Yunier Pérez Bertemati, a 40-year-old Cuban national, has been formally charged by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida for a range of offenses tied to immigration fraud, identity theft, and illicit financial activities. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Pérez Bertemati faces 22 counts, including device access fraud, possession and trafficking of unauthorized device-making equipment, aggravated identity theft, making false statements on an immigration application, and lying to a federal agent.
The investigation, significantly aided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), uncovered that between November 2023 and January 2025, Pérez Bertemati was involved in selling fake credit and debit cards containing stolen account information from victims. Additionally, he dealt in "data skimming" equipment, which are devices used to capture credit or debit card information when used at point-of-sale terminals, such as gas stations or ATMs.
Fraudulent Immigration Activities
In the realm of immigration, Pérez Bertemati recently applied for U.S. citizenship but provided false statements both on his naturalization application and during an interview with a USCIS officer. According to federal court records, the case USA v. Pérez Bertemati was officially filed on May 1, 2025, in the Middle District of Florida court, under case number 6:25-cr-00120. An initial complaint (case 6:25-mj-01270) was previously filed on March 20 and was sealed by order of Magistrate Judge Robert M. Norway at the prosecution’s request, indicating the confidential nature of the early investigation stages.
Potential Legal Consequences
If convicted, Pérez Bertemati faces maximum penalties of 10 years in federal prison for each count of device access fraud, 15 years for charges related to device-making equipment, 10 years for false statements on his immigration application, and 5 years for lying to a federal agent. Furthermore, the judicial authorities may impose a mandatory 2-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft charges. In addition, the indictment notifies Pérez Bertemati that the U.S. intends to recover $9,650, which is allegedly the profit from his criminal activity.
Corporate Connections
Records from the Florida Department of State show that Pérez Bertemati was the president and registered agent of Alejandro Trucking Inc, based in Orlando. The company was established on July 24, 2014, and dissolved administratively on September 24, 2021, due to failure to file required annual reports. Although this company has not been officially linked to the current charges, having a corporate entity in the accused's name could provide additional insights in the federal investigation, particularly if it was used as a front for his illegal activities.
This case, in addition to USCIS, involved the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (ICE), and the Law Enforcement Compliance Office of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. "This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative that brings together all resources of the Department of Justice to counter illegal immigration, eradicate cartels and international criminal organizations, and protect our communities from violent crime perpetrators," USCIS stated in a release.
Legal Implications of Immigration Fraud in the U.S.
What are the charges against Yunier Pérez Bertemati?
Yunier Pérez Bertemati faces 22 charges, including device access fraud, possession and trafficking of unauthorized device-making equipment, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements on immigration applications.
What penalties could Pérez Bertemati face if convicted?
If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each device access fraud charge, 15 years for device-making equipment charges, 10 years for false statements on immigration applications, 5 years for lying to a federal agent, and a mandatory 2-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.
How does the involvement of Alejandro Trucking Inc relate to the case?
While not officially linked to the current charges, the existence of Alejandro Trucking Inc, of which Pérez Bertemati was president, could offer additional insights into the investigation, potentially serving as a front for illicit activities.