Big Scam Targets Kimball Man

A Miami, Florida, man is charged with three offenses in Kimball County Court, including theft by deception of more than $5,000, conspiracy to commit a Class 2 felony, and abuse of a vulnerable adult in Kimball.

Abraham Espinoza has been released on 10% of $100,000 bond. His preliminary hearing will be held Oct. 13. According to court records, he may appear by telephone or Zoom. Espinoza is represented by Scottsbluff attorney Audrey Long.

The apparent victim had withdrawn $20,000 from a local bank, then another $10,000, according to court records. The bank contacted Kimball Police Chief Jose Ruiz “with concerns of fraudulent activity on” the victim’s account.

The fraudulent activity began when the victim’s computer locked up. Then a pop-up screen appeared with a phone number.

According to court records, a female answered the victim’s call and told him that his “bank account had been hacked from Russia and China, and they were going to withdraw $37,000 from the his account to hold so the money wasn’t stolen from his account.”

On June 20, the affidavit states that the victim packed the money according to instructions. A Hispanic male showed up at the victim’s house, and the money in a shoebox was given to a Hispanic male.

A week later, after another conversation and instructions from the female, the victim withdrew $10,000 from his bank account and was to package $3,000 in the same manner. The female kept the victim on the phone for detail on the delivery of the $20,000.

Once again, a male Hispanic using the correct codeword arrived at the victim’s home, and the victim delivered the package to “the runner.” By this time, the bank had contacted the police, and the victim was aware of the conspiracy.

The victim informed Chief Ruiz that the individual had just left his residence, and Chief Ruiz arrested Abraham Espinoza just blocks from the victim’s home.