LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
A woman posing as a shady Customs Enforcement Agent has been arrested, and is accused of bilking several undocumented immigrants out of thousands of dollars each under the guise of granting them legal residency.Araceli Martinez was taken into custody by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives with the Century Station, who caught up with the suspect as she tried to flee the country by plane to Mexico.
Fourteen victims reported they each paid between 4,000 and 8,000 dollars to Suspect Martinez in exchange for obtaining what they believed would grant them legal resident status, say the LASD.
Martinez has been booked at Century Regional Detention Facility for Theft by False Pretenses, with a Bail of $335,000.