Immigration Services Provider Pleads Guilty To Fraud and Identity Theft

MIAMI – Mario Henry Garcia, 65, of Miami has pled guilty to one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents, as well to one count of aggravated identity theft.

Garcia operated a business, Mar Financial, through which he provided a variety of tax preparation, divorce, and immigration services. In particular, the Defendant would assist clients preparing immigration applications (form I-485) to adjust their status to that of a legal permanent resident.  Often those clients would have to provide an Affidavit of Financial Support (form I-864) from a financial sponsor guaranteeing to support the applicant while they were in the United States.  When a client of the Defendant did not have anyone to act as their financial sponsor, the Defendant would steal the personal identifying information and supporting documents of a sponsor for a prior legitimate application without the sponsors’ knowledge or consent, in exchange for a fee. 

The Defendant was released on bond. On February 1, 2023, the Defendant failed to appear at his arraignment in this case.  The Defendant absconded and left the country traveling on a Peruvian travel document.  The Defendant was detained in Panama after arriving on a flight from Costa Rica and returned to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga set the sentencing hearings for Garcia for June 14.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, announced the guilty plea.

HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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