United States v. Christian Mendoza — Plea Agreement, Southern District of Florida (Document 69)
Summary
A Plea Agreement between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and Christian Mendoza in Case 1:25-cr-20178, entered on the docket August 18, 2025 as Document 69. The defendant agrees to plead guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, conspiracy to commit wire fraud under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, which carries up to twenty (20) years, and the Office agrees to seek dismissal of the remaining counts at sentencing. The parties will jointly recommend a base offense level of seven (7) and a 16-level loss enhancement for actual loss of more than $1,500,000 but less than $3,500,000. The defendant agrees to a forfeiture money judgment of $2,384,105.00, to mandatory restitution, and to waive most appeal rights.
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Cite this document
“United States v. Christian Mendoza — Plea Agreement, Southern District of Florida (Document 69).”
Original at ecf.flsd.uscourts.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/plea-agreement-usa-v-ulloa-et-al-dkt-69-s-d-fla-bbdf0211d4/
, SHA-256 c38c24cad27f7286fbc3b911e5916f67cb1292a82d3cf38fb5c6d709392c8abc.Full text
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 1 of 10
U NITED STA TE S D ISTRICT CO U R T FO R TH E
SO UTH ER N D ISTY CT OF FLO W DA
CA SE N O .25-20178-C R-* TM M
UM TED S4ATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
C H R ISTIAN M EN D O ZA ,
D efendant.
/
PLEA A G REEM EN T
TheUnitedStatesAttorney'sOflicefortheSouthem DistrictofFlodda(tlthisOf15ce''land
ChristiaaM endoza(hereinafterreferredtoastheçr efendanf')enterintothefollowingagreement:
1. TheDefendantagreesto pleàd guilty to Count1oftheIndictm ent,wllich charges
theDefendaùt.withconspirac#toco'
mmitwirefraud,inviolation ofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,
'
, Section 1349. The D efendant acknowledges that he has read a11 of the charges against him
contained in the Indictm ehtand thatthechargeshavebeen fully explained to l'
. tim by hisattorney.
ThisOffice agreesto seek dism issaloftherem aining Cotmtsofthe lndictm ent,as
to thisD efendant,atsentencing.
The D efçndant is aw are that the sentence w ill be im posed by the Court after
. considering''
the advisory'Federal Sentencing Guidelines atld Policy Statements (hereinafter
EEseniericing'Guidelinesp). The Defendantacknowledges and understands.thatthe Courtwill
'
.
.. .
com pute an ad#isory senten'
ce tm derthe Sentencing Guidelines and thatthe applicable gtlidelines
w illbe determ ined by the Courtrelying in parton theresults ofa pre-sentenceinvestigation by the
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 2 of 10
Court'sprobation office,whichinvestigationwillcomm enceaftertheguiltypleahasbeen entered.
The Defendantis also aware that,tmdercertain circum stances,the Courtm ay departfrom the
advisory sentencing guideline rangethatithas computed,and m ay raise orlowerthatadvisory
sentence under the Sentencing Guidelines. The D efendantisfurther aw are and understands that
the Courtisrequired to considerthe advisory guideline range determ ined underthe Sentencing
. Guidelines,,butisnotbotmdtoimpose'
asentencewithinthatadvisoryrange;theCourtispermitted
.
to tailorthçultim ate sentencein lightofotherstatutory concerns,and such sentencem ay be either
, m ore severeorlesssevere.than the Sentencing Guidelines'advisory range.Knowing thesefacts,
the Defendanttmderstandé and acknowledges thatthe Courthas the authority to impose apy
sentencewithinanduji
tothestattztorymaximllm authorizedby law fortheoffensets)identified
inparagraph 1andthattheDefendantm ay notwithdraw thepleasolely asaresultofthesentence
im posed.
The D efendant also lm derstands and acknow ledges thatthe Courtm ay im pose a
statutorymaximylm term ofimprisonmentofuptotwenty(20)yem'
sastoCotmt1.Inadditionto.
any period ofimprisonmentthe Courtm ay also impose apedod of supervised release ofup to
three(3)yearstocommenceattheconclusionoftheperiodofimprisonment.lnadditiontoaterm
ofimprisonm ent'and supervised release,asto Count1,the Courtm ay impose afine ofup tothe
greaterof$250,000,pursuantto18U.S.C.j3571(a)(3),ortwicethepecllniarygainorlosscaused
.
bytheoffensejzplzrsuM tto 18U.S.C.j3571(d),andmayorderforfeittlreandrestitution.
The D efendant further tm derstands and acknow ledges that, in addition to any
sentence im posed tmder paragraph 4 ofthis agreement,a specialassessmentin the am otmtof
$100.00 willbe inîposed asto each cotmt,foratotalof$100.00.The Defendantagreesthatany
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 3 of 10
specialassessm entim posed shallbe.paid atthe tim e ofsentencing.Ifthe Defendantisfinancially
tm able to pay the specialassessm ént,the D efendantagrees to presentevidence to this O ffice and
theCourtatthetim eofsentencing asto thereasonsfortheDefendant'sfailttreto pay.
6. This Offiqe reservesthe rightto inform the Courtand the probation office ofa11
factspertinenttothe.
sentencingprocess,includingallrelevantinfbrm ation concerningtheoffenses
'
comm itted,Whether charged or not,as wellas concerning the Defendant and the D efepdant's
background.Subjectpnlytotheexpresstermsofany agreed-upon sentencingrecommendations
contained in this agreem ent,thisO ffice furtherreserves therightto m ake any recom m endation as
to the quality and quatltity ofptm ishm ent.
TheDefepdantshallprovidetheProbation Officeand counselfortheUnited States
with a 111,complete and acctlrate personalfinancialstatement within thirty (30) days of
adjudication of'
guilt as contemplated in this Plea Agreement. If the Defendant provides
incomplete ortmtruthfll
'lstatem entsin hispersonalfinancialstatem ent,orfailsto timely provide
his personal financial statem ent, such action shall be deem ed a m aterial breach of this Plea
Agreem ent and the United States shallbe free to ptlrsue a11 appropdate chazges against the
, Defendant notwithstanding any agreem ents to forbear from bringing additional charges,or to
dismisscounts, otherwisesetforth m
k tllisPleaAgreem ent.
This Office agrees that itw illrecom m end at sentencing thatthe Cout'treduce by
two lèvelsthesentencingguidelinelevelapplicabletotheDefendant'soffense,plzrsuantto Section
''
,.
3E1.1(a)oftheSentencing Guidelines,basedupon theDefendant'srecognition andaffinnative
. and tim ely acceptance of personalresponsibility. lf at the tim e of sentencing the D efendant's
offense level is determined to be 16 or greater,this O ftice w ill file a m otion requesting an
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 4 of 10
.
additionaloneleveldecreasepursuantto Section 3E1.1(b)oftheSentencing Guidelines,stating
thatthe Defendanthasassisted authoritiesin the investigation orprosecution oftheDefendant's
own misconductby tim ely notifying .
authorities ofthe D efepdant's intention to enter a plea of
guilty, thereby perm itting the government to avoid preparing for trial and penuitting the
govetnm entandtheCourttoallocatetheirresourceseftk iently.ThisOffice,however,willnotbe
requit'edtomakethismotionandsentencingrecommendationiftheDefendant:(a)failsorrefuses
. to make.a 1 11,accurate and com plete disclostlre to the probation office of the circllm stances
surroundingtherelevantoffenseconductand theDefendant'spresentfinancialcondition;(b)is
fotmd to have misrepresented factsto the governmentpriorto entering into tllisplea agreem ent;
or(c)commitsanymisçonductafterenteringintothispleaagreement,includingbutnotlimitedto
'com m itting a state brfedyraloffense,violating any term ofrelease,orm aking false statem ents or
m isrepresentationsto any governmentalentity orofficial.
TheDefendantisawarethatthesentencehasnotyetbeen detennined by,
the Cotlrt.
TheDefendantis also awarethatany estim ate oftheprobable sentencing range orsentencethat
the defendantm ay receive,whetherthatestim atecom esf'
rom the D efendant'satlorney,thisO ffce,
or thè probation öffice;is a prediction,not a prom ise,and is notbinding on this Office,the
probation offce orthe Court. The defendantunderstandsfurtherthatany recom m endation that
thisO fficem akesto the Cout'tas to sentencing,w hetherptlrsuantto this agreem entoro
'therwise,
is notbinding on the C ourtand the Courtm ay disregard the recom m endation in its entitety. The
defendanttmderstandsand acknowledges,aspreviously acknowledged in paragraph 3 above,that
the D efendant m ay not withdraw llis plea based upon the Court's decision not to accept a
sentencing recom m endation m ade by the D efendant, this Office, or a recom m endation m ade
4
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 5 of 10
jointlybytheDefendantandthisOffice.
10. Atthetim eofsentencing,theDefendantwillbe f'
ree to argue foravariancefrom
theadvisory sentencing guidelinesrange.
This O ffice and the D efendant agree that,although notbinding on the probation
officeorthe'Court,they willjpintlyrecommendthattheCoul'tmakethefollowingfindingsand
conclukionsasto the sentence to be im posed'
.
(a) Base.offenseLevel:
TheDefendant'sbaseoffenselevelisseven (7),perU.S.S.G.j2B1.1(a)(1);and
(b) Loss:
Thç açtuallosscaused to investorsby the Defendant'soffense conductwasm ore
thàn$1,500,000,butlessthan$3,500,000,adding 16levelsperj2B1.1(b)(1)(1).
12.. r'
l-he partiesagree thatno other Sentencing Guidelines reductionsorenhancem ents
apply butreservethe iightto seek an.otherwise appropriate sentence perTitle 18 United States
CodeSection3553(a).
The D '
efendant agrees,in an individual and any other capacity,to forfeit to the
United States,voltmtarily and imm ediately,any right,title,and interestto any property,realor
Personal,wvchconstitutesorisderivedfrom proceedstraceabletothècommissionoftheoffense,
inviolqtionof18U.S.C.j1349,plzrsuantto 18U.S.C.j981@)(1)(C).lnaddition,thedefendant
agreestoforfeitttr:ofsubstitutepropertyptlrsuantto21U.S.C.j853419.Theproperty subjectto
forfeiture includes,butisnotlimitedto:aforfeituremoneyjudgmentof$2,384,105.00inUnited
.
Statesùurrency,wllich stlm representsthevalueoftheproperty subjecttoforfeiture,andin any
event,notlessthan the nm ountoflossdetenuined by the Courtat sentencing;
5
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 6 of 10
.14. TheDefendantfurtheragreesthatforfeittlreisindependentofany assessment,fine,
cost,restitution,orpenalty thatm ay be imposed by the Court. The Defendantknowingly and
voluntmily agrees to waive all constitm ional,legal, and equitable defenses to the forfeittlre,
including excessive fines under the Eighth A m endm ent to the U nited States Constitution.In
addition,theDefendantagreestowaive:any applicabletimelimitsforadministrativeorjudicial
forfeitureproceedings,therequirementsofFed.R.Crim.P.32.2and43(a),andany appealofthe
forfeitlzre.
15. TheDefendantalso agreesto fully andtnlthfully disclosetheexistence,natureand
location ofa11assetsiflwhich the Defendanthasorhad any directorindirectfinancialinterestor
control,and any.assetsinvolved in the offenseofconviction. The Defendântalso agreesto take
al1stepsrequested by theUnited Statesforthe recovery and forfeiture ofa11assetsidèntified by
theUnited Statesassubjecttoforfeittlre.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,thetimely delivery
upon requestofa1lnecessary and appropriate docllm entation to delivergood and m arketable title,
conseptiilgto al1ordersofforfeiture,and notcontesting orimpeding in any way with any crim inal,
civiloradm inistrativeforfeitureproceeding concem ingtheforfeittzre.
16. In f'urtheranceofthe satisfaction ofaforfeitme money judgmententered by the
Cottt'
tin thiscase,theDefendantagreestothefollowing:
submit'a fnancialstatem entto this Office upon request,within
fourteen (14)calendardaysfrom therequest;
m aintain al1assetsvalued in excessof$10,000,and notsell,llide,
waste,encllm ber,destroy,orotherwisedevaluesuch assetswithout
priorapprovaloftheUnited Vtates;
6
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 7 of 10
cooperate fully in the investigation and the identification ofassets,
'
including liquidating assets,m eeting with representatives of the
.
United States,and providing any doctlm entation requested'
,
notify, w ithin 30 days, the Clerk of the Coul't for the Southem
Districtof Florida and tllis Office of:(i) any change ofname,
'
residence,or mailing address, and (ii) any material change in
econom ic circplm stances.
The Defendantfurtherunderstandsthatproviding false orincomplete inform ation
aboutassets,'concealing assets,m aking m aterially false statem entsorrepresentations,orm nking
j,
k
orusing false w ritings ordoctlm entspertaining to assets,tnking any action thatwould im pede the
forfeiture of assets,or failing to cooperate fully in the investigation and identification of assets
'
may be used as.
éb'
asisfor:(i)separateprpsecution,including,tmder18U.S.C.j 1001.
,or(ii)
''
, recomnnendatioù.pfa denialofareduction foracceptanceofresponsibility pursuanttotheUrlited
StatesSentencingGuidelinesj3EI.I.TheDefendantfurtheragreesthatforfeitmeisindependent
ofany assessm ents,fmes,costs,restitution orders,orany otherpenalty thatm ay be imposed by
the Court.
18.
. TheDefendantacknowledgesthatbecausetheoffensesofconviction occun'edafter
April24,1.996,restitution ism andatoly withoutregard totheDefendant'sability to pay and that
the.Couz'tm ust order the D efendant to pay restitution for the full loss caused by his crim inal
condgctpupuantto 18U.S.C.j3663A.
19. TheDefendantrecognizesthatpleadingguiltym ayhaveconsequenceswithrespect
'
to llis im m igration statusif he is not a citizen ofthe U nited States. U nder federallaw ,a broad
7
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 8 of 10
range of crim esare rem ovable offenses,including the offensesto which the defendantispleading
guilty. Removaland otherimmigration consequencesarethesubjectofaseparateproceeding,
however,and the defendanttm derstands thatno one,including the defendant's attonley or the
Cotut can predicttoa certainty theeffectofthedefendant'sconviction on hisim migration status.
The defendantnevertheless affinnsthathe wantsto plead guilty regardlessofany im migration
consequences thathis plea may entail, even ifthe consequence is the defendant's autom atic
rem ovalfrom the U nited States.
The D efendantis aw are thatTitle 18,United States Code,Section 3742 and Title
28,U nited States Code,Section 1291 afford him the rightto appealthe sentence im posed in this
case.A cknow ledging this,in exchangeforthe undertalcingsm adeby the United Statesin thisplea
agreem ent,the D èfendanthereby w aivesal1rights confen'
ed by Sections 3742 and 1291to appeal
any sentence im posed,including any forfeiture or restitm ion ordered,orto appealthe'm nnner in
w hich the sentence w as im posed,tm less the sentence exceeds the m axim llm pennit-ted by statute
or isthe resultpf an upw ayd departure and/orupw m'd vadance from the advisory guideline range
.,
that.the Cout'testablishes atsentencing. The Defendantfurtherunderstandsthatnotlling in tllis
agreem entshallaffectthegovernmentlsrightand/ordutyto appealassetforth in Title 18,United
StatesCode;Section 37424b)'
and Title28,United StatesCode,Section 1291. However,ifthe
United Statesappealsthe.Defendant'ssentence puzsuantto Sections374241))and/or 1291,the
'
Defendantshallbereleasçd f'
rom theabovewaiverofappellaterights.By signing thisagreement,
the D efendantacknow ledges thatthe D efendanthas discussed the appealw aiver setforth in this
agreem ent.
w ith the Defendant'sattorney.TheD efendantfurtheragrees,togetherw ith this Office,
torequestjhatthe Courtentera specificfinding thattheDefendant'swaiverofllisrightto appeal
8
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 9 of 10
the sentencetobeimposedinthiscasewasknowing andvoltmtary.
21. D efendantagreesthatifhe failsto com ply w ith atly ofthe provisions ofthis plea
agreem ent,including the failure to tender itto the Court,m àkes false or znisleading stétem ents
beforetheCourtortoany agentsoftheUnited States,comm itsany furthercrimes,oratteniptsto
withdraw theplea(priortoorafterpleadingguiltytothechargesidentified inparagraph one(1)
above),this Office willhave the rightto characterize such conductas a breach ofthis plea
agreement.Intheeventofsuchabreach:(a)thisOfficewillbefreeâom itsobligationsunderthe
plea'
agreem ent and furtherm ay takew hateverposition itbelieves appropriate asto the sentence
andthecönditionsoftheDefendant'srelease;(b)theDefendantwillnothavetherighttowithdraw
theguiltyplea;(c)theDefendantshallbe.
fullysubjecttocriminalprosecutionforanyothercrimes
whichhe,hascommittedormightcommit,ifany,includingperjuryandobstruction ofjustice;and
(d) the Defendant waikes any protections afforded by Section 1B1.8(a) of the.Sentencing
.Guidelines,Rule 11 ofthe FederalRules.ofCrim inalProcedtlre and Rule 410 ofthe FederalRules
ofEvidence,and thisOffice willbefreeto use againsttheDefendant,directly atld indirqctly,in
any crim inal,
orcivilprocçeding any ofthe inform ation,statem ents,and m aterialsprovided by him
plzrsuantto thisplea agreem ent,including offeling into evidence orotherw ise using the Stipulated
FactdalProfferatatrialasto therem aining countsoftheIndictm ent,oron othercharges.
I
Case 1:25-cr-20178-EA Document 69 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/18/2025 Page 10 of 10
22. This is the entire plea agreem ent and tm derstanding between this O ffice and the
Defendant. Thereareno otheragreem ents,prom ises,representationsortmderstandings.
JASON A.REDING QUINONES
UN ITED STA TES ATTORN EY
SOUT ERN D CT OF FLORIDA
Date:F /? QT By:
ogerCruz
ssistantUnited atesAttorney
Date:T r zr By:
A nm G opalRavindran
Attorney forD ndant
çl
Date: #'F ZF By:
'
. C istiN endoza
D efenda
'n
10
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