A former Arlington resident has been charged with pretending to be an immigration lawyer and swindling her clients out of over $700,000.
Patricia De Oliveira Souza Lelis Bolin, 29, was indicted on charges of wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, Lelis Bolin sent a legal retainer agreement to a victim for help in obtaining E-2 and EB-5 visas for the victim’s parents. The victim made two initial payments totaling over $135,000 based on Lelis Bolin’s representation that the money was going into a Texas real estate development project that qualified for the EB-5 program.
Instead, the victim’s money is alleged to have gone into Lelis Bolin’s personal bank account. Rather than investing the money as promised, Lelis Bolin allegedly used it for a downpayment on her Arlington townhouse, bathroom renovations, and paying other personal expenses, such as credit card debt.
Lelis Bolin is a Brazilian national who allegedly posed as an immigration lawyer able to help foreign clients obtain E-2 and EB-5 visas to the United States. The EB-5 program provides lawful permanent residency, and possible citizenship, if a foreign national invests substantial funds—typically, a minimum of $1 million—in qualifying job-creating enterprises in the United States.
Lelis Bolin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if she is convicted of engaging in wire fraud, a maximum 10 years if convicted of unlawful monetary transactions, and a mandatory minimum of two additional years in prison if she is convicted of aggravated identity theft.
At the time of publication, Lelis Bolin is not in law enforcement custody. If any members of the public have information regarding the whereabouts of Lelis Bolin, they are encouraged to contact the FBI’s Washington Field Office at (202) 278-2000 or the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Information may also be submitted online using FBI’s electronic tips form at https://tips.fbi.gov.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell Carlberg and Drew Bradylyons. A copy of the indictment is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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