An Upper West Side woman has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars in immigration application fees from clients she was supposed to help, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced this week.
Analie Vargas, 35, admitted to diverting checks meant for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into her personal bank account while working as a case manager at Divorce Filers, a Lower Manhattan firm that offered services for immigration-related applications and divorces. She pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.
Vargas was indicted in May 2024.
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Under the terms of her plea, Vargas is expected to be sentenced on December 16, 2025, to five years of probation and $2,500 in restitution. She must also consent to judgment orders for the remaining balance of her thefts, approximately $8,845.According to prosecutors, between October 2019 and November 2023, Vargas instructed clients to make out checks or money orders to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and give them to her directly. She then deposited those funds into her own account, in some cases altering the payee name to “Analie Vargas.”
When victims reached out to ask about their case status, Vargas often avoided communication or told them their applications were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases, she even sent fake letters appearing to be from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), directing clients to attend interviews that did not exist.
Investigators found that Vargas had deposited at least $17,000 worth of checks and money orders intended for immigration fees, using the money for restaurants, travel, and other personal expenses.
“New Yorkers trusted Analie Vargas to help them apply for permanent residence when in actuality she was pocketing their hard-earned money for personal expenses,” said D.A. Bragg in a statement. “Those who prey on the perceived vulnerability of new New Yorkers for personal gain will be prosecuted.”
Bragg also encouraged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this type of fraud to contact the D.A.’s Immigration Affairs Unit at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877. Interpreters are available, and callers are urged to reach out regardless of immigration status.
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