Wife of Seattle Mariners Baseball Player Charged with Wire Fraud

ParkmanLawFirm
October 29, 2013

Maria Jacqueline Peguero, the wife of Seattle Mariners outfield Carlos Peguero, has been accused of using Felix Hernandez’s wife’s debit card to make over $180,000 in unauthorized purchases. Peguero allegedly used Sandra Hernandez’s card to make at least 60 purchases from Saks Fifth Avenue between June and October 2012. Authorities say that she had the items shipped to her own apartment in Fife. Maria Peguero now faces federal wire fraud charges which include penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

Morgan Stanley, the issuer of the debit card, began an investigation when it noticed the delivery address for the transactions did not match the billing address. According to court records, Morgan Stanley reimbursed the Hernandezes when the fraud was discovered and the United States Secret Service filed the charges in Tacoma, Washington.

The investigation revealed Maria Peguero was associated with an email address that was later traced to a Twitter account where agents found photographs of Peguero wearing items they believed were purchased illegally from Saks. Included in the photos was a leather purse that costs $1,750 and a blouse that costs $208.

Carlos Peguero, who has played in 65 games for the Mariners since 2011, has not been charged in this case and told authorities that his wife had told him that her brother was an employee for Saks.

Maria Jacqueline Peguero, 22, was arrested in the case but is now free on bond.

If you find yourself facing federal fraud charges, it is important to find an experienced wire fraud attorney to represent you. The attorneys of Parkman & White, LLC have a history of success in the court room and are ready to represent clients nationwide.