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Colombian Trio Guilty of Alien Smuggling
WASHINGTON – Three Colombian nationals have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle aliens for profit and conspiracy to commit visa fraud in connection with their roles in an extensive visa fraud scheme.
Heliber Toro Mejia, 52; Humberto Toro Mejia, 60; and Luz Elena Acuna Rios, 53, all of Bogotá, pleaded guilty in Washington, D.C., before U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle.
The defendants admitted to operating an extensive and sophisticated visa fraud ring that profited by assisting otherwise inadmissible Colombian nationals in fraudulently procuring visas from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. They created fictitious backgrounds for the aliens and fraudulent supporting documentation, including paperwork that appeared to be official Colombian government-issued documents.
According to plea documents, the conspirators coached the aliens on how to pass the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá by answering questions untruthfully as well as how to lie to U.S. immigration authorities about their backgrounds when entering the United States.
The defendants admitted to assisting more than 100 aliens in fraudulently obtaining or attempting to fraudulently obtain a U.S. visa during the course of the conspiracy. Many of those aliens who did obtain a fraudulently-procured visa used that visa to enter the United States.
As part of the plea agreements, the defendants agreed to forfeit assets related to the alien smuggling and visa fraud scheme, including an office in Bogotá and $234,533 in proceeds.
The guilty pleas are the result of “Operation Coffee Country,” a coordinated international investigation by the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché’s Office in Bogotá and the Diplomatic Security Service – Regional Security Office in Bogotá.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for profit and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Each defendant is also subject to a maximum fine of $250,000 for each charge.
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Key Facts
- State: District of Columbia
- Category: Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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