13 charged in Florida over a firm that posed as immigration experts and faked documents for clients
Federal prosecutors say Legacy Imigra Solutions gave false immigration advice and falsified documents to win its clients status and benefits. USCIS says only licensed attorneys and accredited representatives can give immigration legal advice.
By Eyob Hadgu · 2 November 2026
A gavel, a US passport and immigration papers, shown in an illustration. (Illustration)
Thirteen people from Brazil and Cuba have been charged by indictment in Florida over a scheme in which a company posing as an immigration law practice gave clients false advice and falsified their immigration documents, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on 2 November.
The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, unlawful employment of unauthorised workers and marriage fraud. US Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the case in Orlando, and USCIS said it supported the investigation.
How the scheme worked
According to court records cited by USCIS, from 18 August 2023 to 20 April 2026, Vagner Sorares De Almeida owned and operated a Florida company called Legacy Imigra Solutions LLC. Seven of the other defendants were its employees.
Prosecutors say Legacy falsely presented itself as a professional firm staffed by immigration experts and attorneys. It gave prospective clients false, inaccurate and incomplete legal and immigration advice to persuade them to hire it, and falsified immigration documents to obtain status and benefits for those clients.
The defendants are also accused of regularly hiring people they knew were not authorised to work in the United States. Nine of the 13, including De Almeida, face at least one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
If convicted, each wire fraud count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, and each visa fraud conspiracy count up to 10 years. Conspiracy to commit marriage fraud carries up to five years. An indictment is a formal charge, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Orlando, Tampa and Brasilia, along with the IRS, the Department of Labor, USCIS, US Customs and Border Protection and Florida law enforcement agencies.
Why it matters for new arrivals
Prosecutors say Legacy's clients came to it for immigration help. USCIS warns that only "an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice recognized organization" can give immigration legal advice or represent applicants. A notary public in the United States is not authorised to provide immigration legal services.
USCIS advises applicants never to sign a blank form or one containing false information, and notes that its forms are free to download. It recommends checking an attorney's licence with the relevant state bar, checking claimed representatives against the Justice Department's accredited representative roster, and keeping copies of every form and USCIS notice. Suspected fraud can be reported through the USCIS Tip Form, the Federal Trade Commission or a state consumer protection office.
Asmara Post's practical guide, Asylum & Residency: getting started, lists where to begin an application using each country's own immigration authority.
This report draws on a USCIS news release and USCIS guidance on avoiding immigration scams.
Get Asmara Post in your inbox every Thursday.
One weekly email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.