Press Release
A federal indictment has been returned charging the husband and wife owners of Cazadores Mexican Restaurants in Pensacola, Florida with conspiring to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.
The federal indictment alleges that Ismael B. Rodriguez, 45, and his wife, Maria Rodriguez, 41, were involved in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud based upon a fraudulent life insurance claim. The indictment outlines a scheme wherein the defendants traveled to Mexico in 2008 and faked the death of Ismael B. Rodriguez. Maria Rodriguez is alleged to have then returned to the United States with a fraudulent Mexican death certificate in an attempt to obtain approximately $2 million worth of life insurance on her husband. In reality, Ismael B. Rodriguez was alive and later located by law enforcement.
The defendants made their initial appearance today in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Miles Davis. Judge Davis ordered that both defendants be subject to electronic home monitoring pending trial. The defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count if convicted.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Florida Department of Financial Services – Fraud Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
An indictment is merely a formal charge by the grand jury. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.