DOJ alleges Natacha Lezcano and her son Daniel Romero used an elderly victim’s personal information to open fraudulent credit cards and move money without authorization. Prosecutors say Romero impersonated the victim to communicate with financial institutions while Lezcano faces related charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice (USAO, Southern District of Florida) says Natacha Lezcano and her son, Daniel Romero, face federal charges tied to identity theft and financial fraud involving an elderly victim. DOJ alleges the defendants moved in as a caregiver family and then exploited the victim’s personal identifying information to carry out unlawful financial activity. According to the indictment described by DOJ, the scheme included opening fraudulent credit cards, making unauthorized purchases, and initiating unauthorized electronic transfers. Prosecutors say Romero specifically impersonated the victim in communications with financial institutions, using the victim’s purported identity to facilitate or justify transactions and hamper detection. The release also indicates Lezcano is charged with misprision in connection with the alleged scheme. The case highlights a common pattern in identity-theft crimes: perpetrators who gain access to a victim through caregiving or close contact can use that access to harvest personal information and then leverage it across banking and credit systems. DOJ’s allegations show how impersonation can be used not just at the time of account opening, but also during interactions with banks and card issuers to sustain fraudulent activity.