Nationwide — Jael Watts, an African American woman from Alloway, New Jersey, and her husband Luis Pino-Copete, who is from Bogota, Colombia, were convicted of stealing more than $1.6 million in federal funds through a nationwide fraud scheme. Prosecutors said the couple used stolen identities, fake records and claims for services they never provided to collect money intended to help vulnerable Americans.
A federal jury in Utica, New York, found both defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making a false document and aggravated identity theft. Watts was also convicted of making a false statement and five counts of wire fraud. According to Atlanta Black Star, prosecutors said the couple operated Pearl Transit Corporation from July 2019 through October 2025. The company claimed to transport elderly and disabled people and provide outreach services for homeless Americans, but investigators found no drivers delivering those services. Instead, the couple allegedly fabricated customer lists, employment records and invoices using real people’s personal information. They sought more than $13 million in federal funding and collected over $1.6 million.
The investigation expanded in late 2024 after Watts submitted nearly $750,000 in reimbursement requests to the New York State Department of Transportation. The New York State Comptroller’s Office flagged the invoices, prompting an audit and a federal investigation. When officials questioned the claims, prosecutors said the couple created more fake documents using stolen identities to make the business appear legitimate. Some listed customers had died before the company claimed to have transported them, while others named as drivers had no driver’s licenses and had never driven a car. Investigators also found messages on the couple’s phones discussing how to create documents to address auditors’ questions.
Prosecutors uncovered another part of the scheme involving dental services for homeless people. The couple allegedly sought federal reimbursements for providing dental prostheses but used an unsanitary 3D printer at home to make dentures. They also charged homeless clients for mouth scans and fittings. Meanwhile, the money went toward personal expenses, including luxury shopping, travel and expensive car rentals. Investigators traced more than $100,000 in Porsche rentals and over $100,000 in purchases from Manhattan luxury clothing retailer Loro Piana. The couple also traveled to Colombia and Aruba before spending several months in Europe in 2024. Photographs presented at trial showed them visiting a Tuscan spa and a BMW plant.
Watts married Pino-Copete in Colombia in 2023, and prosecutors said he joined the scheme the following year. He entered the United States on a visa in January 2025. Investigators also cited messages in which Watts discussed their efforts and expressed confidence that they could avoid scrutiny. In one message, she wrote, “One has to be committed to this type of work…and I am committed.” She also stated, “They are not smart…we are much smarter.” New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the investigation revealed how the couple’s attempts to make their business appear legitimate fell apart under scrutiny. Federal officials added that the money could have supported public programs serving people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities and other vulnerable communities.
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 21, 2027. Each faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of 20 years, fines of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. The court may also order them to pay at least $1.9 million in restitution. Pino-Copete, who is not a U.S. citizen, could face removal from the country after serving any prison sentence. Federal officials said the case shows how fraudulent claims can divert public funds from the people who need those services.