Staff
The El Paso Journal
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | 7:35 p.m.
Step.- An El Paso woman was arrested Monday in El Paso on criminal charges related to her alleged wire fraud and impersonation of a federal employee.
According to court documents, Ana María Hernández, 53, posed as an employee of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and defrauded more than 20 victims by providing them with the false pretense that she would process their immigration applications. for a substantial fee.
Hernandez’s victims provided him with the documentation required to file and adjust their immigration status. Investigators revealed that Hernandez had accumulated more than $400,000 of unexplained wealth within the 18 months that coincided with his fraudulent activity.
An indictment brought by an El Paso grand jury charges Hernandez with 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of impersonating a United States employee. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and three years for the phishing charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering United States sentencing guidelines and other legal factors.
United States Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the El Paso Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Division made the announcement.
HSI El Paso is investigating the case, while Assistant US Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
