florida man who immigration lawyer sentence

by Dr. Felipe Zemlak 4 min read

Florida Man Who Posed as Immigration Lawyer Gets 20-Year Sentence. Elvis Harold Reyes filed hundreds of fraudulent applications, collecting $411,000 that he spent on himself and his girlfriend, prosecutors said.Apr 15, 2021

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How many victims of the Reyes case were deported?

According to the Department of Justice, Reyes preyed on undocumented immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries and filed fraudulent asylum documents on their behalf. At least six victims were deported and an additional six have deportation orders.

Who was the man who duped immigrants?

Florida man Elvis Harold Reyes duped hundreds of immigrants as he led a "a life of frauds and swindles,” prosecutors said. Skip to main content.

Why was Carmen Sanchez's son deported?

Carmen Sanchez said her son had been deported to Mexico after paying Reyes to secure legal status for their family. “When we complained to him, Reyes said that he was going to call the immigration authorities to come to our houses to look for us,” Sanchez said, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

How many fraudulent forms did the Reyes file?

When the immigrants did not show up for required interviews and court dates, removal proceedings were automatically initiated. Reyes filed at least 225 fraudulent forms and stole at least $411,868, prosecutors said. Story continues below advertisement.

What did Reyes spend his money on?

All the while, Reyes spent the money he collected from immigrants on a “lavish lifestyle” that included designer clothes, spa treatments, expensive furniture and pricey jewelry, prosecutors said. He paid his girlfriend’s rent and gave her an “allowance” of $500 every month.

Is Reyes a scammer?

In May 2019, an investigation published by UnivisionTampa Bay first exposed Reyes’s scam and spurred an official probe into the impostor attorney’s practice. Around that time, immigration officials also noticed a pattern in Reyes’s fabricated forms, prosecutors said.

How long was Reyes in jail?

Reyes, who also portrayed himself as a pastor, accountant and former immigration official while stealing money from undocumented immigrants, was sentenced Monday to 20 years and 9 months in federal prison.

Who is the judge for the case of Reyes?

U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington said Reyes preyed on the dreams and hopes of people who were looking to legalize their status.

How did Reyes try to obstruct justice?

When an investigation revealed Reyes’s scheme, Reyes tried to obstruct justice by having a friend wipe his computers, according to the authorities. Outside of federal court, dozens of immigrant families waited patiently for the sentence against Reyes to be announced.

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