| For Immediate Release April 2nd, 2002 |
Contact: | DDA Byron Nelson (714) 347-8747 |
Two Women Charged With Immigration Fraud Scheme
SANTA ANA — A mother-daughter team who claimed to sell immigration documents to the Hispanic community were charged today with 21 counts each including theft by false pretenses, grand theft and conspiracy to cheat and defraud by false promises.
Defendants Norma Lillian Perez (DOB 8-18-70) and her mother, Rosalva Jurado (DOB 3-3-50) both of Fontana, were arrested Friday during a sting operation near Stanton. Perez posed as an INS employee and Jurado collected payments promising to make the victims legal residents of the United States. The pair has no affiliation with the U.S. government.
Investigators from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office began looking at the duo in February after receiving a complaint from a victim who paid several thousand dollars to become a legal resident. Further investigation revealed that the women had been operating this scheme for at least several months. So far, 21 victims have been identified with losses totaling $57,000. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with further information on the defendants is urged to contact DA Investigator Richard Ybarra at (714) 347-8715.
The pair is in custody and scheduled for arraignment at 1:30 p.m. in the West Justice Center.