Authorities state he used the social network to recruit individuals to rent vehicles under false pretenses, which were then stolen and sold to Mexican drug cartels. The criminal activities came to hauled over the week as Westbrook now faces serious legal consequences.
Westbrook allegedly recruited individuals via Instagram and paid them to rent vehicles for him. Instead of returning the vehicles, he allegedly had them driven to Mexico and sold them to alleged cartel members.
Westbrook allegedly recruited individuals via Instagram and paid them to rent vehicles for him. Instead of returning the vehicles, he allegedly had them driven to Mexico and sold them to alleged cartel members.
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) May 6, 2024
It appears over two dozen people fell victim as more than 25 vehicles were stolen. However, Westbrook is now facing up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count in the indictment.
Details are sketchy, but authorities routinely warn against falling victim to online scams. The Minnesota Attorney General notes that money-making schemes are among the most popular scams on social media, and they typically promise a large payout in exchange for a relatively small upfront cost. That appears to be the case here, as victims were promised money in exchange for renting vehicles for someone else.
It's never a good idea and you should always be cautious when dealing with strangers online. At the end of the day, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Source: FBI Houston
