Whittier Woman Arrested in $90 Million Tax Fraud Scheme — Raises Questions About Recent Anti ICE Activity in City

A Whittier woman has been named as one of several defendants in a massive federal tax-fraud and money-laundering case that prosecutors say cheated the U.S. Treasury out of more than $90 million. The case is drawing local attention not only for its size, but also because one of the accused individuals appears to have recently relocated to Whittier during the same period in which far-left anti-ICE activism sharply intensified in the city.

The Federal Case

According to a federal indictment announced on November 20, 2025, Selina Medina Preciado, 30, is among seven defendants accused of participating in a years-long scheme involving staffing companies that hired large numbers of undocumented immigrants and failed to pay required employment taxes. Prosecutors allege the group used the unpaid tax money to purchase luxury homes, cars, rental properties, and international vacations.

The lead defendant, Lorena Padilla, 49, of Villa Park, controlled several staffing companies throughout Los Angeles, Riverside, and Industry, including Platinum Staffing in Montebello, Payroll Staffing Solutions in Industry, Three Star Global in Corona, and Next Level Staffing in Maywood. Preciado is identified as Padilla’s daughter.

Federal prosecutors say that between 2012 and 2024, the defendants withheld taxes from workers’ paychecks but did not turn those taxes over to the IRS or the California Employment Development Department. From 2020 to 2025 alone, authorities say more than $44 million in federal tax obligations were concealed, with total losses exceeding $90 million.

A Newly Purchased Whittier Home

The indictment states that some of the fraudulent proceeds were used to purchase high-value properties, including:

• A $2.5 million residence in Whittier

• A $3 million ranch in Riverside

• A $3.5 million property in Yorba Linda

Although multiple media outlets have listed Preciado as “of Whittier,” the federal documents imply she moved to Whittier only recently, and that the Whittier home was purchased during the height of the alleged tax-evasion scheme.

This distinction matters, as it contradicts the impression that she is a long-time local resident.

Context: Anti-ICE Activism in Whittier

Whittier has experienced a sharp increase in far-left activism over the past two years, particularly surrounding immigration enforcement. The city saw:

• Organized groups livestreaming ICE operations

• Attempts to dox federal agents

• Harassment and intimidation of residents cooperating with ICE

• Disruptions at public events, including the Fourth of July celebration, where several families reported feeling threatened or targeted

• “Cop-watch” and “ICE-watch” activists confronting law enforcement during routine operations

Numerous activists involved in these actions were not long-time Whittier residents. While some lived in the area, many others traveled in from Pico Rivera, East L.A., and other surrounding cities.

No Direct Evidence — But the Timing Raises Questions

At this time, there is no publicly confirmed direct evidence linking Selina Medina Preciado to local anti-ICE activist groups. However:

• She appears to be a recent arrival to Whittier

• Her family’s staffing network relied heavily on undocumented workers

• The fraud scheme operated in the same cities where anti-ICE activism was strongest and most violent

• Activist groups have previously been used to deflect attention from employers engaged in labor or tax violations

• Her age and social-network profile fit the demographic profile of these activist circles

Because of this, it is reasonable for the community to ask whether any overlap exists between the defendants and the groups that have been organizing disruptions, doxing campaigns, and harassment of ICE personnel in the Whittier area.

Whittier 360 will continue to investigate any connections that emerge.

Potential Penalties

If convicted of the charges — including wire-fraud conspiracy, money-laundering conspiracy, and multiple counts of failing to pay over employment taxes — Preciado and the other defendants could face decades in federal prison.

A Developing Story

This case is still unfolding, and as more information becomes available, especially regarding the timeline of Preciado’s move to Whittier and any local affiliations, Whittier 360 will provide updates.