Feds claim pair targeted victims of telemarketers

Kim Smith

Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999 | 11:39 a.m.

Two people were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on charges they targeted victims of telemarketing frauds in order to bilk them of more than $69,000.

The indictment claims Miller Anderson obtained a list of 15 people from across the nation, who, because of their age and other conditions, had been defrauded by telemarketing firms.

According to the indictment, Anderson would then telephone the victims to tell them that they had won large cash prizes or cars, but they needed to wire him funds for taxes and processing fees.

The indictment states that Anderson would tell his victims that the money they sent would be applied toward such things as educational foundations, veterans homes and children's homes.

The victims, some of whom lived as far as way as New York and Pennsylvania, wired Anderson between $300 and $7,000 between January and December 1996.

Anderson was indicted on 44 counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting.

Christina Brock was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting. In addition to helping Anderson bilk six of the victims, she allegedly picked up some of the money that had been wired.

Also indicted Wednesday was Henry Amarillas. He was indicted on nine charges in connection with a series of robberies that took place in July.

According to the indictment, Amarillas robbed the Kopper Keg Bar, 4550 E. Tropicana Ave., the Crown and Anchor, 1350 E. Tropicana, Finnegan's Pub, 6000 S. Eastern Ave. and the Loose Caboose Bar, 3175 E. Tropicana between July 11 and July 11.

Amarillas is alleged to have stolen more than $21,000 during the robberies. Because according to prosecutors he has past convictions for leaving the scene of an accident and battery by a prisoner, Amarillas was indicted on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in addition to the charge of interference with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Bradford Ames Flack was indicted Wednesday on two bank robbery charges, and Tristan Antony Compas was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen bank robbery funds.

Six people were indicted on a charge of unlawful re-entry of a deported alien. They were Ruben Dominguez-Nafarrate, Primitivo Fuertes-Ramos, Hector Vera-Sanchez, Jose Cruz-Aguilar, Esteban Avila-Mercado and Carlos Alfredo Samaniego-Correa.