Woman Gets 40 Months for Pyramid Scheme
A Palmdale woman pleaded no contest Friday to conspiracy and other felony charges for her role in a pyramid scheme that bilked hundreds of working-class Latinos out of more than $2.5 million, prosecutors said.
Alejandra Nunez, 40, was sentenced to 40 months in state prison for her participation in La Luz de Oro, a Panorama City telecommunications company.
Members paid $75 to join the company and were required to attend meetings and purchase long-distance telephone cards. They were told they could share in the profits of the phone services and qualify for free homes and cars if they persuaded others to join, police said.
A jury convicted the ringleaders of the scheme, Mercedes Navarette, her husband, Felix, and Mercedes’ daughter, Joan Frederick, on similar charges last month.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
