An Orange County company’s owner and three others were arrested on Thursday, Nov . 20, on a federal indictment alleging they cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of more than $90 million, money that prosecutors say was used to purchase homes, rental properties and luxury vacations.
Lorena Padilla, 49, of Villa Park, the case’s lead defendant, is charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and six other counts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Also arrested:
— Selina Medina Preciado, 30, of Whittier, Padilla’s daughter
— Carlos Padilla, 40, of Chino, Lorena Padilla’s brother
— Pablo Araque, 55, of Downey
Two other defendants charged — Melanie Medina, 31, of Yorba Linda, who also is Lorena Padilla’s daughter; and Susana Cardenas, 45, of Long Beach — are expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks. Law enforcement is looking for defendant Janine J. Garcia, 39, also known as “Janette Ortega” of Seal Beach.
Federal prosecutors allege that along with tax fraud, the defendants defrauded numerous clients by failing to pay employment taxes withheld from the wages of temporary workers — many of them described as undocumented immigrants.
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