Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say five people turned a fake immigration law firm into a high-dollar hustle, tricking migrants into skipping real court dates while paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for legal help that never existed. Four of the suspects were arrested as they tried to leave the country, and a fifth is still at large. Authorities say the crew ran mock videoconference "hearings," sent out documents dressed up with official government seals, and even pretended to be immigration judges and federal officials to convince clients their cases were safely resolved.
Prosecutors' account
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the group posed as a law practice called "CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria," luring clients primarily through Facebook and charging fees "ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars" for fake services. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said the defendants "brazenly stole their victims’ money and deceived them," and his office noted that each person charged faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The case is being handled by the Long Island Criminal Section, with Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Simmons leading the prosecution, according to the office.
Indictment details
A redacted grand jury indictment says the fraud ran "in or about and between March 2023 and November 2025," and alleges the defendants sent out fraudulent documents that looked like they carried Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice seals. Prosecutors say the group staged sham asylum interviews and held fake court appearances in Spanish to keep victims convinced the process was legitimate, as laid out in the charging papers filed with the U.S. Department of Justice. Investigators have traced more than $100,000 in transactions tied to the alleged scheme, according to the indictment.
Arrests and arraignment
Three defendants, Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, were taken into custody at Newark Liberty International Airport as they allegedly tried to board one way flights to Colombia. A fourth, Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, was arrested at a New Jersey restaurant, according to the New York Daily News. The four were scheduled to be processed in Brooklyn federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross Goldenberg. Court filings indicate that several of the defendants are immigration parolees and that one entered the United States on a tourist visa.
Victims and community impact
Prosecutors say clients walked away believing their immigration cases were handled, only to miss actual hearings that were still very much on the books. In at least one instance, a person was ordered deported in absentia before that order was later reversed. Federal officials say the scam specifically targeted Spanish speaking migrants searching for help, a pattern that leaves already vulnerable communities even more exposed, according to The Guardian.
What comes next
The indictment charges wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and two counts of false impersonation of a U.S. officer, all of which carry significant prison time if the defendants are convicted. Prosecutors say the investigation is still active and that at least one of the charged individuals has not yet been taken into U.S. custody. The four arrested defendants will continue to appear before federal magistrate judges as the case moves forward, according to Townhall and court records.
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