposed distress over her kidnapping. In an effort to attract donations, the page described Calderon as a dedicated single mother facing eviction, painting a desperate picture of their circumstances. However, this GoFundMe page was later taken down by the platform for violating its policies, and only $80 was raised before it was shut down. The allegations became part of a broader narrative about the treatment of undocumented individuals in the United States, leading to reflections on the rhetoric surrounding ICE and immigrant enforcement practices. Following the incident, there was backlash against public figures who originally supported Calderon's claims, notably Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was criticized for promoting what turned out to be a hoax. The response from federal officials underscored the potential dangers of such fabrications, stating that they divert law enforcement resources from addressing real issues pertaining to community safety and crime. Calderon could face a maximum of ten years in federal prison if convicted on both charges, which emphasizes the seriousness of the allegations and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of such deceitful actions.