Kimberly Cruz, a 35-year-old San Antonio resident, has been sentenced to a 14-year federal prison term after masquerading as a legal advocate in an immigration-related fraud scheme. Court documents revealed that Cruz’s operation, which ran from April through October 2019, involved duping migrants and their families into believing she was an attorney capable of assisting them with their entry into the U.S. As reported by KENS 5, Cruz collected a cumulation of documents from the migrants, including birth certificates and passports.

The scheme entailed misrepresenting herself to Border Patrol officers at the Eagle Pass point of entry, where she claimed the migrants required humanitarian paroles. According to a statement by U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza, “This defendant falsely represented herself in order to take advantage of our country’s immigration procedures while putting at risk the lives of more than 95 migrants.” Cruz subsequently transported the individuals to San Antonio to either reunite with families or be left at bus stations and airports, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Details from the case investigation, which was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), indicate that migrants and their families transferred $275,911 into Cruz's bank accounts. Arrested on October 29, 2019, Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on October 25, 2021. Along with her prison sentence, Cruz has been ordered to pay $9,900 in restitution and forfeit more than $271,000, according to a press release cited by KSAT.

Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, in comments to the media, underscored the consequences for such deception: “The message is clear — have no doubt. Individuals who impersonate a legal advocate to exploit others for their own personal gain, will be held accountable for their crimes.”