Woman who claimed masked ICE agents kidnapped her set to plead guilty to hoax

A Los Angeles woman accused of faking her own kidnapping by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to generate sympathy and solicit donations is expected to plead guilty Monday to a federal conspiracy charge.

Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 42, has agreed to enter the plea in Los Angeles federal court after prosecutors accused her of orchestrating an elaborate hoax that sparked public outrage and prompted a federal investigation.

The Mexican national, who authorities say was living in the U.S. illegally, allegedly claimed she had been abducted by masked immigration agents outside a Jack in the Box restaurant in downtown Los Angeles in June 2025.

Her attorney told reporters at a June 30 news conference that Calderon had been taken to San Ysidro, near the Mexican border, where an ICE officer presented her with voluntary self-deportation paperwork.

When she refused to sign the documents and demanded access to a judge and lawyer, the attorney claimed she was “punished” by federal agents and transferred to an undisclosed warehouse, where she was allegedly abused.

But federal prosecutors say the entire story was fabricated to attract public sympathy and raise money.

Calderon’s daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $4,500, claiming her mother had been “taken by masked men in an unmarked vehicle” while traveling to work.

The fundraising appeal described Calderon as the head of a household supporting two teenage children and two adults with disabilities. It also said the family was facing eviction.

“We are asking for help because we are also facing an eviction. Every single dollar could help us at this moment,” her daughter wrote.

The campaign raised just $80 before GoFundMe removed it and refunded donors.

A company spokesperson previously told The Independent that the fundraiser had been taken down and that its organizer never received the money.

The alleged kidnapping attracted widespread attention amid growing criticism of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the administration’s use of masked federal agents in deportation operations.

An immigrant rights organization, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, also publicized Calderon’s purported disappearance, demanding her return and calling for justice.

However, federal authorities became suspicious after discovering that Calderon had never been held in immigration custody.

On July 3, 2025, investigators began searching for her, deploying Department of Homeland Security personnel over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Two days later, agents located Calderon in a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield, roughly two hours north of Los Angeles.

According to prosecutors, she continued to insist that masked men had abducted her and detained her alongside other people.

Investigators subsequently reviewed surveillance footage showing Calderon leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot and entering a nearby sedan. Prosecutors said telephone records also undermined her account.

Authorities alleged that Calderon and her relatives knew federal agents were searching for her but failed to reveal her whereabouts.

“Calderon and her family knew that law enforcement was searching for her and feared for her safety, but Calderon and her family did not come forward,” the US Attorney’s Office said.

Instead, prosecutors alleged, Calderon staged photographs of her supposed rescue to make it appear that she had suffered abuse while in federal immigration custody.

She also allegedly planned another news conference for July 6 to attract further donations and other benefits.

The Department of Homeland Security accused Calderon of deliberately attempting to discredit the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations.

“Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters,” a DHS official said, accusing her of diverting federal resources away from other investigations.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli previously described the alleged scheme as a “well-orchestrated conspiracy.”

“The defendant and all those involved will face the full consequences of their conduct under federal law,” he said.

Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang said the investigation had wasted resources that could otherwise have been directed toward combating drug trafficking, child exploitation and human trafficking.

“Diverting critical law enforcement resources is not only reckless and irresponsible, but it also endangers the community,” Wang said.

Calderon was initially charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers.

Under her plea agreement, she is expected to admit to one count of conspiracy. If the court accepts the plea, she could face up to five years in federal prison at sentencing.

A co-defendant, Yvette Estrada, has already pleaded guilty to a federal charge and is scheduled to be sentenced November 30.

Calderon’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.