HOUSTON – Prosecutors say a Houston man, who told his clients he was an immigration attorney, pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars from unsuspecting, undocumented clients over two years.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas, From March 2022 to December 2024, Jesus Carlos Silva, 58. claimed to be an immigration attorney and promised help for people looking for citizenship.
An investigation revealed that Silva offered services for clients to obtain legal immigration status by charging them thousands of dollars for assistance, despite never providing services. And it didn’t happen just in Houston.
“Silva instructed several individuals to travel to Houston for fake appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When they arrived, there were no appointments,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in their press release. “He admitted to stealing more than $1.45 million from over 100 people, most of whom lived in Houston and Chicago. Others were from Texas, Illinois, Louisiana, and Florida.”
SUGGESTED: Fate of birthright citizenship order unresolved after Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions
Sentencing is scheduled to take effect in late September 2025, with Silva facing up to five years in prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss resulting from the offense.
Prosecutors said the 58-year-old remains on bond until his sentencing.
Start Here, Houston
Before you “PRESS START” to your day, get ahead of the game with our morning newsletter.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.