Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon pleads guilty to fake ICE kidnapping hoax

Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 43-year-old Mexican national living in the United States illegally, has pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court to conspiracy to impede and obstruct the lawful functions of Homeland Security Investigations.

Calderon orchestrated an elaborate hoax in June 2025, claiming she was abducted by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from a Jack in the Box parking lot in downtown Los Angeles. Her attorney previously alleged that Calderon was taken to San Ysidro and subsequently abused in an undisclosed warehouse after refusing to sign voluntary self-deportation paperwork.

Federal prosecutors stated the story was entirely fabricated to garner public sympathy and solicit donations. Following the claims, Calderon’s daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $4,500, describing her mother as a victim of masked men in an unmarked vehicle. The Department of Homeland Security noted the hoax was designed to malign immigration enforcement efforts and diverted resources from legitimate operations.

Calderon faces up to five years in federal prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for February 8.