Local man indicted for defrauding immigrants with false promises of legal status
Thursday, December 19, 2024
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
HOUSTON – A 57-year-old Houston man has appeared in federal court for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jesus Carlos Silva made his initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m.
According to the indictment filed Dec. 17, Silva ran a scheme to defraud immigrants from March 2022 until December 2024. He allegedly falsely promised to help them obtain U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status.
The charges allege Silva made false statements and misrepresentations to persuade victims to pay him thousands of dollars. He allegedly posed as an immigration attorney affiliated with Houston-based law firm, despite not being an attorney.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/local-man-indicted-defrauding-immigrants-false-promises-legal-status