Business owners indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud

-- Sue Doyle

Two Costa Mesa business owners accused of running a $700,000

telemarketing scam were indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud Wednesday by

an Orange County Grand Jury.

Ian Anthony Suite, 43, and Cecilia Margarita Castillo, 39, both of

Irvine, were arrested June 6 after FBI agents and police officers raided

their offices at 1520 Nutmeg Place. Police also searched the shared

Irvine home of Suite and Castillo.

The two are suspected of masterminding a nationwide boiler room marketing

scheme since November 1999.

Telephone solicitors allegedly told people they had won a $5,000

sweepstakes prize, but insisted that they must pay $289 in taxes and fees

before receiving the cash. The solicitors would then ask for personal

bank information, which was supposed to be used for withdrawing the taxes

and fees and depositing the winnings, said Assistant U.S. Attorney

Shannon Wright.

Both suspects are being held in Santa Ana City Jail. Castillo is being

held without bail. Suite is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. A trial

date has not yet been scheduled.

If convicted, Suite and Castillo face 30 years in prison and a $1-million

fine for each count of wire fraud.