Mugshot of Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon.
Share this @internewscast.com

A MOM accused of faking her own kidnapping and blaming it on federal immigration agents has allegedly staged a photo for her hoax.

Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, is alleged to have orchestrated a “carefully planned scheme” to solicit donations and garner public sympathy, according to federal prosecutors.

Mugshot of Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon.
Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, is accused of faking her own kidnappingCredit: U.S. Department of Justice
Security camera footage of a woman walking in a parking lot.
Surveillance footage shows Calderon wasn’t kidnapped from Jack in the Box on June 25Credit: X/USAO_LosAngeles
Protestors holding signs demanding the return of a missing community leader.
Calderon’s community members and family during a press conference in downtown Los Angeles on June 25Credit: Facebook/ACCE Action

On Thursday, the Department of Justice revealed that Calderon, an undocumented individual residing in Los Angeles, is facing charges of conspiracy and providing false information to federal authorities.

US Attorney Bill Essayli remarked in the press release that “irresponsible claims suggesting that ICE officers are ‘abducting’ illegal immigrants are being irresponsibly spread by politicians, amplified by the media, inciting public outrage, and tarnishing the reputation of our brave federal agents.”

The DOJ released a photo of Calderon that she alleged was taken after she was kidnapped, where she appears flustered with dirt on her face and wearing a necklace.

Federal prosecutors said the brazen pictures show her “hoax kidnapping.”

JULI’S STORY

On June 30, Calderon’s family held a press conference where an attorney representing her family claimed the mom had been kidnapped at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Jack in the Box.

The lawyer claimed that Calderon, who is also called Juli, was driven to the US-Mexico southern border, where US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers demanded that she self-deport.

Calderon claimed she refused to sign the self-deportation paperwork and was taken to a warehouse where “she was punished,” according to a federal affidavit filed on Wednesday.

Her lawyer said Calderon alleged she was denied food, a bed, or blankets in the warehouse, which was in an undisclosed location.

Calderon’s daughter started a GoFundMe seeking $4,500, claiming her mom was taken by men in masks.

The fundraiser page, which has since been taken down, said Calderon is the caretaker for her daughter, two teenagers, and two adults with disabilities.

The Sun’s Katy Forrester Reporting Live from Los Angeles

“We are asking for help because we are also facing an eviction. Every single dollar could help us at this moment, and we are hoping that we could find out where they have her,” Calderon’s daughter wrote.

Now, the feds say Calderon made everything up to scam people.

‘WELL-ORCHESTRATED CONSPIRACY’

The authorities started searching for Calderon on July 3 because she wasn’t in their immigration custody records, the DOJ said.

Two days later, they tracked her to a shopping plaza in Bakersfield.

She allegedly continued to claim she was kidnapped and held in custody, the affidavit said.

Department of Homeland Security’s statement

The Department of Homeland Security issued the following statement on Thursday about the charges that Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon faces:

“Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles communities.

“Politicians and activist media peddled these smears that were designed to demonize law enforcement and evade accountability.

“Calderon will now face justice and the media and politicians who swallowed and pushed this garbage should be embarrassed.”

Source: DHS

However, phone records and surveillance footage showed her leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot on the day she claimed she was kidnapped, according to investigators.

“Calderon and her family knew that law enforcement was searching for her and feared for her safety, but Calderon and her family did not come forward,” the DOJ said.

She is also accused of creating edited pictures of her “rescue” to make it look like she was mistreated by ICE agents.

“The conduct alleged in today’s complaint shows this hoax ‘kidnapping’ was a well-orchestrated conspiracy,” Essayli said.

A GoFundMe spokesperson told The U.S. Sun, “GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform, or any attempt to exploit the generosity of others, and cooperates with law enforcement investigations of those accused of wrongdoing.

This fundraiser was removed from the platform and the $80 raised was refunded; at no point did the organizer have access to any of the funds.

If she’s convicted, Calderon could face up to five years in prison for each charge, prosecutors said.

She is currently in custody ahead of her first court appearance.

Security camera footage of a person near a vehicle.
Investigators found surveillance footage showing Calderon left the scene where she claimed she had been kidnappedCredit: KTLA
Mugshot labeled "HOAX" of a woman who claimed to be kidnapped and deported.
The Department of Homeland Security released a picture of Calderon on social media and said ‘fake news hoax exposed’Credit: X/Homeland Security

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security slammed “politicians and activist media” for promoting Calderon’s plot “designed to demonize law enforcement and evade accountability.”

“Calderon will now face justice and the media and politicians who swallowed and pushed this garbage should be embarrassed,” DHS said in a press release.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was one of the politicians who shared Calderon’s story before she was accused of faking it.

Bass spread the claims in a newly resurfaced social media post — just weeks before the migrant, Yuriana Julia “Juli” Pelaez Calderon, was accused of staging the abduction as part of an elaborate scam.

“She’s a mother from LA — taken out of her car on her way to work, and then held in a warehouse as officers hoped she would ‘self-deport,'” Bass wrote on X on July 1.

“No hearing. Just fear. This doesn’t make anyone safer.”

The case comes as President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration has taken hundreds of immigrants away from their families and homes across the country.

Earlier this year, people impersonated ICE agents and staged fake immigration raids.

Mayor Karen Bass speaking at a vigil in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaking at a prayer vigil in LA on June 10, 2025Credit: AFP
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Man killed riding illegal electric bike in crash outside UN in Manhattan

Queens Car Theft Foiled: Man Arrested with Elderly Passenger Found in Backseat

On Monday, authorities apprehended a man in Queens following a car theft…
Donations surge for fallen NY officer and new mom following tragic death at hands of DWI suspect

Community Rallies with Generous Donations for Fallen NY Officer and New Mother After Tragic DWI Incident

In the span of just 48 hours, donations have surged to nearly…
An Obamacare Relic That Needs to Go

Outdated Obamacare Provision: Why It’s Time for a Healthcare Overhaul

The content below is sponsored by Americans for Limited Government. In Washington,…
Virginia man Brendan Banfield learns fate in twisted au pair affair double-murder

Virginia Resident Brendan Banfield Faces Verdict in Disturbing Au Pair Double Murder Case

A jury in Virginia has rendered a guilty verdict against Brendan Banfield,…
DOJ opening civil rights probe after Catholic school in California broken into, vandalized

DOJ Initiates Civil Rights Investigation Following Vandalism at California Catholic School

The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department announced on Monday that…
Harvey, Illinois news: No decision made on acting Harvey mayor at 1st city council meeting since Christopher Clark death

Uncertainty Looms in Harvey as City Council Delays Decision on Acting Mayor After Christopher Clark’s Passing

In the city of Harvey, Illinois, the search for a successor to…
Savannah Guthrie asks for prayer as her mother remains missing: 'We need you'

Savannah Guthrie Seeks Community Support and Prayers Amid Mother’s Continued Absence

Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC’s “Today,” expressed heartfelt gratitude on Monday to…
Timeline: NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappears as sheriff says she may have been 'abducted'

Urgent Search Underway: Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Feared Abducted, Sheriff Confirms

TUCSON, Ariz. – Authorities in Tucson, Arizona are intensifying their efforts to…
DHS slams judge for blocking Trump admin's efforts to end deportation protections for Haitian migrants

DHS Criticizes Court Ruling Blocking Trump’s Bid to End Haitian Deportation Protections: What It Means for Migrants

The Trump administration expressed strong disapproval on Monday following a federal judge’s…
Asking Eric: Without public weigh-ins, weight-loss motivation falters

How Public Weigh-Ins Fuel Weight-Loss Success: Insights from Eric

Dear Eric: Like many, my weight fluctuates significantly. Throughout the years, I’ve…
Good Samaritan hijacks crooks’ getaway car and rams it into jewelry store during smash-and-grab: police

Heroic Citizen Takes Bold Action, Seizes Criminals’ Escape Vehicle to Thwart Jewelry Heist, Police Report

Northern California authorities are on the hunt for four armed individuals involved…
Game-Changer: Detransitioner Wins Huge Judgment in First 'Gender Affirmation' Surgery Malpractice Case

Landmark Ruling: Detransitioner Secures Significant Settlement in Pioneering ‘Gender Affirmation’ Surgery Malpractice Case

These concepts should be straightforward: First, it’s unethical to perform life-changing elective…