USCIS Assists Investigation Leading to Arrests of Four in Fake NYC Immigration Law Firm Fraud
Published Feb 26, 2026
USCIS supported an investigation that led the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to indict four people for running a fake immigration law firm and impersonating officials. Victims were charged fees for fraudulent legal services, including staged video hearings mimicking immigration court.
Key points
- The four defendants face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and two counts of impersonating a U.S. government officer or employee.
- They operated a fictitious law firm called CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria, recruiting victims mainly through Facebook.
- None of the defendants were licensed attorneys, but they charged victims hundreds to thousands of dollars for nonexistent legal services.
- They staged fake asylum interviews and court hearings by videoconference, impersonating immigration judges, CBP officers, USCIS staff and lawyers.
- At least one victim was ordered deported after being falsely told her case was resolved, an order later reversed.
- The investigation has identified over $100,000 in fraudulent payments; each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Who is affected
Immigrants seeking legal help with pending immigration cases, particularly those contacted through social media offering cheap legal services.
What to do
People who suspect immigration benefit fraud can report it to USCIS using the USCIS Tip Form.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-13. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
Release Date
02/26/2026
Charges include impersonating U.S. immigration officials
NEW YORK – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided vital assistance during the investigation that led to a five-count indictment and arrests of four individuals. The four were arrested for their alleged roles in federal conspiracies related to alleged wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and two counts of false impersonation of an officer or employee of the United States, including immigration officials. The indictment was partially unsealed in the Eastern District of New York. The U.S. attorney announced the charges.
Three of the defendants, Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez, and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, were arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Colombia with one-way tickets. Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda was arrested at a restaurant in New Jersey. A fifth defendant is not in U.S. custody. Daniela and Jhoan Ramirez and Marlyn Pineda are immigration parolees, and Alexandra Ramirez is in the U.S. on a tourist visa. Daniela, Jhoan, and Alexandra Ramirez are siblings.
As described in the indictment and other court filings, the defendants and their co-conspirators portrayed themselves as immigration lawyers and operated a fictitious immigration law firm that they called CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria. After soliciting prospective clients, primarily on Facebook, the defendants and their co-conspirators charged their victims fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for nonexistent legal advice and services. None of the defendants or their identified co-conspirators are attorneys admitted or licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction in the United States.
After receiving victim funds, the defendants and their co-conspirators pretended they were actually representing their victims. They sent documents that appeared to be official because they included symbols of agencies of the U.S. government. Some of these documents referred to the victims’ actual cases pending in immigration court or showed that the victims’ pending cases had been successfully resolved. In reality, none of these were legitimate documents issued by any U.S. government agency.
The defendants and their co-conspirators also held sham immigration proceedings, including asylum interviews and court appearances, in which the victims participated via videoconference. In some of these sham proceedings, the defendants and their co-conspirators impersonated immigration judges, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and USCIS, and immigration lawyers. They wore judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms and appeared in front of backgrounds that resembled courtrooms and government offices, with agency seals and flags. During these videoconferences, the impersonators asked the victims sensitive personal questions and requested the victims’ personal identifying information.
At times, the defendants and their co-conspirators falsely represented that these sham proceedings had resolved the victims’ pending immigration cases. As a result, victims missed their actual appearances in immigration court. At least one victim was ordered deported while she mistakenly believed her immigration issues were resolved. The order was later reversed.
In total, the investigation has identified over $100,000 in fraudulent transactions paid by victims to the defendants and other individuals associated with the fake CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria law firm.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each defendant faces up to 20 years of imprisonment if convicted.
To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
02/26/2026
Original title: USCIS Helps in Immigration Fraud Investigation Resulting in Indictments and Arrests in New York City
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This summary was produced with AI from the official announcement. Only the official source is authoritative.