Four people are facing extortion charges after being accused of running a fake immigration law office in Orlando.Legacy Imigra promoted itself as a full-service agency with attorneys who handle immigration and asylum claims for undocumented immigrants seeking lawful status, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina. But in reality, investigators said there were no lawyers in the office, and they defrauded clients out of millions of dollars.The suspects were accused of improperly filing applications and charging significant fees.They face charges of racketeering, organized fraud, extortion and unauthorized practice of law. Mina said victims lost between $2,500 to $26,000.Many of the victims were originally from Brazil and are located in several states. The sheriff’s office said Legacy Imigra pulled in more than $20 million from the scheme. Mina said they believed there might be more victims. Vagner De Almeida, Juliana Colucci, Ronaldo Decampos and Trindade Silva are being held in the Orange County jail with their bonds set at more than $200,000.>> Full news conference below
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Four people are facing extortion charges after being accused of running a fake immigration law office in Orlando.
Legacy Imigra promoted itself as a full-service agency with attorneys who handle immigration and asylum claims for undocumented immigrants seeking lawful status, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina.
But in reality, investigators said there were no lawyers in the office, and they defrauded clients out of millions of dollars.
The suspects were accused of improperly filing applications and charging significant fees.
They face charges of racketeering, organized fraud, extortion and unauthorized practice of law.
Mina said victims lost between $2,500 to $26,000.
Many of the victims were originally from Brazil and are located in several states. The sheriff’s office said Legacy Imigra pulled in more than $20 million from the scheme.
Mina said they believed there might be more victims.
Vagner De Almeida, Juliana Colucci, Ronaldo Decampos and Trindade Silva are being held in the Orange County jail with their bonds set at more than $200,000.
>> Full news conference below