LOS ANGELES
Federal authorities announced the arrest of two San Fernando Valley men accused of operating a massive fraud scheme that exported more than $611 million in electronics and gift cards obtained through identity theft, credit card fraud, and other scams, officials announced Tuesday.
Defendants Identified
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Saman Delafraz, 32, of Woodland Hills
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Benjamin Daneshgar, 34, of Studio City
Both men face federal conspiracy to commit money laundering charges and are expected to make their first court appearances in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison.
Operation Wireless World
According to federal affidavits, Delafraz and Daneshgar owned Wireless World, a company with warehouses in Van Nuys, California, and New Castle, Delaware. Since 2019, investigators say the business exported consumer electronics and gift cards worth hundreds of millions of dollars, most believed to be purchased with stolen funds.
Authorities searched both warehouses and Delafraz’s residence. They also seized Wireless World’s bank accounts.
Links to Prior Federal Cases
The investigation ties Delafraz and Daneshgar to known fraudsters:
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Blade Bai, 37, of El Monte – serving a 15-year prison sentence for money laundering. Bai supplied electronics and gift cards linked to telephone scams, where victims were tricked into buying gift cards and handing over codes.
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Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 58, a.k.a. “Parcero,” of Canyon Country – accused of supplying stolen electronics and gift cards between 2018 and 2024. He remains in federal custody and is scheduled for trial in January 2026 on separate federal charges tied to South American crime tourism groups.
Fraudulent Purchases from Major Retailers
Prosecutors say Delafraz and Daneshgar also purchased merchandise directly from Best Buy, The Home Depot, and other retailers. They allegedly used fraudulently loaded gift cards, many tied to stolen credit cards, to buy electronics that were then shipped overseas or funneled through mailboxes they controlled.
Federal Criminal Complaint
Authorities emphasized that the charges are currently allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.