Alicante, July 2026. The investigation into one of the largest networks allegedly involved in the “child in distress” scam in Spain has yielded a significant legal outcome for one of the individuals under investigation. Investigating Court No. 14 of the Valencia Court of First Instance has ordered the partial provisional dismissal of the case against the client represented by criminal defense attorney Agustín Brandi, finding that, following the proceedings conducted, there is insufficient evidence to establish his involvement in the acts under investigation.
The ruling entails the provisional dismissal of the proceedings against this suspect and reflects one of the essential principles of criminal procedure: liability must be based on objective and individualized evidence, especially in highly complex investigations involving numerous parties.
A Nationwide Investigation
The legal proceedings stem from an extensive investigation conducted by the National Police’s Central Cybercrime Unit into an alleged criminal organization specializing in the so-called “child in distress” scam, a type of fraud that has proliferated in recent years through the mass sending of messages to cell phones.
According to the police investigation, the organization allegedly defrauded victims throughout Spain of 2.7 million euros by using social engineering techniques to create a sense of urgency and secure immediate bank transfers. The money was then funneled through a network of third-party accounts and collaborators tasked with withdrawing the cash, with the aim of making it difficult to trace the funds.
The complexity of the scheme led to an investigation that involved more than 500 police proceedings and culminated in a major operation in which several alleged members of the organization were arrested.
The Importance of Establishing Individual Criminal Liability
Cases involving cybercrime, fraud, and criminal organizations typically involve extensive investigations with numerous suspects. However, the existence of an investigation—or even the initial inclusion of an individual in a criminal case—does not automatically establish that person’s liability.
Specifically, during the preliminary proceedings, the defense provided by Brandi Abogados demonstrated that there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against their client. After reviewing the evidence gathered, the court granted a partial provisional dismissal, as it was not proven that the suspect had committed a crime.
Specialized Criminal Defense in Complex Proceedings
This case highlights the importance of having specialized criminal defense representation from the earliest stages of an investigation. In proceedings involving economic crimes, cybercrime, fraud, money laundering, and criminal organizations, the technical analysis of the evidence and the protection of procedural rights are crucial to ensuring a resolution in accordance with the law.
At Brandi Abogados, we provide legal counsel and representation in complex criminal proceedings before courts throughout Spain, employing a legal strategy grounded in technical rigor, experience, and the effective defense of our clients’ rights.
Read the original article in the Valencia newspaper *Las Provincias*
