From Tampa to Chicago: a scammer arresting herself as an immigration lawyer arrested in Florida

According to the prosecutor, the scheme in which she appeared to be a licensed immigration attorney worked from Tampa to Chicago.

Фото: Depositphotos

Office US Attorney stated that a federal grand jury indicted a woman from Tampa for an immigration fraud scheme for immigrants and families.

44-year-old Erika Paole Intriago from Tampa was charged with four counts of fraud using electronic means of communication and three counts of illegal use of government stamps.

On the subject: How to find a free immigration lawyer

If Intriago is found guilty, she faces the maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment in a federal prison for each item of fraud and up to five years in a federal prison for each illegal use of government stamps.

According to indictmentIntriago was represented by an immigration attorney and a personal representative who offered immigration-related services. She advertised her services in social networks targeting immigrants and families of immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries.

In fact, Intriago did not have a lawyer's license, but the victims paid her for representing their interests in immigration cases in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and other institutions.

To convince her clients that she acted on their behalf, the woman sent letters, emails, receipts, and documents to her victims, claiming the records were legitimate messages sent from US agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS. In fact, the defendant either never filed the necessary immigration documents, or the applications were already denied without informing the victims.

On the subject: How not to overpay for an immigration lawyer

The suspect also threatened and intimidated victims who complained about her behavior. She threatened to report US immigration status, which, according to Intriago, would lead to their deportation.

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