Colombian nationals allegedly ran fake law firm, impersonated federal judges to defraud migrants out of $100K

Four Colombian nationals arrested allegedly posed as immigration judges and officials in scheme targeting vulnerable migrants with fake proceedings.


Colombian nationals allegedly ran fake law firm, impersonated federal judges to defraud migrants out of $100K
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The fourth individual was identified as Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, 24. She was arrested at a restaurant in New Jersey.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Fox News' Jennifer Johsnson contributed to this report.

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