McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A former Webb County Sheriff’s Office civilian employee is out on bond after being arrested on charges of impersonating a public servant and theft in connection with what authorities say was a scheme to take money from a family trying to secure U.S. visas for relatives.

Lorenzo Reyna Jr., 72, has been released from the Webb County Jail after posting $15,000 in bond. He was arrested Aug. 12 on charges of impersonating a public servant and theft greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, jail records show.

Reyna reportedly put on a Webb County Sheriff’s Office uniform as part of an elaborate plan to defraud a family out of over $23,000, the Laredo Morning Times reports Monday.

According to court documents, two U.S. citizens on Aug. 9 reported to officials that since October, they had been paying Reyna cash because he said he could secure legal visas for two family members who are in the United States illegally.

He reportedly told the family it would cost $5,000 for him to get work visas for the pair. And then reportedly insisted on $3,000 more because one of the person’s has a criminal record, the newspaper reports.

Reyna reportedly confessed to the charges and told authorities he did it to pay outstanding bills, the newspaper reports.