Man Charged After Victim Sent Money for Flying Car That Never Arrived
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A man is charged after investigators say a Stearns County man was swindled out of $10,000 while trying to buy a flying car online.
The charges were filed after the victim reported wiring money to a bank account while communicating with an online seller who never delivered the vehicle.
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Raul Carvajal, 66, of Naples, Florida, is charged with felony theft by swindle involving more than $5,000, according to a criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court. Prosecutors allege Carvajal knowingly obtained the money through the online scheme and then quickly transferred the funds through multiple financial platforms.
According to the complaint, a Stearns County deputy responded to a fraud report on July 17, 2025, at the home of a 73-year-old man who said he attempted to purchase a flying car from an online seller using the name “Hintzy Louis.” The seller provided banking information and instructed the victim to send payment to secure the vehicle. On July 2, 2025, the victim wired $10,000 to a Citibank account.
The victim told investigators he never received any shipping details or confirmation of delivery after sending the initial payment and was later asked to send additional money. An invoice provided during the transaction listed Carvajal’s name, prompting investigators to seek bank records tied to the account that received the wire transfer.
Search warrants for Citibank records showed the account belonged to Carvajal and had been opened in May 2025. Bank statements confirmed the $10,000 transfer was received and then withdrawn within days through transactions sent to Zelle, Coinbase and Paybis. Investigators later obtained records from those platforms that showed accounts registered to Carvajal and transactions matching the movement of the funds.
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Authorities also linked the IP address used for the financial transactions to an Xfinity internet service associated with Carvajal. Investigators noted the account activity included regular debit card purchases and online transfers throughout July.
Deputies spoke with Carvajal on two occasions. He told investigators he had closed the Citibank account and did not recall receiving a large sum of money or transferring funds out of the account. He acknowledged having accounts with Zelle, Coinbase and Paybis and confirmed his internet service provider. Investigators say bank records contradicted his statements and showed the account remained active during the period in question.
Carvajal was charged by summons and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on March 2. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted.
