ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County immigration agency is accused of defrauding hundreds of undocumented immigrants out of more than $20 million and has been shut down.
In a news conference held on Wednesday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina announced that Legacy Imigra claimed to help undocumented clients obtain lawful status in the United States, but instead, was running a criminal enterprise built on manipulation, fraud, and extortion.
“They basically got rich through a business model built on manipulation, fraud, lies, and extortion,” Mina said. “And the majority of their clients, most of them whom are Brazilian nationals, got no closer to realizing their dreams of becoming Americans.”
Vagner De Almeida, the founder, his wife, Juliana Colucci, and their associates, Lucas Felope Trindade Silva and Ronaldo Decampos, were arrested and face charges of racketeering, organized fraud, extortion, and unauthorized practice of law.
Mina confirmed that additional individuals found at the business during the operation are in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and may face deportation.
According to the sheriff’s office, the case came to its attention in September when they were contacted by a Florida Bar attorney who received multiple complaints involving Legacy Imigra.
Those complaints alleged Legacy was conducting a coordinated scheme to defraud undocumented immigrants by falsely claiming its staff were qualified immigration attorneys and charging significant fees for fraudulent or improperly filed applications.
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Mina said the agency used social media and word-of-mouth referrals to attract clients.
“Legacy created email accounts in the victim’s names without their knowledge or consent, and then withheld documents and told victims they would not receive their paperwork and unless they paid additional money,” Mina said.
News 6’s Mike Valente asked Mina if investigators believe Legacy Imigra was ever a legitimate business.
“Well, they are not attorneys, so that’s one thing,” Mina said. “I know that we did find information that they were helping some people legitimately. But who knows, is that just an effort so they tell their friends, who tell their friends and they’re getting more business? But basically they’re exploiting people, extorting people and defrauding people out of their money.”
Mina also said De Almeida is in the country illegally as a visa overstayer. Two of the other defendants also have ICE holds, according to the sheriff’s office.
Seven victims have cooperated with the investigation so far. They are from Florida, South Carolina, Connecticut and New Jersey. Deputies believe the total number of victims could reach into the hundreds.
Mina said victims who cooperate with investigators will be able to apply for a visa that could allow them to remain in the country while assisting with the case.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office conducted the operation in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
Outside Legacy Imigra’s headquarters on Kingspointe Parkway Wednesday, News 6 noticed the window that’s now boarded up, two days after deputies smashed it in during their raid of the business.
“Police were literally here all day,” said Steve Nbounsanga, the owner of iHeartCustoms, an office a few doors down form Legacy Imigra.
News 6 spoke to Nbounsanga and owners of two other businesses Wednesday. They all said Legacy quickly made its presence known after it moved into the plaza a couple months ago.
“Suddenly, one day, we had nowhere to park,” said Dr. Stefannia Ezzi, the owner of EZ Aesthetics & Wellness.
Ezzi said Legacy had about 40 employees and some of them consistently parked in other business’s spaces.
“We started having cones here to just reserve our spots for our patients,” Ezzi said. “And they would just remove the cones and park anyways.”
Mazen Ban, the owner of Oudlash, recalled Legacy employees “swarming” the parking lot early every morning.
“They were all suited up and in like formal wear, as if they were going to like a wedding or special occasion,” Ban said.
But none of the people News 6 spoke with suspected Legacy of being anything more than a bad neighbor.
“They’re taking a class of citizens that’s already having challenges and then preying on them,” Nbounsanga said after News 6 told him about the allegations.