Document and Benefit Fraud

An ICE investigation has led to federal charges against Luis Enrique Villegas Brownell, a Mexican citizen without legal status, and his girlfriend, Kassandra Sanchez, a U.S. citizen, for identity theft and multiple federal crimes.

Miguel Angel Guevara-Murillo was arrested Aug. 4 and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a document-making implement after he allegedly told investigators he used the equipment to make counterfeit state identification documents, which he sold for $250 to people who sought to work as DoorDash drivers.

Abiola Femi Quadri, 43, of Pasadena, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered him to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans partnered with federal and local law enforcement partners in an investigation that led to the indictment of multiple Louisiana law enforcement officers and a business owner accused of engaging in a bribery scheme involving U visa applications for noncitizen crime victims.

The ICE-led multiagency investigation uncovered approximately 70 illegal aliens using stolen Social Security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization, leaving more than 100 real victims to face devastating financial, emotional and legal consequences.

An investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Maryland; along with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, led to the sentencing of Douglas Anthony Eze, 55, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for visa fraud.

The charges against Elvis Harizaj, 25, of Cherry Hill, and Natasha Flores, 27, of Newark, were announced May 28 by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Camden.

Leslie Kibula Bongajum, 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service and other federal, state and local partners, carried out a large-scale enforcement and interdiction operation targeting high-traffic ATM locations known for rampant fraudulent electronic benefit transfer card activity May 1 and 2.

The scheme involved suspects applying for store credit cards using stolen identities and credit lines to purchase merchandise. T