MIAMI, Fla. (CBS12) — A Miami pastor is at the center of a disturbing immigration fraud investigation that allegedly preyed on vulnerable immigrants seeking legal help.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), 46-year-old Nelson David Ochoa-Vasquez — a pastor at La Iglesia de Dios Jireh — used his position of trust to introduce congregants and other immigrants to Ismer Gonzalez, who falsely claimed to be an immigration attorney. Victims paid for legal services that were never legitimate, resulting in an estimated $21,000 in losses.
Authorities say Ochoa-Vasquez knowingly facilitated the scam, exploiting the hopes of individuals trying to navigate the complex immigration system. Detectives believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward…