A couple from New Jersey has pleaded guilty to charges related to operating unlicensed money transmitting businesses that moved more than $60 million from the United States to Colombia. The announcement was made by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
Nicholas Ortega Munoz, 23, a Colombian national who previously lived in Hackensack, New Jersey, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court. He faced an Information charging him with conspiracy and operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. Isabella Valderrama Ospina, also 23 and residing in Hackensack, pleaded guilty before Judge Wigenton to operating and aiding and abetting such a business.
Court documents and statements revealed that Ortega Munoz, Valderrama Ospina, and others created two fake companies—BLK Graphics Group and Technology SD—to secretly transfer large sums of money from the United States to Colombia. These companies were not registered as required by FinCEN for money transmitting businesses.
The scheme involved using several bank accounts at different financial institutions under the names of BLK Graphics Group and Technology SD. Money deposited into these accounts came from pornographic websites and other sources. One example provided described how consumers paid adult performers with online “tokens,” which were then withdrawn into the companies’ accounts before being quickly transferred to shell companies in Colombia. Between April 2021 and June 2025, over $62 million was moved through this method.
Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison as well as a fine that could reach $250,000 or twice the gain or loss resulting from the offense—whichever is greater. Sentencing for Ortega Munoz is set for June 23, 2026; sentencing for Valderrama Ospina will follow on June 25, 2026.
Senior Counsel Lamparello acknowledged special agents from the FBI’s Newark Field Office under Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy as well as investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their roles in securing these guilty pleas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Toll is representing the government in this case.
Defense attorneys are Ileana Montes for Nicholas Ortega Munoz and Tyler Newman for Isabella Valderrama Ospina.
