Cuban Man Pleads Guilty to $800K Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly Victim

Panama City, Panama - As sophisticated schemes targeting vulnerable individuals and government funds proliferate, the U.S. legal system is stepping up to combat these alarming trends. In a particularly egregious case, Michel Duarte Suárez, a 50-year-old Cuban national, orchestrated fraud from Panama that involved stealing over $800,000 from an elderly person in South Florida. Duarte’s activities, described by Cuba Headlines, reveal not only a disturbing level of deceit but also highlight the decisive actions taken by law enforcement to bring such criminals to justice.

Duarte, who pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud as well as aggravated identity theft, faces a potential sentence of up to 32 years in prison. This includes a mandatory two years tacked onto the maximum sentence. His initial charges stemmed from his actions back in September 2023, and he was finally captured in January 2025 in Panama City, after Interpol agents executed a search warrant at his residence.

The Details of Deceit

From March of 2022, Duarte had been manipulating the bank account of an 82-year-old victim, preparing and mailing dozens of forged checks that were cashed by a bank in South Florida. He allegedly instructed the bank to send 50% of the funds to his own sham company, Online Electronics. Over a period of four months, he managed to siphon off $803,146 through more than 80 fraudulent checks.

In his past, Duarte showed a pattern of similar criminal behavior, having been arrested in 2019 during „Operation Emperor“ for fraud and his involvement in the sale of stolen vehicles. His extensive criminal history spans multiple offenses, including credit card cloning and document forgery.

But Duarte isn’t the only one in the spotlight. In a larger crackdown on fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York recently unsealed an indictment against six defendants accused of attempting to fraudulently obtain approximately $80 million in COVID-19 relief funds. According to the Justice Department, these individuals utilized fake identities and sham businesses to facilitate their scheme, which led them to successfully deposit around $50 million. They even created a document titled “2021 Fraud Bible,” sharing tips on a variety of fraudulent methods.

Wider Implications of COVID-19 Fraud

As government relief programs were rolled out to support small businesses during the pandemic, some took advantage of this aid in startling ways. A recent article on the SBA’s website reported that fourteen defendants were tied to over $25 million of fraudulent claims for COVID-19 relief funds. These individuals, including residents from California, allegedly conducted their fraudulent operations through sham corporations and false loan applications.

Prominent among the accused is Vahe Margaryan, who allegedly controlled the scheme involving these fraudulent claims. Other defendants face similar charges concerning wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. The resources seized during these investigations underscore the scale of the fraud, with law enforcement confiscating cash, equipment, and even firearms.

With a dedicated COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force now in place, federal agencies are making it clear that exploiting government assistance programs will not go unpunished. Each defendant in these cases is presumed innocent until proven guilty; however, if convicted, they could face steep sentences that amount to decades behind bars.

As these cases unfold, they serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by fraud, particularly in times of crisis. It’s encouraging to see the government take decisive action against this wave of deceit, reminding us all of the importance of vigilance in protecting both vulnerable individuals and public funds.