San Antonio, Texas – In a shocking case of deceit and exploitation, a San Antonio couple, Jessica Rivas Alva and Eric Jon Alva, have been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding undocumented immigrants and their family members out of thousands of dollars. The scheme, which involved impersonating attorneys and collecting legal fees under false pretenses, has left many victims reeling.
According to court documents, between March 2015 and May 2015, the couple conspired to collect legal fees from incarcerated undocumented immigrants and/or their families under false pretenses. Jessica Alva, 38, and Eric Alva, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on March 2, 2016.
In April 2015, the Alvas faxed forged letters fraudulently using the name and state bar number of two San Antonio-based attorneys to enable Jessica Alva 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.
Jessica Alva was not an attorney and was not actually working for either attorney at the time she made the fraudulent representations. 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 conspiracy charge to which the Alvas pleaded guilty also alleged that during telephonic immigration hearings before an immigration court, Eric Alva impersonated one of the San Antonio attorneys and claimed to represent the detained immigrant whose case was before the court.
On May 24, 2024, United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced Jessica Rivas Alva and Eric Jon Alva to six months in federal prison for their crimes. 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.
The case was investigated by agents with Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Alan Buie prosecuted the case on behalf of the Government.
Related Stories
• Undocumented Immigrants Targeted in San Antonio
• Immigration Scams on the Rise
• Federal Prison Sentences for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft
Tags: t1, t2, t3
Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
Focus Keyword: wire fraud
Meta Description: San Antonio couple sentenced to prison for defrauding undocumented immigrants.
SEO Title: San Antonio Couple Sentenced for Wire Fraud
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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