HOUSTON – A 57-year-old Houston man has been accused of running a scheme to defraud immigrants with false promises of legal status, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jesus Carlos Silva made his initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m. on an indictment filed December 17.
According to the indictment, Silva allegedly promised to help immigrants obtain U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status from March 2022 to December 2024.
The indictment alleges Silva made false statements and misrepresentations to persuade victims to pay him thousands of dollars.
He allegedly posed as an immigration attorney affiliated with a Houston-based law firm, despite not being an attorney.
It is alleged that Silva targeted victims, most of whom lacked legal immigration status, and claimed he could secure their citizenship or legal status. He allegedly told some victims he had a close contact at U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) who would expedite their applications.
Silva charged victims between $7,000 and $15,000 each, according to the charges.
If convicted, Silva faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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