The Brief Jael Watts and Luis Pino-Copete were convicted of a multi-million-dollar plot stealing money from federal programs. The couple operated a fraudulent shell company based in New Jersey where they ran the scheme for several years. Money illegally obtained by Watts and Pino-Copete from the programs was spent in part on expensive clothes, vacations and car rentals.



A man and woman were by a jury convicted of arranging a nationwide scheme to steal millions of dollars in federal program funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), designed to benefit elderly, disabled, and homeless Americans.

Jael Watts, 45, of Alloway, New Jersey, and Luis Pino-Copete, 42, of Bogota, Colombia were convicted for their crimes.


The Department of Justice said in a release that Watts was convicted of one count of false statement, one count of aggravated identity theft, five counts of wire fraud; and Watts and Pino-Copete were convicted of one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of false document, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

 Operation Thunder Hole' $13 million fraud scheme

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Jael Watts and Luis Pino-Copete ran a shell company called Pearl Transit Corporation in New Jersey which employed drivers all over the United States who gave rides to older and disabled individuals and was involved in outreach for homeless people.

Department of Justice officials said Pearl Transit Corporation didn't perform the services or employ workers for those duties. Between July 2019 and October 2025, Watts concocted and carried out a scheme to defraud state and local administrators of federal funds to support those in need.

During that time, Watts and Pino-Copete sought reimbursement of more than $13 million in federal funds through false claims and submissions.

Jael Watts and Luis Pino-Copetes spend their fraudulent earnings in hotel. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Justice)

The duo li

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