NJ Couple Plead Guilty in $62M Illegal Money Transfer Scheme

Prosecutors say the pair used fake companies and a porn website to secretly move funds from the U.S. to Colombia.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A New Jersey-based couple has admitted to illegally moving over $60 million to Latin America. 23-year-old Nicholas Ortega Munoz, a Colombian national formerly of Hackensack, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. 23-year-old Isabella Valderrama Ospina, also of Hackensack, pleaded guilty to charges of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of illegal money transfers and the use of complex schemes to avoid law enforcement detection. It also raises concerns about the potential for online platforms, like adult websites, to be exploited for illicit financial activities.

The details

Federal authorities stated that Ortega Munoz, Ospina, and others employed a scheme to covertly transfer money from the United States to Colombia through two fictitious companies, BLK Graphics Group and Technology SD. Those sham companies were used to funnel money deposited from porn websites and other entities to Latin America and avoid law enforcement detection. Between April 2021 and June 2025, the two companies moved over $62 million to accounts in Colombia.

  • In April 2021, the scheme began.
  • The scheme continued until June 2025.

The players

Nicholas Ortega Munoz

A 23-year-old Colombian national formerly of Hackensack, New Jersey, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Isabella Valderrama Ospina

A 23-year-old from Hackensack, New Jersey, who pleaded guilty to charges of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business.

BLK Graphics Group

A fictitious company used to covertly transfer money from the United States to Colombia.

Technology SD

Another fictitious company used to covertly transfer money from the United States to Colombia.

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What’s next

Sentencing for Ortega Munoz is scheduled for June 23rd, and two days later for Ospina.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of illegal money transfers and the use of complex schemes to avoid law enforcement detection, as well as the potential for online platforms to be exploited for illicit financial activities.