Press Release
MIAMI GROUP CHARGED IN CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD ALIENS
April 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Steve Mocsary, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Professional Responsibility, and Donald Balberchak, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General, announced that defendants Nestor Romero, 56, Ada Calveiro, 59, and Rafael Diaz De La Rocha, 52, all of Miami, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements in immigration papers, and wire fraud. Nestor Romero was also indicted on substantive charges of making false statements in immigration papers, aggravated identity theft, and impersonating an officer and employee of the United States. All three defendants made their initial appearances in federal court today. Calveiro was released on a $50,000 personal surety bond, Romero was given a $150,000 corporate surety bond, and Diaz De La Rocha on a $100,000 10% bond.
According to the Indictment, the defendants were part of a scheme to defraud aliens by soliciting payments from them and falsely promising to assist them with immigration matters. After receiving payments, defendant Romero prepared false immigration documents using personal information belonging to numerous identity theft victims, including alien registration numbers belonging to individuals who had not requested such applications. In selling immigration services to aliens, defendant Nestor Romero represented himself to be employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Through this scheme, the defendants collected more than $426,700 from aliens in connection with their immigration business.
If convicted, Romero faces a maximum of 34 years' imprisonment. Calveiro and Diaz De La Rocha face a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment. Impersonating a DHS employee is a very serious matter, which is aggressively investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility to protect the integrity of the DHS workforce.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
Attachments:
Indictment (PDF)
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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