Posted at 5:54 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2007
Immigration fraud leads to 3-plus years in prison
Advertiser Staff
A Washington state man has been sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to repay more than $100,000 as a result of a conviction for fraud and theft in Honolulu, the U.S. attorney's office said today.Toma Lelea, 40, misrepresented himself as a federal government employee to cheat more than 20 victims who thought they were getting help with their immigration problems, officials said.
At times, Lelea would display badges or clothing that indicated he worked for the FBI or the U.S. Marshal Service, although he was never employed by the government, according to a 2006 indictment.
He was convicted of wire fraud, mail fraud, Social Security fraud and felony theft of public money, said U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.
