NEW YORK – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker announced the Nov. 18 conviction of Wilson Daniel Freita Da Costa of one count of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft for his role in a scheme to use forged documents on Angolan Government letterhead to deceive a subdivision of the GE Company and the Angolan Government. Following a two-week trial, a jury convicted Da Costa, a 51-year-old a naturalized U.S. citizen, of one count of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
"The defendant made millions of dollars in kickbacks from his massive fraud scheme. His conviction serves as a reminder of the success that HSI's El Dorado Task Force can achieve through its strong partnerships and its unmatched investigative skillset," said Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. "No amount of money can protect Mr. Da Costa from the consequences of his actions, and HSI is proud to have played a role in bringing him to justice."
According to the investigation, public filings, and evidence presented at trial:
In or about October 2017, Da Costa, the former Chief Executive Officer of GE Angola, disseminated fake documentation on Angolan Government letterhead, purportedly signed by officials from the Angolan Government and purportedly showing the Angolan Government’s commitment to purchase more GE-manufactured turbines than the Angolan Government had actually agreed to purchase. These forged documents were then used to justify and support payouts from a $1.1 billion loan from a subdivision of the GE Company to the Angolan Government.
Subsequently, when questions arose about the number of turbines the Angolan Government had actually purchased, Da Costa lied and continued to rely on the same forged documents that he had previously disseminated. For his efforts, Da Costa received millions of dollars in kickback payments from the founder of a local Angolan company that had contracts to supply the Angolan Government with the GE-manufactured turbines.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding coordination of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Members of the public who have information about the alleged crimes are encouraged to call the toll-free HSI Tip Line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.
HSI New York leads and directs all operational and administrative activities of the El Dorado Task Force (EDTF). The EDTF is the premier money laundering task force in the nation and is comprised of more than 200 law enforcement personnel representing approximately thirty-five (35) federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The EDTF encompasses a standalone Cyber Division as part of an effort to stay abreast of emerging criminal threats and in keeping with current and future investigative priorities. The mission of the EDTF is to disrupt, dismantle, or render ineffective, organizations involved in the laundering of proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other financial crimes. Since its inception in 1992, the Task Force has been responsible for the seizure of approximately $600 million and more than 2100 arrests.