Colombian migrants allegedly posed as immigration judges, brokers and attorneys

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4 Colombian nationals had been arrested , together with three at an airport with one-way tickets in another country, after prosecutors say they posed as immigration judges and federal brokers to focus on migrants.

Three of the Colombian nationals arrested had been recognized as siblings Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, 25, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez, 29, and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, 38. Federal prosecutors stated all three had been arrested at Newark Airport in New Jersey with one-way tickets to Colombia.

The fourth particular person was recognized as Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, 24. She was arrested at a restaurant in New Jersey.

A fifth defendant within the partially unsealed indictment continues to be not in U.S. custody.

FOUR DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING 2 VENEZUELANS, USED 115 STOLEN IDENTITIES IN MASSIVE FOOD STAMP FRAUD

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/343/192/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/686/384/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/720/405/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1440/810/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> The group allegedly impersonated judges, legislation enforcement officers and attorneys to orchestrate faux immigration proceedings held over videoconference. (United States Legal professional, Jap District of New York)

"The defendants overtly stole their victims’ cash and deceived them by sending fictitious paperwork and holding sham courtroom proceedings," Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Legal professional for the Jap District of New York, stated in a press release.

The group allegedly impersonated judges, legislation enforcement officers and attorneys to orchestrate sham immigration proceedings held over videoconference.

Court docket paperwork include two consultant images of two of the digital "proceedings" with faces blacked out.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/343/192/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/686/384/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/720/405/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1440/810/colombian-migrants-arrested-impersonating-immgration-officials-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> In courtroom paperwork, prosecutors cited two images of the digital "proceedings" with faces blacked out. (United States Legal professional, Jap District of New York)

Victims had been led to consider that their immigration circumstances had been resolved, leading to victims lacking their precise appearances in immigration courtroom, in line with prosecutors.

A minimum of one sufferer who mistakenly believed her immigration points had been resolved was ordered to be deported because of the scheme, prosecutors stated, noting that the order was later reversed.

The group can be accused of lining their pockets and the pockets of their coconspirators in Colombia by laundering tens of 1000's of {dollars} of victims' funds.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALLEGEDLY RAN MULTI-MILLION GIFT CARD FRAUD SCHEME HITTING STORES DAILY ACROSS TEXAS

The group operated a fictitious legislation agency and solicited potential "purchasers" primarily through Facebook , prosecutors alleged, including that they charged charges starting from lots of to 1000's of {dollars} "for nonexistent authorized recommendation and providers."

A view of Newark Airport in New Jersey, on Might 6, 2025. Prosecutors stated three of the Colombian nationals had been arrested on the airport with one-way tickets to Colombia. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

Investigators have recognized over $100,000 in fraudulent transactions allegedly transmitted by victims to the defendants and different people related to the faux legislation agency.

All 5 people have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, cash laundering conspiracy and two counts of false impersonation of an officer or worker of the US.

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Daniela and Jhoan Ramirez, and Marlyn Pineda are immigration parolees, whereas Alexandra Ramirez is within the U.S. on a vacationer visa, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace stated.