PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – One of two men who were arrested Tuesday after the U.S. Secret Service served a search warrant at a home in Pembroke Pines appeared in federal court Wednesday.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office and Pembroke Pines police assisted Secret Service agents during the execution of the warrant near Southwest 156th Avenue and 12th Street in Pembroke Pines’ Grand Palms Country Club community.
Video shows law enforcement officials behind vehicles with their guns drawn towards the house at the center of the investigation.
Local 10 News reporter Janine Stanwood was told Willan Pupo, 36, who lives at the home, was not in court because he tested positive for COVID-19.
His alleged co-conspirator, Joel Castillo, 38, however, was in court.
Prosecutors alleged in court that from February to July of this year, the men committed wire fraud, money laundering and conspired to commit access device fraud.
The men are accused of obtaining point-of-sale devices and then using credit cards to make charges to move funds from bank accounts before any of it was detected as fraud.
According to a federal criminal complaint, the pair put nearly $1 million in fraudulent charges on the point-of-sale devices. The two are accused of linking the devices to fake companies linked to Pupo’s address.
On Tuesday, neighbors told Local 10′s Joseph Ojo that they heard loud bangs and law enforcement saying, “This is your last chance to come out.”
One neighbor said because they consider this a safe neighborhood, the SWAT scene was overwhelming.
“Booms to open the door, but yeah, no, it’s scary,” one neighbor said. “We just had been peeking through the window here and stuff, and watching it.”
“Big booms, big booms,” she added. “There were SWAT guys all over the place.”
The Secret Service declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the investigation.
“The Miami Field Office is not in a position to comment on the nature of the involvement of the U.S. Secret Service in this matter,” Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros, of the U.S. Secret Service’s Miami Field Office, said in a statement. “As with any potential investigation, any future actions would be disclosed in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida.”
Castillo’s bond was set at more than $160,000.
His arraignment is coming up later this month.