NEW YORK, N.Y. — Federal prosecutors have charged five individuals accused of posing as immigration attorneys and staging fake court proceedings to defraud migrants seeking legal status in the United States.
A five-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn federal court alleges the defendants ran a sham immigration law firm, CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria, between March 2023 and November 2025. Prosecutors say the group solicited clients primarily through Facebook, charging fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for fraudulent services.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants allegedly created fake legal documents bearing federal agency insignia and staged video “court hearings” in which they wore judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms. Backgrounds reportedly displayed Department of Homeland Security flags and signage reading “United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.” Unlike legitimate immigration court proceedings, the sham hearings were conducted in Spanish to build trust with victims.
Three defendants were arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Colombia. A fourth was arrested in New Jersey, while one remains at large. Authorities say the scheme netted more than $100,000 and led some victims to miss real immigration court dates, with at least one ordered deported.
The defendants face charges including wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and impersonating federal officers.
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