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Alva, Jessica Rivas and Eric Jon, Wire Fraud and Identity Theft, Texas 2016
A San Antonio couple, Jessica Rivas Alva and her husband Eric Jon Alva, were sentenced to six months in federal prison for defrauding undocumented immigrants and their family members out of money by falsely claiming to work on behalf of two San Antonio attorneys.
According to court documents, the couple conspired to collect legal fees from incarcerated undocumented immigrants and/or their families under false pretenses. Between March 2015 and May 2015, Jessica Alva and her husband faxed forged letters fraudulently using the name and state bar number of two San Antonio-based attorneys to enable her to gain access to two immigration detention facilities in Louisiana.
While at the South Louisiana Correctional Center in Basile and the LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Jessica Alva met with detained immigrants and offered to have the attorneys provide legal services for a fee. The immigrants’ families were then instructed to deposit those fees into bank accounts that the Alvas controlled.
Furthermore, at the time Jessica Alva entered the detention facilities, she was enjoined by a Texas state court from entering any immigration facility in the United States unless accompanied by an attorney for whom she worked.
The couple was also accused of impersonating attorneys during telephonic immigration hearings before an immigration court, with Eric Alva claiming to represent detained immigrants.
U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden announced the sentencing. In addition to the prison terms, the defendants were ordered to pay $3,000 restitution to their victims and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing their 6-month prison terms.
Assistant United States Attorney Alan Buie prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government, with the cooperation of the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office during the investigation.
Agents with HSI and Enforcement and Removal Operations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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