Homeland Security Investigations El Paso agents arrested a local woman on charges of wire fraud and impersonation of a federal employee after she allegedly misled more than 20 victims while pretending to work for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
According to a Jan. 25 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release, Homeland Security agents arrested Ana Maria Hernandez, 53, on 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of impersonating a US government official, according to an indictment handed down by an El Paso grand jury. The maximum sentence for each count is 20 years in jail, and the maximum sentence for the offense of impersonation is three years.
"The impersonation of a federal official is a serious offense, and people who perpetrate schemes that aim to deceive trusting individuals out of thousands of dollars, will be held accountable for their crimes,” Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola said in the release. “This type of criminal behavior undermines the legitimate immigration process and taints the reputation of hard-working civil servants."
Hernandez defrauded more than 20 people by saying she would process their immigration applications for a substantial fee during her time impersonating an ICE employee, according to the release. Hernandez’s victims provided her with the necessary documentation to file and adjust their immigration status and payment. Hernandez amassed more than $400,000 of unexplained wealth within 18 months of her fraudulent activity.
