Miami Resident Extradited From Argentina

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) announced that on October 3, 2013, Jose L. Quijano formerly of Miami, was extradited from Argentina to the United States.  Quijano fled to Argentina on June 7, 2011, prior to sentencing. 

OIG agents shared intelligence with INTERPOL and Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service agents and they coordinated with Argentine Police, who arrested Quijano in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 20, 2011.

Quijano, 45, was sentenced in absentia on June 27, 2011, by U.S. District Judge Adalberto J. Jordan in the Southern District of Florida to 46 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $956,251 in restitution.  Quijano pleaded guilty on Feb. 9, 2011, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud Ex-Im Bank of approximately $956,251.

According to court documents, Quijano was the owner of Gangaland, USA LLC, an electronics exporting company located in Miami that purported to be in the business of purchasing and exporting electronic and computer parts to foreign buyers in South America.  Quijano admitted that he and others conspired to defraud the Ex-Im Bank by devising a scheme to obtain money and property by false and fraudulent pretenses.  According to court records, Quijano and others obtained loans guaranteed by the Ex-Im Bank and misappropriated the loan proceeds for their own use and benefit.  From 2008 through 2010, Quijano, through Gangaland, acted as an exporter in 96 loan transactions insured by the Ex-Im Bank and received approximately $3,637,806 in proceeds.  Quijano admitted that he and others falsified financial statements, waybills, purchase orders and bills of lading to falsely represent to various lending banks, including the Ex-Im Bank, that the purchase and export of U.S. goods was for buyers in South America.  According to court records, all of the loans involving Gangaland were fraudulent and no U.S. goods of any kind were shipped to South American buyers.  As a result of the fraud the Gangaland loans went into default, causing the Ex-Im Bank to pay claims losses to the lending banks in the amount of $902,450.

This case is being prosecuted by the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Donley and Trial Attorney William Bowne; with the assistance of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.  Significant assistance was provided to this fugitive investigation by the Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs; the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; INTERPOL; and the United States Marshals Service.

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing.  Ex-Im Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance, and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. 

Ex-Im Bank OIG is an independent office within Ex-Im Bank. The OIG receives and investigates complaints and information concerning violations of law, rules or regulations, fraud against Ex-Im Bank, mismanagement, waste of funds, and abuse of authority connected with Ex-Im Bank's programs and operations. Complaints and reports of waste, fraud, and abuse related to Ex-Im Bank programs and operations can be reported to the OIG hotline at 888-OIG-EXIM (888-644-3946) or via email at [email protected].

SOURCE Office of Inspector General for the Export-Import Bank of the United States