Matthew Cox | Inside True Crime Podcast Venezuelan Fraudster Exposes Government Scam!
Jan 29, 2026
Juan Sanchez, a Venezuelan former real estate operator turned convicted fraudster, recounts running large-scale mortgage scams and laundering money for corrupt officials. He describes kidnappings, cooperating with U.S. authorities, helping capture a Venezuelan judge, prison life, and rebuilding after release. Multiple short, gripping stories reveal the chaos behind the scheme.
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Facebook Funded Legal Help While Incarcerated
- Juan crowd-funded $45,000 for new counsel via viral Facebook posts and community fundraising.
- Donations from friends and strangers paid his attorney, enabling him to cooperate against Venezuelan targets.
Cooperating Across Agencies To Build Cases
- Juan cooperated with DEA, FBI, HSI, and IRS, testifying before a grand jury and helping open indictments.
- He expected sentence reductions but was told arrests of targets were necessary to secure benefits.
Orchestrating A Visa Sting To Capture A Judge
- Juan proposed tricking a Venezuelan judge into coming to Orlando by falsely approving his visa, which led to the judge's arrest on arrival.
- That sting resulted in the arrest of Benny Palmieri and later convictions.
