Former ICE Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Immigrants’ Identities to Spend $190,000<br />15, 2018<br />A former top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing the identities of seven people in deportation proceedings<br />and buying more than $190,000 in goods under their names, the federal authorities said.<br />The former lawyer, Raphael A. Sanchez, used his position as the ICE chief counsel for immigration proceedings in several Western<br />states to gain access to the victims’ personal information in federal databases, including their immigration records.<br />Mr. Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in federal court in Seattle.<br />Using those records, Mr. Sanchez created fake Social Security cards, driver’s licenses<br />and utility bills to open credit card and bank accounts in their names, the authorities said.<br />Mr. Sanchez’s lawyer, Cassandra Stamm, said he had "sincere and immense regret" for his actions.<br />Sanchez looks forward to fully repaying all those affected by his crimes." As part of his plea agreement,<br />Mr. Sanchez is expected to receive a sentence of 48 months in prison, Ms. Stamm said.
