Gilberto Barron, 26, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other felonies in a $10 million scheme involving a federal inmate from Clovis. According to court records, Barron conspired with Seth Depiano, 44, who was serving a 12-year prison sentence for a prior multimillion-dollar fraud.
The scheme involved creating fake identities for real estate agents and shell companies that mirrored legitimate businesses. Barron and his crew would use these fake entities to market properties online at discounted prices to unsuspecting buyers. The properties included those of deceased individuals, and the sales were closed with fabricated deeds and title reports.
Barron and others laundered their ill-gotten gains primarily through Las Vegas casinos by placing large amounts of money into gaming machines and quickly cashing out without significant gaming activity. This was done to conceal the proceeds from their cons.
Zahria Barber, 28, a co-conspirator from Las Vegas, received one year in prison for her involvement in laundering money in exchange for payments towards living expenses and student loans.
Barron faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering. He also faces a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department with assistance from the FBI and the Nevada Attorney General's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody Chapple and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.