WHITE PLAINS – Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino Jr. has announced the arraignment of Juan Cedillo of Washington State on an 87-count indictment for defrauding immigrants in Yonkers. The arraignment occurred on November 12 in front of Westchester County Court Judge Anne Minihan.
According to Scarpino, the defendant traveled to areas, including Yonkers, where a large immigrant population exists. Cedillo would target adults of families that had a child or children born in the United States, thereby US citizens. It is alleged that Cedillo told the immigrants that he could obtain U-Visas and legal status in exchange for payment. Under the law, immigrants can only apply for U-Visas if they have been victims of a crime. Scarpino’s office aids the U-Visa process by certifying a victim’s claim when they have been the victim of a crime in Westchester County.
Prosecutors say that Cedillo would recruit families by word-of-mouth and direct them to join his fabricated “U.S. Counter Insurgents Association of Justice” for a $5,000 fee. During his meetings with families, he would tell them he was “better than” or “higher” than an immigration lawyer, claiming he had contacts at multiple government agencies, including at times the CIA, the FBI and the White House. He promised he would obtain U-Visas for them and guarantee them “Green Cards.”
During the process of creating falsified U-Visa applications, he would take further payments totaling approximately $3,000, obtaining a total of $8,000 from each victim.
Scarpino said that Cedillo’s crimes occurred between November of 2013 and February of 2019 and included 17 victims from Yonkers who were seeking immigrant assistance services. In February, Cedillo was arrested by Yonkers Police following an investigation. The case was then presented to a Westchester County Grand Jury. DA Scarpino said, “No one should be able to take advantage of any community, especially those most vulnerable to crime. We will seek justice for anyone living in Westchester County no matter their immigration status. Immigrants should never be concerned about coming forward. Our Office is always here to help.”
Cedillo was indicted on one count of Scheme to Defraud in the first degree: Intent to Defraud ten or more persons and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the first degree: Obtain property of more than $1,000 by fraud. Cedillo was also charged with 85 counts of Immigrant Assistance Fraud in the first degree: Obtain property of more than $1,000 by fraud.