Caught: Illegal Charged with Faking ICE ‘Kidnapping’ to Garner Sympathy and Solicit Donations
On Thursday, the Justice Department announced charges against Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, a Mexican illegal living in Los Angeles, for faking an ICE “kidnapping” to garner sympathy and solicit donations.
In June, Calderon’s family and friends, alongside anti-ICE activists, held a rally for the “mom of three,” claiming she had been “abducted” by bounty hunters, and then ‘pressured’ to sign the voluntary self-deportation paperwork.
Following the family’s press conference, a fundraising page was set up to “help” Calderon.
Watch:
Press conference for Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon who was taken by immigration agents outside Jack in the Box on Wednesday June 25th in Los Angeles.
The family says since she was taken they can’t find her. pic.twitter.com/ATvUQUeA5K
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) June 30, 2025
LA Mayor Karen Bass jumped in on the fear-mongering calling Calderon “a mother from L.A.”
She’s a mother from L.A. — taken out of her car on her way to work, and then held in a warehouse as officers hoped she would “self-deport.”
No hearing. Just fear.
This doesn’t make anyone safer. https://t.co/gwkq017y4l
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 1, 2025
Now, Calderon has been charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers and is in U.S. immigration custody.
United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated, “Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public and discredit our courageous federal agents.”
“The conduct alleged in today’s complaint shows this hoax ‘kidnapping’ was a well-orchestrated conspiracy. The defendant and all those involved will face the full consequences of their conduct under federal law. I thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and all federal agents facing unprecedented levels of assaults for once again providing cool heads and professionalism during these difficult times.”
The press conference garnered media attention and stoked fear in the community. Meanwhile, Calderon’s daughter set up a GoFundMe page, requesting $4,500 and stating that Calderon “was taken by masked men in an unmarked vehicle…when she was on her way to work.” According to the complaint, this entire story was fabricated.
Video surveillance – including video of Calderon leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot and getting into a nearby sedan – as well as telephone records demonstrate Calderon fabricated the entire story. Calderon and her family knew that law enforcement was searching for her and feared for her safety, but Calderon and her family did not come forward. Instead, Calderon created what law enforcement believe to be fabricated photos of her “rescue,” made to look as if she was abused while in ICE custody and planned to hold a press conference on July 6 to increase donations to the GoFundMe page and to obtain other benefits.
HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang noted, “Diverting critical law enforcement resources is not only reckless and irresponsible, but it also endangers the community. Since early July, my office invested valuable time and resources working this alleged kidnapping investigation only to discover that it was a hoax.”
“The real cost of a fraud like this is the amount of fentanyl not seized, child predators not removed from the communities, and human trafficking victims not rescued because law enforcement re-directed resources to recover the defendant. We want to assure the public that allegations of criminal activity will be thoroughly investigated by HSI and our law enforcement partners and that those who engage in fraud and deception will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement following the DOJ’s announcement:
Earlier this month, legacy media ran with a false story that ICE agents and bounty hunters “kidnapped” Calderon at gunpoint and held her hostage in a warehouse. After her family held a press conference orchestrated by their attorney, ICE spent days investigating the kidnapping claims and searching for her — at times, literally detention cell to detention cell.
“Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles communities. Politicians and activist media peddled these smears that were designed to demonize law enforcement and evade accountability. Calderon will now face justice and the media and politicians who swallowed and pushed this garbage should be embarrassed.”
FAKE NEWS HOAX EXPOSED:
Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was NEVER arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles communities.… pic.twitter.com/p55qNSuRfJ
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 17, 2025
If convicted on all charges, Calderon would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years in federal prison on the false statements charge.
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