Posted on 11/10/2005 7:49:58 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES – A recently hired federal immigration agent in San Diego has been charged with financial elder abuse, identity theft and attempted grand theft in connection with an alleged scheme to take over ownership of his uncle's house, officials said Thursday.
Juan Carlos Cortes-Garcia, 34, of National City, who is an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant filed in Los Angeles. His bail was set at $175,000.
He is expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court next week on the 10-count complaint, which includes five forgery counts, filed against him.
Prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office allege that Cortes-Garcia, who has some legal training, was asked by his uncle in Los Angeles to draw up a trust for his estate.
But Cortes-Garcia allegedly designated himself as the beneficiary of the trust last year and then had his relatives sign documents transferring ownership of his uncle's Los Angeles home to him.
"Then he tried to refinance the home once he owned it, but the relatives got wind of it through the escrow process," said Deputy District Attorney Lynne Smith. "So the scam was uncovered."
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 27 years in prison.
As of Thursday, it was unclear if he had retained an attorney.
ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said the agency was not aware of the investigation until after his arrest.
Mack said he was hired by the agency in June and was stationed in San Diego this fall. Agents have a one-year probation period, she said.
Mack said no decision has been made on Cortes-Garcia's employment status with the agency.
"He hasn't contacted our office," she said Thursday. "We haven't heard from him."
She said he was recently assigned to the ICE office in downtown San Diego and prior to that worked out for the agency at the state's Donovan Correctional Facility. His duties largely involved escorting people to and from court and detention centers.
Smith said that Cortes-Garcia did return ownership of the home to his uncle, but because of his transfer, the county assessor increased the property tax payment on the home from $700 to $6,000 a year. She said Los Angeles police investigators intervened on behalf of the family and the assessor agreed to keep the payments at $700.
HUH!
"...Immigration agent charged..."
Only one?
The BS Meter is reading off the scale.
Mack said no decision has been made on Cortes-Garcia's employment status with the agency.
HUH!
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Amazing, ain't it? Our so-called "government" just continues to degenerate.
I read that in the average year something like 400 federal emplyees are fired for cause. Made me sick for days.
They are trying to decide whether to keep him there or transfer him to airport security.
ping
Innocent until proven guilty!
Let's wait and see if he's convicted.
Now we just need to figure out a way to get the rest of them to do their job while thinking, "Does this benefit America or harm her?".
Yes, he is innocent until proven guilty but the taxpayer should not be punished while we wait for the verdict.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
Should he be punished while we wait for a verdict?
What make you or me better then him?
In private industry, if the charges precluded his working, do you think that he would be paid?
The standard should be the private sector.
Many private sector companies operate the same way. They do so, to avoid lengthy and costly law suits.
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