5 Colombian citizens charged with staging fake U.S. immigration courts, wire fraud, and money laundering

Prosecutors unveil fake law firm scheme

Federal prosecutors in New York unsealed a five-count indictment on Feb. 20 charging five Colombian citizens with running a fake immigration law firm.

The defendants face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and falsely impersonating U.S. officers. None of them held a law license anywhere in the country.

Their operation, which ran from March 2023 through November 2025, targeted Spanish-speaking immigrants, including people seeking political asylum.

Facebook posts lured victims in

The defendants found victims mostly through Facebook, where they posed as immigration lawyers. They charged fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for legal help that never existed.

After collecting payment, they sent victims fake documents designed to look official, complete with U.S. government agency symbols.

Some of those documents even referenced victims’ real pending immigration cases to seem more convincing. In some cases, the paperwork falsely told victims their cases had been successfully resolved.

Defendants dressed as judges on camera

The operation went far beyond fake paperwork. The defendants held sham immigration hearings and asylum interviews over videoconference.

During these calls, they wore judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms.

Their video backgrounds mimicked courtrooms and government offices, complete with agency seals and flags. They pretended to be immigration judges, border agents, and immigration officers.

While playing these roles, they asked victims for sensitive personal information.

Real courts don’t work that way

Several red flags should have given the scheme away, but victims had no way to know. The fake hearings ran entirely in Spanish, while real U.S. immigration proceedings always happen in English.

Prosecutors said at least one fake hearing displayed the seal of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, a court that plays no role in immigration cases.

Immigration courts actually fall under the Justice Department in the executive branch, not the judicial branch.

Victims missed real hearings and faced deportation

The scheme had real consequences. Because victims believed their cases had been resolved through the fake proceedings, some missed their actual immigration court dates.

At least one victim received a deportation order after she skipped her real hearing, thinking her case was already settled. That order was later reversed.

Prosecutors said the scheme affected dozens of victims who trusted the operation with their cases and their money.

One victim pushed back and got threats

At least one victim figured out the scam and found a real lawyer for help. When that victim confronted the defendants, they responded with threats.

They demanded more money and warned the victim they would be deported. Prosecutors cited these threatening messages as evidence in the case.

The threats show how the defendants tried to keep victims quiet and under control, even after their fraud had been exposed.

Three siblings caught fleeing at Newark airport

Three of the defendants are siblings: Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, 25, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez, 29, and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, 38.

Authorities arrested all three at Newark Liberty International Airport on Feb. 20 as they tried to board a one-way flight to Colombia.

A fourth defendant, Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, 24, was arrested at a New Jersey restaurant. A fifth defendant remains outside U.S. custody.

Investigators traced over $100,000 in payments

Investigators found more than $100,000 in fraudulent payments sent by victims to the defendants and others tied to the fake firm.

Prosecutors said the defendants laundered tens of thousands of dollars to people in Colombia. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The four arrested defendants were set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Fake lawyer scams keep targeting immigrants

This case fits a broader pattern of fraud aimed at immigrants trying to navigate the U.S. legal system.

In April 2025, the New York City Council heard testimony from an asylum seeker who described being tricked by a fake lawyer found on Facebook who staged a court hearing through a video call.

Experts sometimes call this “notario fraud,” because in many Latin American countries, a “notario publico” is a licensed legal professional, unlike in the United States.

New York City passed two laws to fight back

In June 2025, the NYC Council passed two bills targeting immigration fraud.

One requires the city to run an education campaign in multiple languages warning immigrants about common scams. The other doubled civil penalties for fraudulent immigration service providers.

The city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection reported complaints about immigration service providers had risen from 23 in 2022 to 46 in 2024.

Advocates say the real number of victims is likely much higher.

Scammers exploit fear and high costs

These scams keep working because immigrants face enormous stakes, including possible deportation. Hiring a legitimate immigration attorney can cost more than many people can afford.

Scammers use platforms like Facebook to reach people who are actively searching for affordable legal help. Fear of the immigration system itself keeps many victims from reporting fraud.

Advocates stress that immigrants should check any lawyer’s credentials through their state bar association and seek help from established legal aid groups.

Investigation continues with one defendant at large

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is handling the case, with the investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

One defendant remains at large. Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office urged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scheme to contact law enforcement.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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