TAMPA, Fla. — Federal prosecutors have entered into plea agreement with a Brandon man accused of defrauding dozens of people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What You Need To Know
- Elvis Reyes was originally charged with 25 counts of mail fraud, identity theft and making false statements to immigration officials
- Reyes pleaded guilty in federal court
- He could face up to 22 years in prison, a sentencing date has not been set
- PREVIOUS STORY: Undocumented Victims Defrauded by Fake Brandon Attorney
Prosecutors had originally charged Elvis Reyes with 25 counts of mail fraud, identity theft and making false statements to immigration officials.
The indictment was handed down after Spectrum Bay News 9 reported on dozens of undocumented immigrants who said Reyes pretended to be a lawyer and collected thousands of dollars in legal fees to help them on the path to citizenship.
Elvis Reyes pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of mail fraud and making false statements to immigration officials.
An attorney for some of those victims says her clients are satisfied with the plea agreement.
“While they’re still victims, they did help future immigrants who may have been subject to his schemes,” said Plant City-based Immigration Attorney Ananis Makar.
A sentencing date has not been set. Reyes could face up to 22 years in prison.