WASECA — A New Jersey woman is accused of swindling a Waseca man out of money in a scheme involving threats to send cartel members after him and his family.
Erica Gutierrez, 38, of Paterson, New Jersey, was charged with felonies for theft by swindle and receiving stolen property Thursday in Waseca County District Court.
The man told police he paid Gutierrez two payments adding up to $2,500 through Venmo on July 17. Someone identified only as “Jordan” texted the man threatening to send Mexican cartel members after the man and his family if he didn’t send the money to the Venmo account, according to a criminal complaint.
“Jordan” reportedly sent the man violently explicit images of people appearing to be deceased, along with a video of a masked male saying he’d find the man’s family if he didn’t pay. Another individual in the video pointed a handgun at the camera, the complaint states.
Police reviewed phone numbers, emails, Venmo and bank account information linking Gutierrez to the incident, according to the complaint. A detective attempted to contact her but there was no answer.
Her first appearance in court is scheduled for Feb. 25.