Four Colombian nationals have been arrested and charged in an alleged scheme in which prosecutors say they impersonated federal judges, immigration officials and attorneys to defraud migrants out of more than $100K.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the defendants operated a fake law firm and orchestrated sham immigration proceedings conducted over videoconference.
Three of the suspects — siblings Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, 25, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez, 29, and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, 38 — were arrested at Newark Airport in New Jersey while allegedly attempting to leave the country on one-way tickets to Colombia.
A fourth defendant, Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, 24, was arrested at a restaurant in New Jersey. A fifth individual named in the partially unsealed indictment remains at large and is not currently in U.S. custody.
Federal prosecutors allege the group posed as immigration judges, federal agents and lawyers, sending fictitious legal documents to victims and staging fake court hearings online.
“The defendants brazenly stole their victims’ money and deceived them by sending fictitious documents and holding sham court proceedings,” said Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Victims were allegedly led to believe their immigration cases had been resolved. As a result, some missed legitimate immigration court appearances. Prosecutors said at least one victim was ordered deported after failing to appear in real proceedings, though that order was later reversed.
Authorities say the group solicited clients primarily through Facebook, charging fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for what prosecutors described as nonexistent legal services.
Investigators identified more than $100K in fraudulent transactions allegedly transmitted to the defendants and their associates, including individuals based in Colombia. Prosecutors say the scheme involved laundering tens of thousands of dollars in victim funds, per the New York Post.
All five defendants have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and two counts of false impersonation of a federal officer or employee.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Daniela Sanchez Ramirez, Jhoan Sanchez Ramirez and Marlyn Pineda are immigration parolees, while Alexandra Sanchez Ramirez is in the United States on a tourist visa.
Court filings include images from the alleged virtual proceedings, showing individuals seated in front of backdrops resembling official federal court seals. Prosecutors say those settings were fabricated to lend credibility to the scheme.
If convicted, the defendants could face significant prison time under federal fraud and impersonation statutes.
Authorities have not disclosed how many total victims may be involved, but indicated the investigation is ongoing.
The arrests come amid broader federal efforts to crack down on fraud schemes targeting vulnerable immigrant communities.
