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An Upper West Side woman who admitted to stealing immigration application fees from clients she was supposed to help has now been sentenced, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has announced.
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Analie Vargas, 35, received a promised sentence of five years of probation and was ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution. She must also consent to judgment orders for the remaining balance of the thefts, approximately $8,845, according to the District Attorney’s office.Vargas previously pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree for diverting clients’ checks and money orders—intended for U.S. Department of Homeland Security immigration fees—into her personal bank account. The scheme occurred while she was working as a case manager at Divorce Filers, a Lower Manhattan firm that offered immigration-related application services.
Prosecutors have said that between October 2019 and November 2023, Vargas instructed clients to make payments payable to the Department of Homeland Security and give them directly to her. Instead of submitting the payments, she deposited the funds into her own account, in some cases altering the payee name to read “Analie Vargas.”
When clients later asked about the status of their immigration cases, Vargas allegedly avoided their inquiries or blamed delays on the COVID-19 pandemic. In several instances, investigators said she sent victims fabricated letters that appeared to come from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, directing them to attend interviews that did not exist.
Authorities determined that Vargas deposited at least $17,000 in checks and money orders meant for immigration fees and used the money on personal expenses, including restaurants and travel.
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“Analie Vargas abused the trust of clients who relied on her for court filings, including immigration paperwork, to steal their money for personal expenses,” District Attorney Bragg said in a statement following the sentencing. “Defrauding hopeful New Yorkers is unacceptable, and we will prosecute individuals who use their greed to take advantage of our immigrant communities.”Bragg encouraged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of similar fraud to contact the Manhattan District Attorney’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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