LAWFUEL- Press Release Service – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern
District of Florida, and Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge,
United States Postal Inspection Service, announced today that on July
13, 2006, after a six (6) day trial before U.S. District Judge Federico
A. Moreno, a jury found defendant Pedro B. Gonzalez guilty of five (5)
counts of mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Section 1341, and five (5) counts of wire fraud in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Sections 1343.
Gonzalez faces a maximum statutory sentence of one hundred and
ten (110) years, and mandatory restitution. U.S. District Judge Federico
A. Moreno set sentencing for September 21, 2006.
The evidence at trial showed that Gonzalez was the owner and
President of Nations Capital Credit Corporation and Excel Investment
Group Corporation in Miami Lakes, Florida. Both Nations and Excel
purportedly engaged in the business of obtaining equipment financing.
Gonzalez solicited small businesses and individuals throughout the
United States, promoting Nations and Excel as a source for financing,
and offering to obtain financing to purchase or lease equipment on
favorable terms. Gonzalez required the businesses and individuals to pay
advance fees ranging from $1,000 to $51,000 as a condition for obtaining
their financing. The Indictment alleged that Gonzalez obtained over
$250,000 from at least fifty (50) individuals and businesses by making
material misrepresentations concerning his ability to obtain financing,
and falsely promising that if he failed to deliver financing at the
promised terms, or if the transaction was not consummated, he would
fully refund the deposits.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Postal
Inspection Service, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Florida Office
of Financial Regulation. The case is being prosecuted by Special
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Gurwitz and Assistant United
States Attorney Rosa Rodriguez-Mera.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the
United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at
www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be
found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of
Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
