FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Immigration Fraud

The FBI’s Philadelphia Division is seeking potential victims of an impostor attorney who is accused of fraud in the region.

Fatima DeMaria, 65, of Lincoln University, Chester County, who operated Immigration Matters Inc. in Oxford, was recently charged by indictment with eight counts of asylum fraud and eight counts of mail fraud.

The indictment alleges DeMaria falsely presented herself as an immigration attorney capable of helping undocumented individuals obtain employment authorization or “work permits.”

The FBI said DeMaria was not a licensed attorney, nor was she accredited or authorized by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to represent individuals in immigration proceedings.

According to the indictment, from at least December 2021 to July 2024, DeMaria allegedly prepared fraudulent Form I-589 asylum applications in her clients’ names, without their knowledge or consent.

The indictment alleges DeMaria charged clients approximately $6,000 to $9,000 per person, and $12,000 to $15,000 per couple, for her purported legal services.

DeMaria frequently accepted payments in cash or via peer-to-peer transactions, which were deposited into her personal bank accounts. Hundreds of thousands of dollars from these accounts were subsequently withdrawn at casinos, according to authorities.

The FBI believes DeMaria primarily targeted undocumented victims between 2020 and recently.

Individuals who believe they or their minor dependents were victimized by DeMaria, or who have information relevant to the investigation, are encouraged to complete a form provided by the FBI. Responses are voluntary but may be used in the federal investigation and to identify potential victims. All victim identities will be kept confidential, officials said.

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