Former ICE Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Immigrants’ Identities to Spend $190,000
- 6 years ago
Former ICE Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Immigrants’ Identities to Spend $190,000
15, 2018
A former top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing the identities of seven people in deportation proceedings
and buying more than $190,000 in goods under their names, the federal authorities said.
The former lawyer, Raphael A. Sanchez, used his position as the ICE chief counsel for immigration proceedings in several Western
states to gain access to the victims’ personal information in federal databases, including their immigration records.
Mr. Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in federal court in Seattle.
Using those records, Mr. Sanchez created fake Social Security cards, driver’s licenses
and utility bills to open credit card and bank accounts in their names, the authorities said.
Mr. Sanchez’s lawyer, Cassandra Stamm, said he had "sincere and immense regret" for his actions.
Sanchez looks forward to fully repaying all those affected by his crimes." As part of his plea agreement,
Mr. Sanchez is expected to receive a sentence of 48 months in prison, Ms. Stamm said.
15, 2018
A former top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing the identities of seven people in deportation proceedings
and buying more than $190,000 in goods under their names, the federal authorities said.
The former lawyer, Raphael A. Sanchez, used his position as the ICE chief counsel for immigration proceedings in several Western
states to gain access to the victims’ personal information in federal databases, including their immigration records.
Mr. Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in federal court in Seattle.
Using those records, Mr. Sanchez created fake Social Security cards, driver’s licenses
and utility bills to open credit card and bank accounts in their names, the authorities said.
Mr. Sanchez’s lawyer, Cassandra Stamm, said he had "sincere and immense regret" for his actions.
Sanchez looks forward to fully repaying all those affected by his crimes." As part of his plea agreement,
Mr. Sanchez is expected to receive a sentence of 48 months in prison, Ms. Stamm said.