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# Couple’s mail fraud scheme stamped out
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/couples-mail-fraud-scheme-stamped-out/
- Published: 2006-02-07T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:11:29.000Z
- Author: Ryan Hyatt
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Couple expected to pay restitution to victims*

LAX COURTHOUSE — The couple allegedly involved in a mail fraud scheme that used a rented Santa Monica mailbox to bilk hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments from victims around the nation have pleaded no contest to the charges against them.

Maciej Noworyta and Brenda Chaidezdiaz were arrested at their Chino Hills home on Friday, Dec. 2, and taken to Los Angeles County Jail after the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office filed a 30-count criminal complaint against the couple charging them with conspiracy, grand theft and false advertising.

The complaint was based on evidence which suggests that hundreds of victims paid $20 each to sign up for work stuffing envelopes at home. Noworyta and Chaidez-diaz have been accused of sending out false advertising to induce victims to send $20 to secure employment and then provide them with nothing more than worthless documents, according to the City Attorney’s Office.

Authorities believe the couple used a mailbox at the UPS Store at 1223 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica to receive payments. According to the allegations, the couple was able to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for several years from victims. In a one-week period in October, the defendants’ Santa Monica mailbox received more than $20,000 in payments from more than 1,200 victims around the country.

Noworyta and Chaidezdiaz were each convicted and sentenced on Jan. 26 for 11 misdemeanor counts, including five counts of grand theft, five counts of false advertising, and one count of conspiracy. Their pleas were taken by Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins.

Under the terms of the agreement, the couple faces fines of more than $80,000\. Both Noworyta and Chaidezdiaz will have to perform 600 hours of hard labor community service; they will be credited for the nine days they’ve served in LA County Jail and have three year’s probation; and there will be full restitution to all known victims.

Adam Radinsky, deputy city attorney, said mail scams occur frequently, but people can take steps to avoid being victims.

“Unfortunately, this type of scam is very common in our society today, when it is easy to produce mass mail-ings by Internet or by the U.S. mail,” Radinsky said. “We hope this case serves as a wake-up call for those who are considering this kind of illegal conduct and consumers who can easily be misled by false promises.

“A good rule of thumb is that you should never pay somebody else to give you employment.”

In December, Noworyta and Chaidezdiaz were released on $200,000 combined bail. As conditions of their release, Noworyta and Chaidezdiaz had to surrender their passports, were ordered to remain in Southern California and were prohibited from selling their real estate or motor vehicles, according to the City Attorney’s Office.

Radinsky said the City Attorney’s Office became involved in the case after receiving at least three different complaints from victims of the alleged scam, beginning in September. Shortly after, the City Attorney’s Office was contacted by federal investigators, who had begun their own investigation, Radinsky said.

The couple is alleged to have operated under a number of different names, including: Mayflower Publishing Executive Publications, Ad-Ventures International and Tri-Star Publishing. Both the City Attorney’s Office and federal investigators are continuing to search for additional victims who may have made payments over the past year.

Jerry Kaplan, the couple’s attorney, said he was satisfied with the agreement reached.

“We think it’s resolved in a way that was fair to all sides,” Kaplan said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 7, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)