EL PASO, Texas – Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) particular brokers arrested a neighborhood girl Jan. 23 on legal costs associated to her alleged wire fraud and impersonation of a federal worker.
In line with court docket paperwork, Ana Maria Hernandez, 53, portrayed herself to be a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (CIS) worker and defrauded greater than 20 victims by offering them the false pretext that she would course of their immigration purposes for a considerable price.
Hernandez’s victims supplied her with the documentation required to file and alter their immigration standing. Investigators revealed that Hernandez had amassed greater than $400,000 of unexplained wealth inside the 18 months coinciding along with her fraudulent exercise.
“The impersonation of a federal official is a severe offense, and folks, who perpetrate schemes that goal to deceive trusting people out of hundreds of {dollars}, will probably be held accountable for his or her crimes,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost Francisco B. Burrola, HSI El Paso. “This sort of legal conduct undermines the professional immigration course of and taints the status of hard-working civil servants.”
An indictment returned by an El Paso grand jury costs Hernandez with 10 counts of wire fraud and one rely of impersonating an worker of america. The utmost penalty is 20 years’ imprisonment on every wire fraud rely and three years on the impersonation rely.
A federal district court docket choose will decide any sentence after contemplating the U.S. Sentencing Pointers and different statutory elements.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
A legal grievance is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a court docket of regulation.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these legal organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 workers consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through america, and 93 abroad places in 56 international locations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.
Be taught extra about HSI’s mission to fight youngster exploitation in our group on Twitter @HSIElPaso.