Introduction to the Case
Two San Fernando Valley men were arrested Tuesday on federal charges alleging they ran a Van Nuys-based company that exported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of consumer electronics and gift cards, nearly all derived from criminal activities such as identity theft, credit card theft and fraud.
The Defendants and Their Company
Saman Delafraz, 32, of Woodland Hills, and Benjamin Daneshgar, 34, of Studio City, are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Delafraz and Daneshgar owned and operated Wireless World, a company that operates from warehouses in Van Nuys and New Castle, Delaware. Wireless World uses its warehouses to accumulate electronics before shipping them out of the United States, prosecutors contend.
Extent of the Fraud
Since 2019, Wireless World has exported more than $611 million in electronics from the United States, nearly all of which law enforcement believes to be crime proceeds, court papers allege. Both warehouses and Delafraz’s residence were searched Tuesday, and Wireless World’s bank accounts were seized, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sources of the Fraudulent Electronics
Delafraz and Daneshgar allegedly procured electronics and gift cards from many illicit sources, including Blade Bai, 37, of El Monte, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of federal money laundering charges. Bai sold electronics and gift cards to Wireless World that were largely derived from telephone scams in which victims were duped into buying and providing gift cards numbers over the phone, prosecutors said.
Method of Laundering Funds
The gift cards then were used to buy electronics and laundered into new gift cards to conceal the source of the funds, according to court documents. Authorities said Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 58, of Canyon Country, also sold electronics and gift cards to Wireless World, which he provided the company from December 2018 to August 2024. Thola is in federal custody and charged in a separate federal criminal case with acting as a coordinator and fence for South American crime tourism groups and other individuals who obtained electronics and gift cards using illegal means, including stolen bank cards.
Direct Involvement in Fraud
Delafraz and Daneshgar allegedly also acquired electronics directly themselves through fraud. Prosecutors allege they bought electronics from Best Buy, Home Depot, and other retailers using gift cards loaded with fraud proceeds — primarily via stolen credit cards. Those electronics often were allegedly shipped directly to the Wireless World warehouse or to mailboxes the defendants controlled.
Potential Sentence
If convicted, the defendants would each face up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted. Thola and several other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in January.
Conclusion
The case against Delafraz and Daneshgar highlights the complexity and scale of fraud operations involving consumer electronics and gift cards. The alleged involvement of multiple individuals and the use of various illicit sources to procure these items demonstrate the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies to combat such crimes.
FAQs
- Q: What are the charges against Saman Delafraz and Benjamin Daneshgar?
A: They are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. - Q: How much in electronics did Wireless World export from the United States?
A: More than $611 million since 2019. - Q: What is the potential sentence if Delafraz and Daneshgar are convicted?
A: Up to 20 years in federal prison. - Q: Who else is involved in the case and what are their roles?
A: Blade Bai and Juan Carlos Thola-Duran are among those involved, with roles including selling electronics and gift cards derived from illicit activities to Wireless World.
