Brazilian Nationals Among 13 Charged in Alleged Immigration Fraud Scheme in Florida

Image: Handcuffs on top of money. Source: www.freepik

Thirteen foreign nationals, most of them Brazilian citizens, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States for their alleged roles in a large-scale immigration fraud scheme operating in Florida, according to federal authorities.

Prosecutors say the defendants are accused of offering fraudulent immigration services, filing false immigration applications and, in some cases, arranging sham marriages to help individuals obtain immigration benefits in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice identified the Brazilian defendants as Vagner Sorares de Almeida, his wife Juliana Colucci, Lucas Felipe Trindade Silva, Ronaldo de Campos, Erick Bruno Gonçalves de Assis Pinto, Nathalia da Costa Ferreira, Nathalia Gomes Ciriaco, Kelen Cristina da Silva and Lorraine Soares Oliveira. Four Cuban nationals were also charged as part of the case.

According to prosecutors, the defendants face a total of 11 federal charges, including conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, visa and document fraud, arranging fraudulent marriages for immigration purposes and employing individuals not authorized to work in the United States. Some of the charges carry potential penalties that could result in decades in federal prison if convictions are secured.

Federal authorities allege that Vagner Sorares de Almeida served as the leader of the operation, which investigators say operated for nearly three years through an Orlando-based company known as Legacy Imigra Solutions. The business allegedly marketed immigration assistance services to immigrants seeking asylum or legal status in the United States while submitting fraudulent applications and documentation on their behalf.

The federal indictment follows an earlier law enforcement operation carried out in April, when four suspects, including Almeida, were arrested on state charges that included organized fraud, extortion and racketeering-related offenses.

Investigators say they have already identified approximately 200 victims connected to the scheme and recovered roughly $1.7 million during the investigation. Authorities believe the number of victims could be significantly higher as the case continues to unfold.

Federal prosecutors and investigators are now pursuing the criminal case while continuing efforts to identify additional victims and determine the full scope of what they describe as a sophisticated immigration fraud operation targeting vulnerable immigrants in Central Florida.