Show-Me State Times

A New Jersey resident has admitted his involvement in a conspiracy targeting elderly victims. Andy R. Miqui-Castillo, 35, from Newark, entered a guilty plea in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

Miqui-Castillo confessed to being recruited in October 2023 as a courier for a scheme that deceived elderly individuals by impersonating representatives from financial institutions or government agencies. The conspirators falsely informed the victims that their accounts were compromised and involved in illegal activities, prompting them to hand over cash or valuables to halt these fictitious actions.

According to court documents, Miqui-Castillo collected or attempted to collect more than $550,000 in cash and gold bars from four victims during October and November 2023. For his role, he received $4,500 as compensation. He reportedly picked up $50,000 in cash and two 100-gram gold bars from two New York victims and five 1-kilogram gold bars from a victim in North Carolina.

Law enforcement arrested Miqui-Castillo on November 17, 2023, while he was attempting to retrieve three 1-kilogram gold bars valued at $196,000 from a victim located in the St. Louis area.

Miqui-Castillo's sentencing is set for February 11, 2025. The charge could result in a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment or a fine of $250,000—or both.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is responsible for prosecuting the matter.