Jesus Carlos Silva, Mail and Wire Fraud, Texas 2022

A 58-year-old Houston resident has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The scheme, which ran from March 2022 through December 2024, was orchestrated by Jesus Carlos Silva, who pretended to be an immigration attorney affiliated with a Houston-based law firm.

Silva made false promises that he could help people obtain U.S. citizenship and/or other legal immigration status, charging thousands of dollars per person for his ‘assistance.’ He collected payments through checks and money orders, but never provided legitimate immigration help.

Instead, Silva offered excuses for delays before ultimately cutting off communication with his victims. He instructed several individuals to travel to Houston for fake appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, only to have them show up to find no appointments.

Silva admitted to stealing more than $1,450,555 from over 100 people, most of whom lived in Houston and Chicago. Others were from Texas, Illinois, Louisiana, and Florida.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks will impose sentencing on September 22. At that time, Silva faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine or a fine of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss that resulted from the offense.

Silva was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

White Collar Crime

Alarcon Garcia, Money Laundering, Florida 2008

Jan 15, 2008

White Collar Crime

Cambridge Mill Products, Illegal Dumping, NY 1987

Sep 3, 1986

White Collar Crime

Karl Asatrian, Wire Fraud, Nevada 2009

Jan 15, 2009

White Collar Crime

Maria Magdalena Mendoza, Money Laundering, Nevada 2003

Jan 15, 2003