And now, for one of the most bizarre reports you will ever read. Seattle Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero’s wife, Maria Peguero, is currently facing federal wire-fraud charges. According to The Seattle Times, Maria has been accused of buying nearly $180,000 worth of online merchandise using a credit card that did not belong to her. Here’s where it gets really weird.
The credit card Maria, 22, allegedly used belonged to Sandra Hernandez, the wife of Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez. Court documents claimed Maria spent a few days at the Hernandez residence back in May of 2012 when the team was on a lengthy road trip. Peguero would have had access to Sandra’s credit cards during that time.
The charges against Peguero allege that Saks Fifth Avenue in New York became suspicious of a series of transactions made with a debit card on an account belonging to “Jackie Peguero.” Maria’s full name is Maria Jacqueline Peguero. The billing and shipping addresses associated with the account were reportedly different, which raised a red flag. A search warrant for Peguero’s apartment was then obtained by the cybercrime task force and dozens of items were seized.
Peguero allegedly made more than 60 transactions in all and as many as five separate purchases in a single day, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to $11,000 for a single transaction. Investigators discovered that Peguero was associated with an email address at versacegoldbarbie@yahoo.com, which they later traced to her Twitter account. The Twitter page reportedly featured photos of Peguero with some of the items they believe were illegally purchased.
Federal wire-fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
For what it’s worth, Peguero was arrested in 2010 in Texas for shoplifting several items from a TJ Maxx store. Carlos Peguero, who has been with the Mariners for three seasons, said he had no knowledge of his wife’s alleged purchases.
I’m just speculating here, but I would imagine this investigation has created a tiny bit of awkwardness between Carlos and Felix. That has to make for some weird locker room talk.
H/T Hardball Talk
