Former ICE Counsel Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Identity Theft
A former top lawyer at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office has pleaded guilty to using the identities of numerous aliens for a wire fraud and aggravated identity theft scheme.
Raphael A. Sanchez, 44, of Seattle, Washington, will be sentenced on May 11 before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lansik of the Western District of Washington.
Sanchez, who had responsibility over immigration removal proceedings in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, intentionally devised a scheme to defraud seven aliens in various stages of immigration removal proceedings. For his own personal gain, Sanchez used the personally identifiable information of those aliens to open lines of credit and personal loans in their names, manipulated their credit bureau files and transferred funds to and purchased goods for himself using credit cards issued in their names.
Sanchez admitted that he obtained personally identifiable information of the victim aliens by using ICE’s official computer database systems and by accessing their official, hard-copy immigration A-files, and then forged identification documents on his work computer, such as social security cards and Washington State driver’s licenses, in the victims’ names.
According to admissions in the plea agreement, Sanchez used the forged documents to open credit card and bank accounts in the names of aliens, which he controlled. In furtherance of the scheme, Sanchez listed his home address as the aliens’ residences on account paperwork; in some cases, created public utility account statements in their names to provide the necessary proof of residence in order to open lines of credit in their names or to conceal the scheme.
Sanchez also manufactured a false earnings and leave statement in the name of one alien in furtherance of the scheme and registered a car in her name. Sanchez further admitted that once the accounts were approved and opened, he made charges or drew payments totaling more than $190,000 in the names of aliens to himself or entities that he controlled.
Sanchez pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The investigation was led by ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Sanchez’s sentencing is set for May 11.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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