Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the guilty plea of ANALIE VARGAS, 35, a case manager at a legal filing service, for diverting her clients’ checks intended for immigration application fees into her personal bank account. VARGAS pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Under the terms of her plea, she is expected to be sentenced on December 16, 2025, to a promised sentence of 5 years of probation and $2,500 in restitution. She must also consent to judgment orders against her for the balance of the thefts, approximately $8,845.
“New Yorkers trusted Analie Vargas to help them apply for permanent residence when in actuality she was pocketing their hard-earned money for personal expenses. Those who prey on the perceived vulnerability of new New Yorkers for personal gain will be prosecuted,” said District Attorney Bragg. “If you believe you are a victim of this type of fraud, we urge you to call our office’s Immigration Affairs Unit hotline at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877. Interpreters are available to assist non-native English speakers and we encourage all to reach out regardless of immigration status.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record, from October 2019 to November 2023, VARGAS, a case manager at Divorce Filers, a lower-Manhattan firm that offered services for filing immigration-related applications and divorces, diverted client funds intended for immigration application fees that were payable to the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Specifically, VARGAS directed clients to write checks or money orders to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and turn them over to her. VARGAS then deposited those checks into her personal bank account. On numerous occasions, victims’ checks, or money orders originally made out to “Department of Homeland Security” were altered to read as payable to “Analie Vargas” instead.
To avoid detection and continue the scheme, VARGAS avoided the victims’ phone calls and emails, which contained inquiries about the status of their immigration applications. On the rare occasion that victims were able to reach VARGAS, she told them that their applications were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic or offer other excuses. In some instances, VARGAS even sent letters that purported to be from USCIS, directing the victims to appear for immigration status appointments. However, when the victims showed up for those appointments, they discovered that they did not have an interview scheduled or any legal representative to assist them. None of the victims, who have a variety of national origins, had immigration applications filed on their behalf.
VARGAS used the application fees that she had diverted and deposited into her personal bank account to pay for restaurants, travel, and other personal expenses. During the time period of the scheme, VARGAS deposited at least $17,000 worth of checks and money orders that were payable to the Department of Homeland Security.
The Manhattan D.A.’s Immigrant Affairs Unit
Our Immigrant Affairs Unit prosecutes cases involving scams and fraud affecting New York’s diverse immigrant communities. Whether you are documented or undocumented under federal law, our Office is here to protect your safety. We encourage all victims of immigration fraud to come forward. Our Immigrant Affairs Coordinator, Emely Salazar Perez, focuses on community outreach and providing immigrants with resources to make their transition into Manhattan easier. If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of this type of fraud, we urge you to call our office’s Immigration Affairs Unit hotline at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877. Interpreters are available to assist non-native English speakers and we encourage all to reach out regardless of immigration status.
We urge you to use care when seeking legal services, including asking your attorney where they are registered to practice. Our palm card makes it easy to find free legal assistance, search for your attorney’s registration and to check for any disciplinary proceedings against them! Find it in English and Spanish here.
Assistant D.A. Benjamin Reed (Financial Frauds Bureau) is handling the prosecution of this case with Dennis Dillon (Financial Frauds Bureau) under the supervision of Luis Morales (Chief of the Immigrant Affairs Unit), Hope Korenstein (Deputy Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Kofi Sansculotte (Bureau Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Judy Salwen (Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division) and Jodie Kane (Chief of the Rackets Bureau and Acting Chief of the Investigation Division). Program Coordinator Fiona Li (Immigrant Affairs Unit), Senior Investigators Justin Reid, Jose Vasquez, Genesis Corneille, Miguel Pena, Supervising Investigator Veronica Rodriguez, Investigators Haley Fitzpatrick, David Caban and Brittaney Stewart; FAFI Forensic Accountant Lisa Gillen, under the supervision of Irene Serripica (FAFI Deputy Bureau Chief) and Robert Demarest (FAFI Bureau Chief) are all providing valuable assistance with the case. Former Assistant D.A. Jack Daily and former Program Coordinator Serena Zou also provided valuable assistance.
Defendant Information:
ANALIE VARGAS
Manhattan, NY
Convicted:
- Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
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