LOS ANGELES – A Porter Ranch man who allegedly posed as a federal immigration agent and promised detained aliens’ households he might safe their family’ launch in return for sizeable funds will likely be arraigned Thursday on state theft and housebreaking fees stemming from a joint probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Workplace of Skilled Accountability (OPR) and the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace Bureau of Investigation
Gregory J. Chavez, 51, was taken into custody Wednesday at his Porter Ranch residence and is being held on $1.2 million bond pending his arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket. Chavez is charged with 40 felony counts, together with residential housebreaking, grand theft by false pretense and tried grand theft by false pretense. The case is being prosecuted by the District Legal professional’s Workplace.
The probe focusing on Chavez started in late 2012 after OPR obtained info from an ICE Enforcement and Elimination Operations officer who reported that detainees at one of many company’s contract detention amenities in Orange County had been being defrauded by the defendant. The following investigation recognized greater than two dozen people who declare Chavez approached them providing “confidential companies.” Throughout Wednesday’s enforcement motion, OPR particular brokers searched the defendant’s residence the place they recovered enterprise playing cards bearing Chavez’s identify embossed with a gold star inscribed with the phrases “particular agent.”
Victims instructed investigators they paid Chavez preliminary deposits starting from $800 to $15,000, usually in money, to realize launch of their relations from ICE detention. The releases by no means occurred and the victims had been unable to get well their cash from Chavez. A few of the victims borrowed cash to make the funds. Others instructed OPR particular brokers they had been defrauded out of their life financial savings. To this point, investigators have accounted for greater than $75,000 in losses as a result of rip-off, however it’s believed the precise determine could also be larger.
“Those that search to revenue by preying on susceptible members of the immigrant neighborhood can anticipate to pay a hefty value for his or her crimes,” mentioned Steven Lovett, appearing particular agent answerable for ICE’s OPR, West Area. “We’re dedicated to safeguarding the general public from rip-off artists and others who exploit folks’s false hopes for no different motive than to complement themselves.”
Investigators urge members of the general public who’ve info that could be related to this ongoing investigation to contact ICE’s toll-free tip line – 1-866-DHS-2ICE – or use the company’s online tip form.
ICE’s Workplace of Skilled Accountability is concentrated on upholding the company’s requirements for integrity and professionalism. A key a part of that mission includes investigating allegations of misconduct by ICE staff. It additionally consists of pursuing instances associated to fraud perpetrated by people impersonating ICE officers, such because the allegations on this case.
