Immigration Consultant in San Diego Committed Fraud
San Diego- area immigration consultant nearly gets 7 years for fraud scam, sentence among the longest ever imposed unscrupulous immigration practitioner
SAN DIEGO – The former owner of an immigration consulting
business who defrauded more than 150 clients from multiple states has
been sentenced to 81 months in federal prison following a probe by U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security
Investigations.
Armando Garcia, 60, of Tijuana, Mexico, pleaded guilty in June 2011
to aggravated identity theft and related conspiracy charges for
operating a fraudulent consulting business with offices in Pico Rivera
and National City. At his sentencing hearing, the judge ordered
Garcia to return to court to determine the amount of restitution
he owes his victims. Garcia's co-defendant and business associate, Elizabeth Alcocer, 48,
of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, aggravated
identity theft and related conspiracy charges in August 2010. Alcocer
is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge
Michael M. Anello. "As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland
Security, one of HSI's top enforcement priorities is targeting the
criminals and criminal organizations that undermine the integrity of
our nation's legal immigration system," said Mike Carney acting special
agent in charge for HSI San Diego. "The fraud perpetuated by
unscrupulous immigration consultants who exploit the system to enrich
themselves hurts us all."
According to court documents, Garcia opened his consulting business,
California Legal Services, in 2001 in Pico Rivera, hiring Alcocer to
assist him. As part of a fraud scheme, they offered to get undocumented
aliens legal immigration documents allowing them to live and work
legally in the United States, for a fee. Garcia and Alcocer did not disclose to their victims they submitted
applications on their behalf with false information and fraudulent
supporting documentation. The two prepared and filed various
immigration applications based on fraudulent documents they created,
including counterfeit marriage certificates, birth certificates and tax
returns. In other cases, they provided counterfeit government letters
to show the victims that their applications were filed and pending
normal processing time.
Some of the victims received employment authorization documents from
the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services based on prima facie
eligibility while their applications were being adjudicated by
immigration officers. Meanwhile, Garcia and Alcocer continued to
defraud the victims by demanding additional payments.
To date, investigators have identified in excess of 150 victims who
paid California Legal Services more than $1.2 million for fraudulent
services. Additional victims are encouraged to contact HSI San Diego at
(619) 550-5183.
If you have any immigration questions, please feel free to contact our office
Sharlene Mae Bagon, Esq.
BAGON LAW FIRM
6700 Fallbrook Avenue
Suite 125H
Suite 125H
West Hills, CA 91307
Toll Free: (888) 992-2466
Main Tel.: (818) 539-0120
Fax: (888) 589-0804