Inmates Impersonate Supreme Court Chief Justice to Extort Families
Prisoners in Jujuy used Horacio Rosatti's identity to solicit bribes and sensitive data.
1Sophisticated Identity Fraud Scheme
Inmates at the Penitentiary No. 7 in Jujuy orchestrated a complex fraud scheme by impersonating Horacio Rosatti, the Chief Justice of Argentina's Supreme Court. Using WhatsApp profiles featuring the judge's photograph, the group contacted police stations nationwide to illicitly obtain sensitive administrative data regarding detainees, their legal statuses, and contact information for their families.
2Operational Methodology Exposed
The criminal group operated by calling security forces and claiming to conduct official human rights audits or institutional restructuring. By presenting themselves as high-level judicial authorities, they coerced officers into providing private details. Once they secured this information, they contacted the families of prisoners, promising legal benefits or freedom in exchange for bribes.
3Discovery of the Racket
The investigation began on November 25, 2024, after a suspicious call to the Federal Police. A commissioner questioned the request for detainee lists and demanded a callback number. When the police verified the request with the Supreme Court's security office, they confirmed that Judge Rosatti had never authorized any such communication or data collection.
4Evidence from Intercepted Calls
Federal prosecutor Franco Picardi utilized intercepted phone conversations to build the case against four suspects. In one recording, an inmate explained the methodology: they would demand up to one million pesos as a fake bail payment, directing victims to deposit funds into a ghost account falsely labeled as belonging to the judiciary.
5Targeting Security Forces
Between late 2024 and October 2025, the group successfully contacted various units, including the Gendarmería Nacional and provincial police departments. In one instance, they even convinced a commander to put them on speakerphone with detainees' relatives. The scam was only thwarted when alert officers warned the families before any money was transferred.
6Suspects and Legal Charges
The four identified suspects, aged between 31 and 40, are currently serving sentences for crimes including robbery, burglary, and homicide. Prosecutor Picardi has requested that these individuals face trial for their roles in the illicit association. The defendants utilized their prison environment to coordinate these external scams through illicitly obtained mobile phone lines.
7Scope of the Deception
The investigation documented eight specific incidents where the group used the Chief Justice's identity to manipulate authorities. These events spanned from November 2024 to October 2025, affecting multiple jurisdictions across Argentina, including Santa Fe, Esquel, and Neuquén. The perpetrators consistently leveraged the prestige of the Supreme Court to bypass standard security verification protocols.
8Institutional Security Implications
This case highlights significant vulnerabilities in the communication protocols between judicial bodies and law enforcement agencies. The ability of incarcerated individuals to maintain active, fraudulent operations for nearly a year underscores the need for stricter oversight of prison communications. Authorities are now reviewing security measures to prevent further exploitation of official identities.
Original article: La Nación — Inmates Impersonate Supreme Court Chief Justice to Extort Families