$1M Asylum Scheme, Oxford Paralegal Indicted After Posing As Lawyer, FBI Seeks Victims
A Pennsylvania paralegal is accused of posing as an immigration lawyer in a $1 million asylum fraud scheme, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday, July 31.
Fatima DeMaria, 65, of Lincoln University, was indicted on eight counts of asylum fraud and eight counts of mail fraud after allegedly charging immigrants thousands of dollars for fake legal services, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
DeMaria, owner of Immigration Matters Legal Services in Oxford, allegedly promised undocumented immigrants work permits and legal protection despite not b…
Ex-Washington Wizards Star Gilbert Arenas Threw High-Stakes Poker Parties At CA Mansion: DOJ
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and charged in a sprawling federal case accusing him and others of running high-stakes illegal poker games out of his mansion in California.
Arenas, 43, who the centerpiece for the Washington Wizards for years, was taken into custody Wednesday, July 30, along with five others, including a suspected high-ranking member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group, federal prosecutors said.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Woodland Hills resident, also known as “Agent Zero,” is charged with:…
Guatemalan National Lied To Gain Custody Of Children In NJ, Feds Say
A 57-year-old Guatemalan man living in New Jersey has been charged with lying to federal officials in an attempt to gain custody of two unaccompanied migrant children, authorities said.
Luciano Tinuar Quino, also known as Luciano Tinuar Guino, was charged with two counts of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Attorney General Pamela Bondi said on Tuesday, May 13.
The criminal complaint alleges that Tinuar Quino, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2016 and lived in the Orange, NJ area, submitted false sponsorship applications to the Department of …
Homeland Security Uncovers Sham Marriage Ring Paying Marylanders To Marry Immigrants: DOJ
A criminal ring that roped Maryland residents into sham marriages for immigration benefits has been busted by federal authorities, prosecutors announced.
Four people — three from New York and one from New Jersey — have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to arrange sham marriages between Marylanders and non-citizens living in the United States, according to the US Attorney's Office.
Those charged include Ella Zuran, 65, Tatiana Sigal, 74, and Alexandra Tkach, 41, all of New York City, as well as Shawnta Hopper, 33, of Sicklerville, New Jersey.
According to the indict…
Lawrence Township Couple Admits To Lying On Asylum Applications For Sri Lankans, Feds Say
A Lawrence Township couple admitted to submitting fraudulent asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and Claudette Ameer, 63, pleaded guilty on Monday, Aug. 26 to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. They were indicted in the immigration fraud case on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
According to court documents and statements, Zuwairul Ameer, also known as "Zuwairul Thowfeek," submitted false asylum applications for non-citizen clients since at least 2007. Claudette Am…
NJ Couple Ginned Up Immigrant Asylum Applications, Charged Clients $1,000 A Pop: Feds
A New Jersey couple who operated an immigration business from their home are facing a federal trial for submitting bogus asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and his wife, Claudette Ameer, 63, had been doing it since at least 2007 when a client who was approached by the FBI agreed to become a government cooperator, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said.
Applicants for asylum in the U.S. must show Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that they have suffered persecution in their homeland because of their race, religion, …
Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme
A police officer who allegedly protected a prostitution ring in exchange for free sexual favors is among six facing a host of charges for their roles in operating a sex trafficking organization throughout New York, federal officials announced.
In Brooklyn federal court, a 14-count indictment has been unsealed for six suspects who ran the operation - which included minors - while the cop protected them from being arrested by law enforcement.
Those charged:
Wayne Peiffer, age 48, of Highland in Ulster County;
Jose Facundo Zarate Morals, age 32, of Queens.
Luz Elvira Cardona, age 33, of Que…
Woman Admits To Attempted Murder Of Man She Married To Obtain Citizenship In Westchester
A Jamaican woman who married a man from Westchester to illegally obtain US citizenship has admitted to attempting to kill her 74-year-old husband, authorities announced.
Olivia Raimo, age 30, who married a New Rochelle senior to gain citizenship, slit his wrist with a straight razor pleaded guilty to attempted murder, authorities said.
On Friday, Nov. 19, Raimo pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder.
Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said that on Jan. 24, 2020, while in her victim’s New Rochelle home, Raimo pushed him, wedging him between the toilet seat and a …
Former Western Mass Resident Admits To Sham Marriage
A former area resident man has pleaded guilty in connection with entering into a sham marriage in order to obtain immigration benefits for another person.
Phu Thanh Huynh, age 33, formerly of Springfield, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Aug. 4, married a Vietnamese national, referred to as Jane Doe in September 2018, solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for Doe, said the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
According to the US Attorney, Huynh and Doe never lived together after getting married, and that a co-conspirator paid Huynh $20,000 in cash …
Fairfield County Resident Admits To Arranging Fraudulent Marriages
A Fairfield County woman admitted to arranging more than two dozen sham marriages so that non-U.S. citizens could receive immigration benefits.
Jodian Stephenson, also known as Jodian Gordon, 35, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration marriage fraud, U.S. Attorney John Durham said. In total, 28 sham marriages were arranged by Stephenson, who was in one of the arranged relationships.
Stephenson operated Stephenson Immigration and Legal Services, LLC, in Bridgeport and between 2011 and 2017, she conspired with others to arrang…
Three From Fairfield County Among Five Charged In Marriage Fraud Scheme
Three Fairfield County residents were among five implicated in an alleged scheme involving sham “green card” marriages.
Kenol Noel, 34, Carl Jarrett, 35, and Ricky Owen, 39, all of Bridgeport, have been charged with submitting false immigration documents after entering multiple “marriages” with non-U.S. citizens and sponsoring those non-citizens’ applications for lawful permanent residence in the U.S., also known as “green card” status.
Manhattan resident Marvin Williams, 59, and Dwight Henry, 44, a citizen of Jamaica living in Queens, are also facing charges for their roles in similar sche…
