New Jersey Woman and Colombian Man Charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jael Watts, age 44, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Luis Pino-Copete, age 41, of Bogota, Colombia, were indicted on December 4, 2025, on a wire fraud conspiracy charge related to their operation of a transportation company called Pearl Transit. Watts was separately charged with ten counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Northeastern Region, and State of New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli made the announcement.

According to the superseding indictment, Watts and Pino Copete operated a non-profit company called Pearl Transit Corporation that claimed to provide transportation services to elderly and disabled persons in New York and several other States. Watts applied for grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Section 5310 program, which was awarded and managed by New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT). Between September 2024 and July 2025, Watts submitted vouchers to New York State for reimbursement of operational costs associated with providing transportation to eligible riders and, with Pino-Copete’s help, provided false supporting documentation in support of their requests. Watts and Pino-Copete fraudulently sought payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, including Section 5310 funds, by falsely representing to New York State that Pearl Transit had transported disabled and elderly residents. However, Pearl Transit never provided any transportation nor employed a single driver. The indictment further alleges that on or about March 20, 2022, Watts used the name of an attorney on an FTA grant application without that attorney's knowledge or consent.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “As alleged, Watts, working with her husband Pino-Copete, perpetrated a massive fraudulent scheme against the Department of Transportation in New York. She submitted requests for reimbursement for services that were made up out of thin air. Those funds were meant to help transport some of our most vulnerable—the elderly and disabled. These charges show that these crimes will only transport you to prison, as Watts and Pino-Copete now face the prospect of many years in prison.”

DOT-OIG Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Gallagher stated: “Today’s indictment illustrates the depth of the alleged fraud committed by Watts and Pino-Copete. The DOT-OIG takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud and attempt to steal from government funds. We’re committed to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the integrity of federally funded programs.”

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli stated: “Watts and Pino-Copete allegedly conspired to scam the State of New York out of more than $1 million dollars meant to transport deserving New Yorkers for needed care and services. Thanks to the work of my office, this fraud was detected before any payment was made. My office will continue to aggressively root out fraud and partner with law enforcement to hold offenders responsible. I thank Acting United States Attorney Sarcone and the United States DOT Inspector General for their work with my office in protecting public funds.”

Watts was originally arrested on July 21, 2025, on a criminal complaint. On August 19, 2025, following several detention hearings, United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart ordered Watts detained pending a trial before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi. She was previously indicted on October 16, 2025, on ten counts of wire fraud.

Pino-Copete was arrested on December 9, 2025, in New Jersey, at which time he was ordered detained pending trial. Pino-Copete was arraigned on the superseding indictment on December 29, 2025, in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart.

Pino-Copete faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Watts faces at least 2 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

DOT-OIG, the New York State Comptroller’s office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

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