A Houston man, aged 57, has been indicted on charges related to a scheme allegedly designed to defraud immigrants. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the charges against Jesus Carlos Silva, who appeared before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Ho.
The indictment filed on December 17 accuses Silva of running a fraudulent operation from March 2022 to December 2024, during which he allegedly promised to help immigrants obtain U.S. citizenship or legal status under false pretenses.
Silva is accused of making deceptive statements and posing as an immigration attorney affiliated with a Houston-based law firm, despite not being licensed as an attorney. The charges claim he targeted individuals without legal immigration status and falsely assured them that he could secure their citizenship or legal standing in the United States.
According to the allegations, Silva claimed connections at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that would expedite application processes for his victims, charging them between $7,000 and $15,000 each for his purported services.
However, it is further alleged that Silva did not follow through with any legitimate assistance or secure any legal status for his clients. Instead, he reportedly provided excuses for delays in their applications and eventually ceased communication altogether.
The indictment also alleges that Silva instructed victims to travel to Houston for fictitious appointments with USCIS officials. Upon arrival, victims were met with excuses regarding his absence and found no such meetings had been arranged.
If convicted of these crimes, Silva faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison along with a possible fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI led the investigation into this case with support from the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Feinstein and Rodolfo Ramirez are handling prosecution duties.
It should be noted that an information is merely an accusation of criminal conduct; it does not serve as evidence of guilt. A defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process of law.