North Charlotte Today

A federal grand jury has indicted Matias Alexander Vinces Aguayo, a 24-year-old former resident of Gastonia, North Carolina, for allegedly conspiring to launder over $380,000 from a wire fraud scheme. The announcement was made by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, alongside Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Charlotte Division.

The indictment claims that Aguayo operated Keys ‘N Go, a company based in Gastonia with online payment processing accounts at Stripe and Square. He is also alleged to have controlled personal and business bank accounts under Keys ‘N Go and maintained a cryptocurrency exchange account at Binance.US.

The allegations state that Aguayo's co-conspirators used fraudulently obtained personally identifying information to open bank accounts online. These accounts received promotional money and other illicit funds, which were then deposited into the bank accounts. A co-conspirator reportedly provided Aguayo with this bank account information, enabling him to withdraw money via Keys ‘N Go's Stripe and Square accounts.

Further allegations suggest that after receiving deposits into the Keys ‘N Go bank account, a co-conspirator instructed Aguayo to transfer the proceeds to overseas bank accounts in Pakistan and cryptocurrency addresses. It is claimed that Aguayo transferred at least $240,000 through these channels and received compensation by keeping a percentage of the deposited funds.

If convicted on the money laundering conspiracy charge, Aguayo faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.

U.S. Attorney King expressed gratitude towards the FBI for their investigation efforts. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley from Charlotte.