Man to pay more than $371,000 in restitution to elderly fraud victims

The man who pleaded no contest to fraud charges was ordered to may more than $371,000 in restitution to his elderly victims, the office of Doña Ana County District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced Friday.

Raiden Castro, 23, pleaded no contest on Thursday to 18 counts of fraud. Las Cruces police officers arrested Castro on January 27, 2017.

Castro was accused of defrauding a 79-year-old Las Cruces woman out of more than $300,000 in 2015 and 2016.

He also defrauded a 93-year-old Las Cruces man out of more than $60,000 in December 2016 and January 2017.

Investigators said Castro approached potential customers as the owner of two businesses, Zia Landscaping and Zia Detailing. He allegedly offered his services to customers, befriended them, gained their trust and began embezzling large amounts of cash from them.

District Judge Fernando R. Macias ordered Castro to undergo a 60-day diagnostic evaluation in the custody of the New Mexico Department of Corrections before sentencing.

Prosecutors intend to ask for 25 years in prison, with all but 10 years suspended.