TexasBitcoin
SentencedWestern Texas

SIM Card Swapping Fraudsters Sentenced in San Antonio

Mar 16, 2023 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

This case reached the sentenced stage in the Department of Justice's public record. Everything below reflects only what the government itself announced, and links to the original release.

Trujillo was sentenced to 33 months in prison plus three years of supervised release and ordered to pay approximately $282,000 in restitution. Dounson received a split sentence of two months in prison and five years of probation and was ordered to pay $282,000 in restitution.

Announced

Mar 16, 2023

Status

Sentenced

Defendants

  • Zena Elisa Dounsonage 24 · San Antonio, Texas · sentenced
  • Andrew Percy Trujilloage 22 · San Antonio, Texas · sentenced

Charges

  • Conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and wire fraud

    Zena Elisa Dounson· pleaded guilty; sentenced to two months in prison and five years of probation, ordered to pay $282,000 in restitution

  • Conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and wire fraud

    Andrew Percy Trujillo· pleaded guilty; sentenced to 33 months in prison plus three years supervised release, ordered to pay approximately $282,000 in restitution

Financial actions

  • restitution: $282,000Restitution ordered for cryptocurrency fraud scheme
  • restitution: $282,000Restitution ordered for cryptocurrency fraud scheme
  • seizure: $250,000Cryptocurrency transferred from victims' investment accounts via SIM swapping

From the announcement

SIM Swapping is a rapidly growing type of fraud scheme that everyone should be aware of. It’s particularly dangerous because it abuses access to two-factor authentication systems which are intended to provide additional security. Anyone who uses two-factor authentication should be mindful that it is not foolproof, and to still be on the lookout for any suspicious activity involving their phones.
Jaime Esparza, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas
The defendants in this case callously devised a scheme to transfer more than $250,000 of cryptocurrency from multiple victims for their own personal gain. This sentencing brings a measure of justice to victims and holds the defendants accountable for their actions.
Oliver E. Rich Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI San Antonio Division

Investigating agencies

Federal Bureau of InvestigationU.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas

Case details

Prosecuting office
Western District of Texas
Computer Fraud And Wire Fraud ConspiracyCryptocurrency TheftInsider Threat / Employee Abuse Of AccessSim Card Swapping FraudTwo-Factor Authentication VulnerabilityVictim Restitution And Accountability

Primary source

Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.

Read the original DOJ release →

This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.