latest news Man charged with green card scam, posing as ICE agents

A San Ysidro man accused of issuing multiple fraudulent green cards while impersonating various federal agents, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, now faces multiple federal charges in connection with the scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

Davyd George Brand Jimenez, 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, accused of illegally taking thousands of dollars from more than 25 Orange County residents here after promising them help obtaining legal residency , a work permit or US citizenship, according to a press. statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Brand Jimenez has not yet been arrested in this case. Federal authorities are working to locate him after he failed to appear for sentencing in another case in federal court.

Federal authorities say Brand Jimenez falsely claimed to be an ICE agent — sometimes showing a fake ICE badge — or Homeland Security official to primarily target Latino residents here illegally in the scam. He also claimed to be a “G-18” official, which officials say is a non-existent position. Brand Jimenez has never worked for ICE.

From April 2019 to November 2020, Brand Jimenez charged victims $10,000 to $20,000 each, promising to help him get legal documents — but federal prosecutors said he never filed a complaint. immigration documents on their behalf. In several instances, he provided victims with false immigration documents, including, in one case, a fabricated stay on a deportation order, prosecutors said.

In another case, Brand Jimenez is accused of providing a victim with valid U.S. documents, including a Social Security card and passport, but under a different name, and ordering the person to use the bad name to live and work in the United States, according to the press release.

He faces 10 counts of impersonating a federal officer, three counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, seven counts of fraudulent possession and use of U.S. government seals, three counts of impersonating of aggravated identification and one count of misuse of a U.S. Passport, according to the indictment.

Officials have asked anyone with information about Brand Jimenez’s location to call the FBI’s toll-free hotline at (800) 225-5324 or visit https://tips.fbi.gov/.