Prosecutors allege Romero obtained and used an elderly victim’s personal identifying information to open fraudulent credit cards and execute unauthorized purchases and transfers. The complaint also alleges impersonation of the victim in communications with financial institutions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced federal fraud and identity theft charges tied to alleged misuse of an elderly victim’s personal identifying information. Prosecutors say that between 2020 and 2023, Romero used the victim’s identity to open fraudulent credit cards and to make unauthorized purchases and bank transfers. The release characterizes the scheme as both financial fraud and identity theft, reflecting that the fraud depended on obtaining the ability to move money and incur charges in the victim’s name. Beyond direct transaction activity, the government also alleges that the defendants used impersonation to deal with financial institutions. Prosecutors state that Romero allegedly impersonated the victim during communications with banks or other financial organizations, which can be used to prevent blocks, manage verification steps, or influence the outcome of account inquiries. The alleged conduct targeted a particularly vulnerable person, and it underscores how elder identity theft schemes can scale by combining stolen data with strategic communication to sustain account access. The case includes multiple fraud and identity theft charges, indicating the government views the conduct as a continuing effort to exploit stolen identity information for prolonged unauthorized financial gain. The allegations highlight the importance of monitoring accounts and watching for new accounts or transactions tied to unfamiliar identities.