A South Florida woman who defrauded undocumented immigrants by promising legal immigration status and threatening to have them deported if they didn't pay is facing multiple charges, Miami-Dade Police said.
Doris Yesmina Ortega, 42, is facing forgery, grand theft, organized scheme to defraud and uttering a forged check charges following her arrest last week, police said Wednesday.
Ortega was being held without bond Wednesday, jail records showed. It was unknown if she has an attorney.
According to police, Ortega told the immigrants she was a federal government employee who could get legal U.S. immigration status for them. The victims paid a fee and when they contacted Ortega to follow up on the status of their case, Ortega demanded more money, police said.
When the victims told Ortega they couldn't pay, she threatened them with deportation, police said.
In addition to the immigration scheme, police said Ortega got some victims to invest in a scheme where they invested thousands of dollars in musical events or concerts, with an agreement to split the profits.
Ortega would receive a check from the victims then give them a check for their share of the profits but would request they withdraw a portion for additional investments, police said.
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When the victims were told by their bank that the account or check was invalid, the victims would try to contact Ortega but she was nowhere to be found, police said.
Police believe Ortega has defrauded many more victims and are asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
