Couple convicted for stealing $13M from US disability and homeless aid programs

A federal jury convicted a Colombian citizen and his American wife for orchestrating a nationwide fraud scheme that diverted nearly $13 million from U.S. social assistance programs. The couple faces sentencing in the coming weeks. Luis Pino Copete, 42, and Jael Watts, 45, were found guilty of defrauding subsidies from the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Their fake company, Pearl Transit Corporation, claimed to transport vulnerable people but provided no services, using false reports and stolen identities. The couple directly pocketed at least $1.6 million in federal funds, which they used for a lavish lifestyle. They married in Bogotá in 2023 and were convicted on charges related to defrauding programs meant for seniors, disabled individuals, and the homeless.