Authorities have apprehended four Colombian nationals, including three individuals caught attempting to leave the country with one-way tickets, as part of an investigation into a scheme involving impersonation of immigration judges and federal agents targeting migrants.
The three individuals detained at Newark Airport in New Jersey were identified as siblings: Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, 25, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez, 29, and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, 38.
Federal prosecutors revealed that these three suspects had booked one-way flights back to Colombia at the time of their arrest.
The fourth suspect, Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, 24, was taken into custody at a New Jersey restaurant.
A fifth individual mentioned in the partially unsealed indictment remains outside U.S. custody.
A fifth defendant in the partially unsealed indictment is still not in U.S. custody.
“The defendants brazenly stole their victims’ money and deceived them by sending fictitious documents and holding sham court proceedings,” Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.
The group allegedly impersonated judges, law enforcement officers and lawyers to orchestrate sham immigration proceedings held over videoconference.
Court documents contain two representative photos of two of the virtual “proceedings” with faces blacked out.
Victims were led to believe that their immigration cases had been resolved, resulting in victims missing their actual appearances in immigration court, according to prosecutors.
At least one victim who mistakenly believed her immigration issues were resolved was ordered to be deported due to the scheme, prosecutors said, noting that the order was later reversed.
The group is also accused of lining their pockets and the pockets of their coconspirators in Colombia by laundering tens of thousands of dollars of victims’ funds.
The group operated a fictitious law firm and solicited prospective “clients” primarily through Facebook, prosecutors alleged, adding that they charged fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars “for nonexistent legal advice and services.”
Investigators have identified over $100,000 in fraudulent transactions allegedly transmitted by victims to the defendants and other individuals associated with the fake law firm.
All five individuals have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and two counts of false impersonation of an officer or employee of the United States.
Daniela and Jhoan Ramirez, and Marlyn Pineda are immigration parolees, while Alexandra Ramirez is in the U.S. on a tourist visa, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
