Patria Zuniga, Immigration Scam, Massachusetts 2016

BOSTON, Massachusetts – A massive immigration scam has been brought to justice, with a Woonsocket, R.I. woman being sentenced to 78 months in prison for targeting Hispanic immigrants and defrauding them of over $700,000.

Patria Zuniga, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 78 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $713,850 for her role in an immigration scam that ran from 2009 through 2012.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Zuniga presented herself as either an immigration attorney or an employee of U.S. immigration authorities to her victims, telling them that she could assist them in lawfully obtaining permanent resident immigration status. However, after the victims made the payments, Zuniga extorted additional funds by threatening to have them deported if they refused to pay.

Victim payments were initially made in cash, but later in the scheme Zuniga accepted money via cash deposits made directly into designated bank accounts, including accounts owned by her daughters, money orders, and bank and Western Union wire transfers.

In total, victims paid more than $700,000 over the course of the three-year fraud scheme. Zuniga employed a variety of tools to create the appearance of legitimacy in front of the victims, including showing them forged immigration documents and arranging for them to travel to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Offices in Boston.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, 17 of Zuniga’s victims addressed the Court directly – detailing the toll Zuniga’s fraud, extortion, and threats had on their lives. Many victims reported how, in the face of Zuniga’s threats of deportation, they handed over all the money they had and even borrowed money in order to make the payments to her.

Zuniga’s daughters, Alba Peña and Indranis Rocheford, have also been charged in connection with the fraud and are scheduled for trial in August 2016. United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit made the announcement.

Zuniga’s sentencing is a major victory for law enforcement and a testament to the importance of protecting vulnerable communities from exploitation. The case highlights the need for immigrants to be cautious of scams and to report any suspicious activity to authorities.

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